A coalition of European NGOs have launched a campaign against food irradiation in the European Union.
Food irradiation involves exposing food to energy from sources such as gamma rays, X-rays or electron beams.
The aim is to kill harmful bacteria and other microorganisms that may cause food poisoning. Irradiation has other effecs such as delaying ripening and sprouting in foods, thereby helping to extend shelf life.
The Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission have established principles for the irradiation of foods together with control procedures.
In Europe, EU Directive 1999/2/EC provides for the laws concerning foods and food ingredients treated with ionising radiation. To date, only one food category – dried herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings – has been included on the list of foods that may be irradiated. The Directive specifies provisions including the source of ionising radiation, controls on the level of radiation permitted and food labelling requirements. Conditions are also specified for the importation of irradiated foods.
In Europe, food irradiation is not widely used. Only a few licences have been granted for the irradiation of spices. In the USA, food irradiation has been widely used on red meat, especially ground meats. All foods that have been irradiated must be clearly marked as such.
Different opinions in Europe
The “European Food Irradiation Campaign” argues that food irradiation can cause cancer or destroy key nutrients (eg vitamin A and C). Among other demands, they call on the European Union to close the list of foodstuff that can be irradiated and to develop control programmes. Their full statement can be viewed in the attachment.
On the contrary, the Heart of Mersey and some of EPHA’s members – the British Medical Association (BMA), the Royal College of Physicians of London, Cheshire and Merseyside Public Health Network (ChaMPS) – believe that irradiation, carried out under certain conditions, is a safe and effective food processing method that can prevent poisoning, reduce the amount of saturated fat and kill bacteria in foods.
Their whole statement can be downloaded below.
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– Members of the European Food Irradiation Campaign