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The international Radura logo, used to show a food has been treated with ionizing radiation. A portable, trailer-mounted food irradiation machine, c. 1968 Food irradiation (sometimes American English: radurization; British English: radurisation) is the process of exposing food and food packaging to ionizing radiation, such as from gamma rays, x-rays, or electron beams.
Irradiation is the use of ionising gamma rays emitted by cobalt-60 and caesium-137, or, high-energy electrons and X-rays to inactivate microbial pathogens, particularly in the food industry. Bacteria such as Deinococcus radiodurans are particularly resistant to radiation, but are not pathogenic. [ 1 ]
Radiation damage is the effect of ionizing radiation on physical objects including non-living structural materials. It can be either detrimental or beneficial for materials. Radiobiology is the study of the action of ionizing radiation on living things, including the health effects of radiation in humans.
The sterilizing effects of ionizing radiation are useful for cleaning medical instruments, food irradiation, and the sterile insect technique. Measurements of carbon-14 , can be used to date the remains of long-dead organisms (such as wood that is thousands of years old).
Phytosanitary irradiation is a treatment that uses ionizing radiation on commodities, such as fruits and vegetables to inactivate pests, such as insects. [1] This method is used for international food trade as a means to prevent spread of non-native organisms. [1]
Irradiation of food [21] is the exposure of food to ionizing radiation. Multiple types of ionizing radiation can be used, including beta particles (high-energy electrons ) and gamma rays (emitted from radioactive sources such as cobalt-60 or cesium-137 ).
The city of Berkeley, California, through its nuclear-free zone law, requires that food intended for human consumption be labeled "Treated with Ionizing Radiation". Food irradiating facilities are also banned as part of this law. [11] Such requirements are seen by consumer groups as helpful information to consumers concerned about food irradiation.
Irradiation is used in diagnostic imaging, cancer therapy and blood transfusion. [5] In 2011 researchers found that irradiation was successful in the novel theranostic technique involving co-treatment with heptamethine dyes to elucidate tumor cells and attenuate their growth with minimal side effects. [6] [7]