Regulation of irradiation foods in US market

The FDA has authorized the following 4 sources of ionizing radiation for food treatment: cobalt 60, cesium 137, machine-generated accelerated electrons not to exceed 10 million electron volts, and machine-generated x-rays not to exceed 5 million electron volts.

All petitioners for FDA approval of food irradiation must satisfy technical requirements that limit dose and specify conditions under which the food will be irradiated. The technical effect on the food, dosimetry, and environmental controls must be defined and in compliance with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Facilities must also pass an environmental impact study to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. So irradiated food is defined as adulterated and illegal to market unless irradiation conforms to specified federal rules.

In addition, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has regulatory responsibilities for some types of foods irradiated for defined purposes. For example, as part of its inspection services, USDA regulates irradiation when used as a quarantine procedure for fruits. Under federal meat and poultry inspection laws, USDA has responsibility for ensuring safety and wholesomeness of irradiated meat and poultry.