USDA Begins Studying Effects of Irradiation

This article by Todd Foltz, Handling & Distributing Editor,
appeared in “The Packer,” November 6, 2000.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Grower-shippers should get more information on irradiation, thanks to a partnership between the government and a technology company.

U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists from the Agriculture Research Service’s Food Safety Research Unit will spend the next five years studying the effects of irradiation on food quality and safety with researchers from Ion Beam Applications.

“ARS specialists are leaders in conducting research on using ionizing radiation to minimize pathogens in food,” ARS administrator Floyd Horn said in a news release. “Our research findings helped lead to major food irradiation regulation by the Food Safety Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration.”

Ionizing radiation kills bacterial pathogens through the use of either gamma rays produced by cobalt and cesium atoms or machine-produced X-rays and electrons.

Ion Beam Applications is the largest irradiation service provider. It has 27 facilities worldwide, and it has extended the use of its industrial-size sterilization and ionization equipment to ARS researchers for large-scale research.