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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.
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]
Food technology is a branch of food science that addresses the production, preservation, quality control and research and development of food products. It may also be understood as the science of ensuring that a society is food secure and has access to safe food that meets quality standards.
Radappertization is a form of food irradiation which applies a dose of ionizing radiation sufficient to reduce the number and activity of viable microorganisms to such an extent that very few, if any, are detectable in the treated food by any recognized method (viruses being excepted).
International legislation on whether food may be irradiated or not varies worldwide from no regulation to a full ban. [27] Approximately 500,000 tons of food items are irradiated per year worldwide in over 40 countries. These are mainly spices and condiments, with an increasing segment of fresh fruit irradiated for fruit fly quarantine. [28] [29]
Irradiation is the process by which an object is exposed to radiation. An irradiator is a device used to expose an object to radiation, [ 1 ] most often gamma radiation , [ 2 ] for a variety of purposes.
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.
Below is an example from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission on how different types of food contain small amounts of radiation. [23] The sources of radiation are radioactive potassium-40 (40K), radium-226 (226Ra), and other atoms: [23]