001013 Food Irradiation “Alliance” Announced

Kanata, ON, Canada - In response to increased interest in food safety, the Food Irradiation Processing Alliance - a new chapter of the Association of International Industrial Irradiation - has been formed to promote understanding of food irradiation and to facilitate adoption of this safe and effective technology. The Food Irradiation Processing Alliance (FIPA) will also establish new quality standards and a code of good practice for companies using food irradiation technology in North America. In addition, the Alliance will address regulatory issues and provide information to the public on food irradiation.

“As more and more foods receive regulatory approvals for irradiation, we're excited about the formation of the Food Irradiation Processing Alliance,” said John Masefield, FIPA's chairman and founder of STERIS Isomedix Services. “We're going to work with the food industry to provide them with the support and information they need to use irradiation in order to deliver the best possible products to consumers.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved the use of food irradiation for a variety of products such as chicken, red meats and eggs. Other approvals are expected soon for ready-to-eat meats and seafood. Food irradiation is a safe and effective way to eliminate food pathogens to successfully prevent food-borne illness and death. The World Health Organization declares that irradiated food is “safe and wholesome” and many other organizations, including the American Medical Association and the Mayo Clinic, support the use of irradiation to protect consumers. Although the United States has one of the safest food supplies in the world, it is estimated that 76 million Americans become ill and as many as 5,000 people die each year as a result of bacterial contamination in food. Children, the elderly, and people being treated for serious illness are most at risk and will especially benefit from the introduction of irradiated food.

“We want to be sure that the food industry has the support they need to introduce this beneficial technology in whichever form best suits their needs,” added Mr. Masefield. Food processors can rely on one of three different source irradiation technologies, gamma rays, x-rays, or high-energy electron beams. With increasing acceptance of food irradiation, manufacturers and processors can choose the technology that is most appropriate for their product characteristics, package configuration, throughput and cost per unit.

The Food Irradiation Processing Alliance's members include food irradiation technology companies (please see list) that represent or supply over 95% of microbial control irradiation services in North America. FIPA is a chapter of the Association of International Industrial Irradiation, an organization with over 65 members around the world which provides information and advice to promote ionizing radiation for many uses, including the control of microbes, modification of materials, and reduction of pollutants.

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