Irradiated produce

[Guest guest]

From aboutproduce.com

http://www.aboutproduce.com/faq/irradiation.html

Is this produce labeled differently?

In the United States, consumers can easily recognize irradiated products

because the FDA requires the international logo for irradiation - the radura

(shown) - to be included on the packages of all food that has been

irradiated.

The Radura (there was a picture of a symbol that looks kind of like a flower

inside a green circle with the top half of the circle having a line that

looks like dashes rather than solid)

The words " treated with radiation " or " treated by irradiation " must also

appear on the principal label.

For irradiated foods not in package form (such as bulk produce), the

required logo and phrase must be displayed on either the labeling of the

bulk container plainly in view or a counter sign, card, or other appropriate

device. As an alternative, each item of food can be individually labeled. In

either case, the information must be prominently and conspicuously

displayed. (Canada also requires labeling of irradiated fruits and

vegetables at the supermarket.)

Currently, irradiated produce is sold in limited quantities in the United

States. First, not all produce can be irradiated because the composition of

some fruits and vegetables is not conducive to being treated with ionizing

radiation. Secondly, because there are few facilities in the United States

irradiating produce, cost, availability, and distribution are limiting

factors.

I found another article on the National Food Processors Association (NFPA)

website. It was kind of humorous to read their 2 reasons that irradiated

produce should not be labelled as such. The first was since Americans

already don't eat enough fruits and veggies and the irradiation label may

scare them away, we should leave the labeling off so they will eat more

fruits and veggies. (What they don't know won't hurt them.) The second

reason was even more pathetic - people might think that irradiated produce

is clean and safe and therefore not wash it appropriately causing a health

hazard. (What they do know might hurt them.) If it wasn't so pathetic, it

would be funny.

http://www.nfpa-food.org/Comments/aphis00_7_24.html

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