Food Irradiation Research Programme (A05)

i. To ensure that policies and advice on irradiated food and food irradiation is based on the best available science, information and data.

ii. To develop a range of validated detection tests that UK regulatory enforcement bodies and others can use to identify irradiated food.

iii. To support the implementation of food irradiation policies on both the irradiation process and irradiated food (including labelling requirements).

iv. To undertake surveys which establish whether irradiated foods are sold in the UK.

European and UK legislation covers the rules governing the approval and control of the irradiation process. Legislation also covers labelling requirements and sets out those foods that may be legally irradiated and sold within the UK. Research is necessary to ensure that policies and advice on irradiated food and food irradiation are based on the best available science, information and data (Aim i).

No single method is capable of testing every type of food for irradiation. This is because the changes to the food are minor and depend on the nature of the food. The continued development and validation of a range of detection tests is necessary to assist regulatory bodies and others with their application of the law regarding irradiated food (Aim ii).

Research is necessary to support the implementation of policies on food irradiation. Changes in the marketing of irradiated food must be foreseen and mechanism of implementing policies must adapt to meet new circumstances (Aim iii).

Regular surveys determine whether irradiated foods are on sale in the UK and whether they are labelled correctly. Surveys indicate the degree to which current UK law in relation to food irradiation is being upheld (Aim iv).

The research programme underpins the following, which are set out in the Agency's Strategic Plan 2001-2006:

• Food safety: chemical safety of food – 'to have proper controls in place and ensure they are properly enforced.'
• Food safety: food products and processes – their licensing or approval – 'Some processes like food irradiation may also affect the safety or quality of food and therefore need to be licensed or controlled.'
• Public information, labelling and choice – 'to promote honest and informative labelling ...'

The Food Standards Agency is the UK 'Competent Authority' for the licensing and inspection of food irradiation establishments and has a duty to inspect irradiation plants and regulate the food irradiation process. In support of this work further research may be required to ensure best practice with regard to food irradiation (paragraph 1 and paragraph 3).

It is important that policy decisions and advice relating to food irradiation are based on the best available science, information and data (paragraph 1). Although the field of food irradiation is relatively well researched, it is likely that future research will be necessary to address specific issues as they arise. These issues include:

• the effectiveness of food irradiation at reducing foodborne pathogens;
• whether food is affected when irradiated in specific packaging materials;
• the food safety implications of technological advances in the development of cargo inspection devices;
• the implications of increasing the upper dose limit for food irradiation to a level above the current 10 kGy overall average dose limit;
• accurate assessment of absorbed dose received by food.

UK and European legislation sets out those foods that may be irradiated and sold in the UK. There are also labelling laws that require irradiated foods on sale in the UK to be labelled as such, so providing consumers with information to make an informed choice about their food purchases. Although a number of analytical tests capable of identifying irradiated foods are currently available for the enforcement of these laws, further development (paragraph 2) is necessary to make tests more amenable to food laboratories, to extend the range of foods that may be tested and implement best practice. Detection of irradiation processing involves identifying minor changes to food and depends on the nature of the food. Currently, no one technique can be applied to all foodstuffs and the suitability of a detection test for irradiated food depends on the food being analysed. In some instances a number of different tests are necessary to confirm that a food has been irradiated. Detection tests include rapid screening methods and confirmatory analytical methods. Tests that are found to be robust are developed as CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) standards.

Many countries permit the irradiation of foods but not all of these irradiated foodstuffs are allowed in the UK (examples span the whole range of foodstuffs from ginseng and products used in dietary supplements to more usual food products such as ground beef). Research is necessary so that policies on the irradiation process and irradiated food reflect changes in international trade. The mechanism of implementing policies on irradiation must be able to adapt to meet new circumstances (paragraph 3).

Although few foods are irradiated in the UK, internationally there has been an increased interest in irradiation as a form of food processing (particularly in the USA). Regular surveys (paragraph 4) are carried out to determine if irradiated foods are on sale in the UK, to promote honest labelling of irradiated foods and to ensure the law is being enforced. It is a requirement of EC Directive 1999/2/EC that EU countries report annually on food irradiation testing.

Name: Stuart Conney
Tel: 020 7276 8782
Email: stuart.conney@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk