Does irradiation change the nutritional value or flavour of foods?
Irradiation produces virtually no heat within food and does not “cook” foods. Foods processed with irradiation are just as nutritious, flavourful and wholesome as other foods. How can I tell if a food has been irradiated? Most countries that permit food irradiation require labelling to show this is the case. In America for example, US law requires that all irradiated foods must be labelled with an international symbol for irradiation (the radura). This is depicted by green petals in a broken circle and accompanied by the words “treated by irradiation” or “treated with radiation”. Is food treated with irradiation immune to infestation and contamination? Although food irradiation can reduce the risk of foodborne disease by destroying bacteria and parasites, the process complements proper food handling practices. It cannot enhance food that has deteriorated or food that is of inferior quality, nor can it prevent contamination from improper handling after irradiation. As with any food prod
