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What is food irradiation? What’s wrong with food irradiation? Why are the Queensland government and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) fast-tracking a blanket approval for the irradiation of all fruit and vegetables? Why does this matter? What has been approved to date? Why do we recommend that FSANZ reject A1193?

What’s wrong with food irradiation?

Answer

Irradiation uses ionising radiation, which alters food’s molecular structure, but leaves it looking the  intact.  Substances produced by exposure to radiation are known as radiolytic products. Their presence indicates whether or not a product been irradiated (Chauwan, S. et al. (2008). Detection methods for irradiated food. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food  Safety, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2008.00063.x/full).

Different foods react differently to  radiation. The changes in them mean that Irradiated produce is processed; it is no longer fresh.