Call for comment on food irradiation energy levels

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for submissions on an application to increase the maximum energy level for machines generating X-rays to irradiate food.

Dr Sandra Cuthbert, FSANZ CEO, said the proposed amendment is technologically justified as it increases the efficiency of generating X-rays for food quality and safety purposes.

“FSANZ evaluations of food irradiation have all concluded that there are no safety concerns associated with irradiation of food at the approved absorbed doses,” Cuthbert said.

There is no change to the permitted absorbed dose for each food due to this application.

“FSANZ found no potential public health and safety concerns with the consumption of food irradiated with 7.5 MeV X-rays at the approved dose levels when using tantalum or gold as the X-ray target material,” Cuthbert said.

According to Cuthbert, safety assessments are a key part of the approval process for the irradiation of foods.

Submissions close at 6 pm (AEDT) 15 March 2024.

Image credit: iStock.com/Thanakorn Lappattaranan