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treated with irradiation
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| LABEL REPORT CARD |
| How meaningful is the label? |
Is the label verified? |
Is the meaning of the label consistent? |
Are the label standards publicly available? |
Is information about the organization publicly available? |
Is the organization free from conflict of interest? |
Was the label developed with broad public and industry input? |
| Somewhat |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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LABEL CATEGORY:
General Claims |
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WHERE YOU'LL FIND THIS GENERAL CLAIM:
 FOOD
CONDIMENTS
: herbs and spices
DAIRY PRODUCTS
: eggs
FRUIT
: apples, grapefruit, mangoes, oranges, papaya, strawberries
MEAT
: beef, chicken
VEGETABLES
: garlic, onions, potatoes, tomatoes
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WHAT THIS GENERAL CLAIM MEANS:
Food that has been irradiated must either have "irradiated" as part of the product name or be labeled with the claim "treated with irradiation" or "treated with radiation" and also display the radura symbol. Irradiated foods have been exposed to ionizing radiation in order to reduce the levels of pathogens on foods. The level of pathogen reduction is based on the amount of irradiation used but the government has not established minimum pathogen reduction levels that must be achieved by irradiation. Radiation destroys DNA in some bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli 0157:H7 but not the spores of certain bacteria such as C. botulinum at radiation levels used on food nor does it affect bacterial toxins, toxic proteins and some viruses. While the FDA is responsible for the use of the term of most food, the USDA is responsible for the use of the term on meat products.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains that, "There are two types of radiation sources used: machine or radionuclide. Machine sources of ionizing radiation include electron accelerators and X-ray generators. Radionuclides, radioactive materials that give off ionizing gamma-rays, include cobalt-60 and cesium-137. Irradiated food does not become radioactive. The radiation energies used in food processing cause chemical changes in the food, but not the nuclear changes that would make the food radioactive."
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CONSUMERS UNION EVALUATION:
How meaningful is the label?
The "treated with irradiation " claim is somewhat meaningful. "Treated with irradiation" means that a product has been treated with ionizing radiation to reduce the levels of bacteria. However, it does not mean that the food is completely clean or or free from risk. Other labeling terms, such as "pasteurized by irradiation" are misleading since the same standards that have applied to pasteurization are not applied to irradiation. It also means that the food has been chemically altered from its natural state as a result and cannot be labeled as "fresh."
The FDA has approved the safety of irradiation for various foods and requires labeling on whole irradiated fruits and vegetables. However, the FDA does not require the "treated with irradiation" label on processed foods made with irradiated ingredients or on spices.
The USDA is responsible for ensuring the safe use of irradiation. The USDA’s rules regarding labeling of irradiated foods are similar to the FDA’s regulations, but only apply to meat and poultry. However unlike the FDA, the USDA requires that in multi-ingredient products, irradiated meat ingredients be characterized as such in the list of ingredients on the package (e.g. sausage).
Is the label verified?
No, although USDA monitors the operations of irradiation facilities, the focus is on safety rather than adherence to labeling requirements. In addition, there are no standards regarding the levels of pathogen reduction that must be achieved.
Is the meaning of the label consistent?
No, the amount of irradiation used can vary and since there are no standards for pathogen reduction, the amount of pathogens effected by irradiation can be variable.
Are the label standards publicly available?
Yes, both the FDA and USDA have posted the regulations that exist.
Is information about the organization publicly available?
Yes
Is the organization free from conflict of interest?
Yes, they have no board of directors and receive no external funding and do not stand to profit from the use of the label.
Was the label developed with broad public and industry input?
Yes, both the USDA and the FDA received public comments on the regulations.
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