How to Tell If Food is Irradiated?

To tell if you food has been irradiated, you need to view the packaging very carefully. If it is irradiated food you will either find the Radura symbol alone; or a packaging label that reads "treated by radiation" or "treated by irradiation" along with the Radura symbol.

What does the Radura symbol look like? It looks like a green plant person within a green outlined circle. There is a solid green round circle within the circle with a single green leaf on each side. The green leaves are either solid green or just an outline of green. There are several white lines that intersect through the green circle outline.

European Regulations: In Europe there is strict labeling of food. Any ingredient that is irradiated must be labeled even if it is part of a combination of food ingredients. Restaurant and processed foods must be labeled as well if irradiated. These rules do not apply to the many countries outside of Europe and the rules are different depending on each country. Many countries have less irradiated foods because consumers feel the safety of irradiated foods has not been proven.

United States Regulations: Labeling only applies to foods sold in stores and not restaurant or processed food. So often you may be eating irradiated foods, no matter what side of the issue you stand. Since the standard American diet has a good percentage of processed and restaurant food, you are eating some irradiated foods. Just because you are vegetarian does not mean you are not eating some irradiated foods. Just review all of the foods below that now have been given irradiation approval.

What foods are irradiated in the US? The following foods are already approved for irradiation: fresh and frozen beef, pork, lamb, fresh and frozen chicken and turkey, wheat, wheat flour, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, eggs, seeds for sprouting, spices, and herb teas. The various food companies are waiting on petitions to the government to irradiate lunch meats, items eaten at salad bars, fresh juice, frozen food, imported fruits, and vegetables. When these next foods get into the irradiation line up, we will be eating a major percentage of our food that is irradiated.

Why are foods irradiated? It reduces bacteria in food and increases the shelf life of foods. Irradiated strawberries will last two weeks versus a few days when untreated. Poultry and meats will last longer in your refrigerator. Irradiation does not kill all bacteria, nor viruses. The irradiation process helps the food industry to ship products further and increases the shelf life for food without spoilage. Haven't you ever wondered why the expiration date on some meats is weeks or months ahead? Irradiation does kill E-Coli which is responsible for some serious outbreaks that have put thousands of people in the hospital. Examples are spinach, lettuce crops and eggs.

How is food irradiated? Food such as hamburger patties are radiated with radioactive material that produces beams with high energy. The food is irradiated in special compartments where the people who do this work are protected from the exposure. Foods such as large fruits, boxed food, and odd shaped foods must be irradiated using x-rays or gamma rays.

Is irradiation safe? The safety of irradiated foods is said to be completely safe by the government but many countries and organic foods research does not agree. Their research indicates that the irradiation of food reduces the nutritional content and composition. You need to research this subject reading both sides of this issue. Review the government explanation, then the organic research studies before you make a decision on this issue. Education is power.

References:

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsafety/irradiation/index.cfm?articleID=127&parent=3

http://www.organicconsumers.org/Irrad/irradfact.cfm

http://www.organicconsumers.org/Irrad/irradfact.cfm