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Food: Codex Alimentarius

Answer

The Codex General Standard for Irradiated Foods (CODEX STAN 106-1983, REV. 1-2003) states that ““The maximum absorbed dose delivered to a food should not exceed 10 kilogray (kGy), except when necessary to achieve a legitimate technological purpose””. Doses up to 10 kGy will substantially reduce the number of viable bacteria in the majority of cases and the Codex standard allows for higher doses where there is a legitimate need. However, although irradiation can help to reduce the level of bacterial contamination in food it should not be seen as a replacement for good manufacturing practice and should only be used as part of a wider hazard analysis and critical control point plan. The exception to exceed 10 kGy ““when necessary to achieve a legitimate technological purpose”” was based on the findings of a joint study between the Food and Agricultural Office, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Health Organisation. This study concluded that there was no detrimental effect to the look and texture of dried herbs and spices from higher doses of irradiation and that these higher doses could reduce the risk of bacterial growth for certain pathogens which have been shown to be more resistant to radiation treatment. It should also be noted that these changes to the Codex standard have not been adopted by European Directive1999/3/EC which limits the irradiation of dried aromatic herbs, spices and vegetable seasonings to a maximum overall average absorbed dose of 10 kGy. This was endorsed by the findings of the European Scientific Committee on Foods in 2003 which concluded that there was insufficient evidence to recommend the removal of the upper limit of 10 kGy.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

4811; 723 c79WA

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Food Irradiation

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk