What types of meat and poultry products can be irradiated?
Only refrigerated or frozen raw meat and poultry products, meat byproducts, and certain other meat food products may be irradiated at this time. Examples of meat and poultry that may be irradiated are whole or cut-up birds, skinless poultry, pork chops, roasts, stew meat, liver, hamburgers, and ground meat. Cooked meat and poultry products such as luncheon meats and hot dogs can not be irradiated at this time, but FDA is formally reviewing a petition to permit this application of irradiation. What are the benefits of food irradiation? Irradiation can reduce the risk of foodborne illness by destroying harmful bacteria. Hospitals have used irradiation for many years to sterilize food for cancer patients and others with weakened immune systems. Some perishable food taken into space by astronauts is irradiated because the food must be guaranteed free of disease-causing organisms. The dose of irradiation approved by FDA for refrigerated or frozen raw meat and poultry does not destroy all pa
