Fact sheets

General information

Irradiation is costly, can affect health adversely, and often uses nuclear waste.  Even its mooted role as a steriliser is questionable.  When people are informed about irradiation, they often reject it in the marketplace.

What’s wrong with food irradiation? (3 fold leaflet pdf)

Food Irradiation and Australia (doc)

Human health issues

While the WHO approves of food irradiation, human health studies and the cat deaths in Australia in 2009 indicate that it’s safety is far from assurred.

Risks of food poisoning from irradiated food (pdf)

Radiomimetic effects from irradiated food (pdf)

Radiation sterilised diets (pdf)

Irradiation destruction of vitamin C (pdf)

Irradiated vegetables (pdf)

Irradiated grains health risks (pdf)

Irradiated food is peroxidised food (pdf)

Irradiated food and internal bleeding (pdf)

Irradiated commodities infected with fresh mould spores (pdf)

Grain irradiation and moulds (pdf)

Grain irradiation and insects (pdf)

Gamma radiation and lipid peroxidation (pdf)

Food irradiation safety of irradiated food (pdf)

Gamma radiation and fats in food (pdf)

Animal feed and irradiation

In 2009 the irradiation of cat food was banned in Australia after nearly one hundred cats became ill and many died.  This has prompted many pet food companies to review their policies regarding irradiation, recognising pet health concerns.  The Australian government has yet to recognise that similar risks exist for human health.

Cat food recall (doc)

Child et al scientific paper on cat food deaths (pdf)

RSPCA on irradiation (doc)

Extensive remyelination of the CNS leads to functional recovery Duncan et al (pdf)

Race horses quarantine & irradiated feed (doc)

Other issues

Dodgy research and questionable uses of irradiation are being used to facilate it’s acceptance worldwide.

Fruit irradiation lack of feasibility (pdf)

Irradiation to delay ripening (pdf)

Food irradiation and the representation of fake research (pdf)