Irradiation is the process of exposing a product to radiation, generally for sterilisation purposes. There are currently three operating commercial irradiation facilities in Australia. All three are nuclear irradiation facilities, using Gamma radiation from radioactive Cobalt-60. A fourth irradiation facility, an X-ray beam facility is proposed for northern Queensland. Irradiation facilities can irradiate a wide-range of consumer products. The latest venture of the commercial irradiation industry in Australia is food irradiation.

Numerous scientific studies have exposed the harmful effects of food irradiation. Irradiation causes vitamin and amino acid depletion in food. It changes the molecular structure of food forming toxic chemicals linked to: cancer, organ damage, genetic mutations, immune system disorders, tumors, stunted growth, reproductive problems and nutritional deficiencies.

(source: Public Citizen, Questioning Food Irradiation, April 2003, www.citizen.org/cmep)

What foods may be irradiated?

Food Standards Australia New Zealand has so far approved: Herbs, spices, and herbal infusions, tropical fruits – breadfruit, carambola, custard apple, litchi, longan, mango, mangosteen, papaya,  rambutan and persimmon.

However, irradiated products may enter the food chain through sources, which are not legally classified as “food”:

Therapeutic products and pharmaceuticals may be irradiated.
Cereal and grain fed to meat animals and beehives may be irradiated.

What other commercial products may be irradiated?

Unfortunately there is no publicly available list of what products are currently being irradiated in Australia. However, company promotional material gives insight into what may be treated with radiation. While some irradiated medical products are labeled “sterilised with gamma radiation”, most irradiated products are not labeled.

STERITECH PTY. LTD: Steritech runs all three of the operating commercial irradiation plants in Australia. Besides herbs and spices, Steritech Pty. Ltd (steritech.com.au) promotes itself as a place to irradiate:

Cereals and grains
Medical products and medical supplies
Cosmetics and sanitary preparations
Pharmaceutical raw materials and veterinary products.
Pet food
Packaging materials, nylon, polystyrene and polyethylene
Plastics
Wine corks
Animal feed.
Beehives
Quarantine items
They have begun irradiating tropical fruit as well.

US, food irradiation company Food Technology Service (www.foodtechservice.com) is more detailed in its promotional list:

Medical and personal hygiene products including: blood plasma, burn ointments, catheters, eye ointment, hypodermic syringes, orthopedic implants, intravenous administration sets, surgical drapes, sponges & swabs, surgeons’ gloves, procedure packs, trays and sutures.

Commercial products including: aerosol saline solutions, baby bottle nipples, baby powder, bulk cotton bales, contact lens cleaning solutions, cosmetic ingredients, bar and liquid soap, detergents, polishes, shampoos and hair cream.

Food Packaging including: bulk food containers, cream cups and lids, dairy & juice cartons, plastic roll stock, heat shrinkable film and laminated foil bags.

Are there any risks in associated with handling irradiated products?

Recent attempts to use irradiation to prevent Anthrax distribution through the US mail uncovered a host of problems related to irradiation. Postal and other government employees reported suffering ill effects of handling irradiated mail: including respiratory problems, skin rashes, headaches, nausea, and bloody noses. Tests on recyclability of irradiated paper have shown irradiation to significantly damage paper and alter its quality. More research needs to be done into the handling and use of irradiated products.

References:
Public Citizen April 23, 2002 Questions and Answers about mail irradiation. www.citizen.org/documents/mailirradiationqanda.PDF
Center Keeley, Roy F. Weston, Inc. and Guay, PhD., Integrated Paper Services, Inc. Project Summary Impact of irradiation on the Recyclability of Mail, White House Conference16 May 2002 www.citizen.org/documents/Recylability%20of%20irradiated%20mail.pdf

Food irradiation trends in the USA

While the EU has banned any further irradiation approvals, the US is pushing ahead with the technology. Recent trade agreements with the USA, may see Australia follow US trends in irradiation approvals.

Foods approved for irradiation in the USA:

Beef (and beef byproducts)
Eggs
Enzymes (dry and hydrated)
Fruit (domestic and imported)
Fruit juice
Garlic powder
Herbs (dried)
Horsemeat (and horsemeat byproducts)
Lamb (and lamb byproducts)
Onion powder
Pork (and pork byproducts such as bacon)
Potatoes
Poultry
Sprouting seeds
Spices (dried)
Vegetables (domestic and imported)
Vegetable juice
Vegetable seasoning (dried)
Wheat flour

Foods currently being irradiated and sold (2004) in the USA:

Apples Beef Chicken Eggs Garlic Grapefruit Herbs Mangoes Onions Oranges Papayas Potatoes Spices Strawberries Tomatoes

Foods pending approval for irradiation in the USA:

Beef (unrefrigerated)
Clams
Crabs
Crustacean shellfish
Deli meats
Frozen foods
Lamb (unrefrigerated)
Lobster
Oysters
Molluskan shellfish
Mussels
Pork (unrefrigerated)
Ready-to-eat foods
Salads (packaged)
Shrimp

Source for US irradiated food list: www.sustainabletable.org/issues/irradiation/

Non-retail irradiated food is being marketed in the USA for:

Hospital food and nursing homes
Military rations

Institutional meals
School food