Need and role of identification of irradiated food

It is important to distinguish between the kind of food which has been subjected to correct radiation treatment and the kind of irradiated food which is unfit for human consumption. Radiation treatment in the good sense is now widely but not universally permitted. Methods of identifying irradiated food will help to prevent it being imposed on those who do not want it. The proper operation of radiation treatment demands adequate controls, and labelling is desirable. Tests for irradiated food will help to prevent abuse. Methods for detecting the irradiation of food are now being actively sought. The cost of one such test (based on the e.s.r. spectrum of irradiated bone) is shown to be within the range Pound 13-20 per test. Some of the tests, although qualitative in the first instance, may be further developed to give a quantitative measure of the dose in the food itself. The search for properties which are characteristic of irradiated food will provide further evidence about the safety of food. (author)