What is Food Irradiation?

Food irradiation is a process in which food is exposed to high doses of radiation.  Food is irradiated using radioactive gamma sources, usually Cobalt 60 or Cesium 137, or high-energy electron beams. The gamma rays break up the molecular structure of the food, forming free radicals. The free radicals react with the food to create new chemical substances called "radiolytic products". Those are know as "unique radiolytic products" (URPs) because they can only be found in irradiated products. 

Irradiation is used to kill bacteria and insects which infest food and extends the shelf life of food, for example by delaying ripening of fruits or the sprouting of vegetables.

Read more in the Food Irradiation FAQ




Irradiated Food in European stores

In all European Union countries the Irradiation of dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings is allowed.
Five countries of the European Union allow irradiation for a much greater number of food, from onions to potatoes and chicken meat. 
Click here to find out what food is allowed for irradiation in your country.

Any food that is irradiated must be labeled. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. Testing by the National Food Authorities in Germany, UK, Ireland and Denmark has revealed that a high number of dietary supplements sold in the European Union are Irradiated without permission and without being labeled. Moreover, it is widely known that irradiated fruits and fruit juices are commonly sold in the European Union without  any permission. 

Irradiated spices - Found In Denmark - Irradiated ingredients substituted by producer in 2002

Click here to read the report by the European Commission about irradiated food in the EU. 

European Food Irradiation plants

Find out where the food irradiation plants in the European countries are situated.

Visit the website of the companies producing irradiated food in Europe:
IBA Mediris - Ionisos - Isotron. 

Global call against food irradiation: 90 organisations world-wide signed on!

European statement against food irradiation: 50 organisations in the EU signed on!

November 21st.-28th 2005:

Action Week Against Food Irradiation

The International Anti-Food Irradiation Week is designed to draw attention to the concerns about food irradiation, and create links amongst the worldwide efforts to combat food irradiation.

Organize events against food irradiation!

Click here to read more about the week.

Press release from the European Food Irradiation Campaign. Click here (PDF) 

Success for the mobilization in France on March the 5th !

More information on the French Campaign against food irradiation.

French call against food irradiation

Read the call and sign it on Action Consommation website.

Global activities:

Australia and Canada, where irradiated food are very limited currently, are considering proposals that would expand food irradiation. These proposals have been met, particularly in Australia, with intense public resistance. Food Irradiation Watch in Australia is organizing a week-long tour, while Sierra Club Canada is hosting a press conference. 

Also in the USA No-Cobalt-4-Food and the Lenape Nation, a Native American tribe, are hosting their second protest in Milford Square, PA, home to a food irradiation facility. The Keynote speaker will be Dr. Helen Caldicott, international nuclear activist and co-founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Click here to find contacts for the mentioned organizations.




Bad Taste! 

The disturbing truth behind the World Health Organizations endorsement of Irradiated Food.  A report by Public Citizen that takes looks at decades of scientific research into the safety of Irradiated Food and role the World Health Organizations in the endorsement of Irradiated Food.

Bad Taste report (PDF format) - [Click here]


Food irradiation and global trade

What irradiation means for farmers and ranchers throughout the world. Click here to read the report (PDF format)


Questioning food irradiation

A history of research into the safety of irradiated food. Click here to read the report (PDF format)


What's in the beef?

Scientists question the safety of irradiated ground beef. Click here to read the report (PDF format)

The Food Irradiation Campaign

The European Food Irradiation Campaign is a network of NGOs opposing the use of Food Irradiation and the sell of irradiated food in the European Union.

Read more about what you can do in Campaign


Why do we oppose food irradiation?

• Irradiated food is dangerous for human health.

• Food irradiation can be used as a substitute for good sanitary practices in food production.

• Irradiation plants and transportation of nuclear materials to them create environmental threat to workers and surrounding communities.

• Food irradiation is used to lengthen the food shelf life. By doing so, it encourages globalization of production which proves detrimental to small family farmers around the world and to the environment.

Campaigning organizations

About twenty organizations from more than ten European countries take part to the European Food Irradiation campaign.

Click here to see list of organizations

The European Food Irradiation campaign work together with a Network of organizations worldwide




The European Food Irradiation Campaign has been active with lobby work, Irradiation tests, etc. since 2001.

Read more in the Campaign timeline 

The European Food Irradiation campaign 

Brussels office:

Rue de la Sablonnière 18
1000 Brussels
Belgium

Tel. +32 22182241
Fax +32 2 218 45 09

Contact person: Morgan Ody