FDA REGULATORY ASPECTS OF FOOD IRRADIATION

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires that a food that has been irradiated may not be sold in the United States unless the Department of Health and Human Services finds that the food is safe and issues a regulation specifying safe conditions of irradiation. This presentation briefly outlines the types of information needed to issue an authorizing regulation, describes the conditions under which food may currently be irradiated, and discusses the basis for current regulations.