Submissions invited on fruit and veg irradiation application

Do you feel strongly one way or another about irradiation of fruit and vegetables? Submissions are being welcomed on an application to permit the irradiation of 12 specific fruits and vegetables.

The Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has applied for permission to use irradiation to kill or sterilise fruit flies and other pests on the following fruits and vegetables:

• Apple
• Apricot
• Cherry
• Nectarine
• Peach
• Plum
• Honeydew
• Rockmelon
• Strawberry
• Table grape
• Zucchini
• Scallopini (squash)

“Irradiation is being sought as an alternative treatment to some pesticides which are no longer permitted or permissions for use have changed,” said Steve McCutcheon, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) chief executive.

“FSANZ has reviewed the evidence on the safety of these irradiated fruits and found they are safe to eat. The literature also shows the maximum dose permitted does not reduce the nutritional quality of fruits and vegetables.”

The closing date for submissions is 9 October 2014. For more information about the application, click here. To make a submission, click here.