title: [Food irradiation].
abstract: Food irradiation has become a matter of topical interest also in the Federal Republic of Germany following applications for exemptions concerning irradiation tests of spices. After risks to human health by irradiation doses up to a level sufficient for product pasteurization were excluded, irradiation now offers a method suitable primarily for the disinfestation of fruit and decontamination of frozen and dried food. Codex Alimentarius standards which refer also to supervision and dosimetry have been established; they should be adopted as national law. However, in the majority of cases where individual countries including EC member-countries so far permitted food irradiation, these standards were not yet used. Approval irradiation technique for industrial use is available. Several industrial food irradiation plants, partly working also on a contractual basis, are already in operation in various countries. Consumer response still is largely unknown; since irradiated food is labelled, consumption of irradiated food will be decided upon by consumers.
mesh_terms: D003611:Dairy Products; D005396:Fish Products; D005511:Food Handling; D005514:Food Irradiation; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D005638:Fruit; D005860:Germany, West; D007700:Kinetics; D007881:Legislation, Food; D008460:Meat; D011202:Poultry Products; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D014675:Vegetables
vernacular_title: Lebensmittelbestrahlung.