Status Update on Food Irradiation - Organic Consumers Association

ecomes rancid quickly). The fact that fats become rancid quickly explains why nuts are not approved for
irradiation in the U.S.
Organic foods cannot be irradiated. But the term "natural" for foods does not exclude irradiation. Some
nutritional supplement ingredients like garlic are irradiated.
Possible additional foods that will be approved for irradiation in the U.S.
The FDA is considering allowing irradiation for deli meats, frozen foods, prepared fresh foods (like
prepackaged shredded carrots), and fresh juices. The FDA will probably approve this petition in Spring or
Summer 2002.
The FDA is considering allowing irradiation of crustaceans and mollusks.
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is considering allowing irradiation for
imported fruits and vegetables. The irradiation could be done in the U.S. or in the country of origin.
The FDA is reviewing comments on a food industry-sponsored proposal to allow foods processed with new
technologies (e.g., filtration, high pressure) to be labeled as fresh. (Fruits and vegetables irradiated up to the
FDA maximum dose are already allowed to be labeled as "fresh"!)
Upcoming regulatory changes for labeling
In February 1999, the FDA asked for public comments on a proposal to change the labeling requirements
for all irradiated foods. It is currently writing the regulation. The FDA will ask the public for comments
again, by end of 2002. Everyone should comment on the proposed regulation when it is released!
Please contact us so we can notify you!
Who's responsible for irradiation policy?
The FDA is responsible for evaluation of the 'science' on whether or not irradiation is harmful (as it does for
new drugs). It is also responsible for deciding the permitted doses of irradiation and labeling requirements
for nonmeat products.
Congress tells the FDA what should be regulated, and the FDA implements Congress’s directives, for
example, “make a label that is not threatening to the consumer.”
The USDA is responsible for deciding the permitted doses of irradiation and labeling requirements for meat,
poultry and their products.
No law prevents states from passing their own labeling laws, but in practice their right to label (under
Amendment X to the Constitution) has consistently been overturned IF the labeling 'impeded' interstate
commerce. Only in unusual cases should we expect a state-level labeling law to survive legal challenges
from businesses that operate interstate.
What you can do:
1. Congress tells the FDA what to do. Please contact your member of Congress and say that you don’t want
food to be irradiated, but if it is, you want clear and prominent labels on ALL irradiated foods. Also, you
don’t want misleading terms like “pasteurization” used instead of “irradiation.”
2. Contact OCA to be notified when the FDA asks for comments on the new labels it will propose for
irradiated foods by end of 2002. Also contact us if you want any other information.
3. Tell your grocer (use a comment card) you don’t want to eat irradiated foods.
4. Set up a public education table about irradiation at food or health festivals. Contact us for flyers and
information.
5. Subscribe to the radfood list: Send an email to npetrie@citizen.org with the words "subscribe radfood" in
the subject line. This is an e-mail list of news and action alerts (about 2/week).
Organic Consumers Association
6771 South Silver Hill Drive - Finland, MN 55603 USA - 218-226-4164
www.organicconsumers.org - email: office@organicconsumers.org - 218-353-7652 fax
<strong>Status</strong> <strong>Update</strong> on Food Irradiation page 2 of 2 February 2002
Organic Consumers Association http://www.organicconsumers.org/irradlink.html