IRRADIATED FOODS - HELPFUL OR HARMFUL?

A NUCLEAR AGE CONTROVERSY

Food growers and sellers hail irradiation as a safe means of extending the shelf life of fresh foods, yet many consumer groups still harbor serious doubts about it.

Since January 1992 until today, irradiated produce have appeared in some Midwest and Florida supermarkets in the US, as well as other 40 countries all over the world. At least a dozen different irradiated foods are being sold including strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, onions and mushrooms. Irradiated tropical fruit including papaya, atemoya, rambutan, lychee, starfruit, banana, Chinese taro and oranges have been sold in the Midwest. Irradiated poultry has been sold in the Midwest and Florida.
Below is a map of the countries that either use irradiation for commercial use or have approved food irradiation.

These pages will be addressing information and issues in food irradiation.