Ionizing radiation for treatment of foods may be safely used under the following conditions:
(a) Energy sources. Ionizing radiation is limited to:
(1) Gamma rays from sealed units of the radionuclides cobalt-60 or cesium-137.
(2) Electrons generated from machine sources at energies not to exceed 10 million electron volts.
(3) X rays generated from machine sources at energies not to exceed 5 million electron volts (MeV), except as permitted by paragraph (a)(4) of this section.
(4) X rays generated from machine sources using tantalum or gold as the target material and using energies not to exceed 7.5 (MeV).
(b) Limitations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Use Limitations------------------------------------------------------------------------1. For control of Trichinella spiralis in Minimum dose 0.3 kiloGray
pork carcasses or fresh, non-heat- (kGy) (30 kilorad (krad));
processed cuts of pork carcasses. maximum dose not to exceed
1 kGy (100 krad).2. For growth and maturation inhibition of Not to exceed 1 kGy (100
fresh foods. krad).3. For disinfestation of arthropod pests Do.
in food.4. For microbial disinfection of dry or Not to exceed 10 kGy (1
dehydrated enzyme preparations (including megarad (Mrad)).
immobilized enzymes).5. For microbial disinfection of the Not to exceed 30 kGy (3
following dry or dehydrated aromatic Mrad).
vegetable substances when used as
ingredients in small amounts solely for
flavoring or aroma: culinary herbs,
seeds, spices, vegetable seasonings that
are used to impart flavor but that are
not either represented as, or appear to
be, a vegetable that is eaten for its own
sake, and blends of these aromatic
vegetable substances. Turmeric and
paprika may also be irradiated when they
are to be used as color additives. The
blends may contain sodium chloride and
minor amounts of dry food ingredients
ordinarily used in such blends.6. For control of food-borne pathogens in Not to exceed 4.5 kGy for
fresh (refrigerated or unrefrigerated) or non-frozen products; not to
frozen, uncooked poultry products that exceed 7.0 kGy for frozen
are: (1) Whole carcasses or disjointed products.
portions (or other parts) of such
carcasses that are ``ready-to-cook
poultry'' within the meaning of 9 CFR
381.l(b) (with or without nonfluid
seasoning; includes, e.g., ground
poultry), or (2) mechanically separated
poultry product (a finely comminuted
ingredient produced by the mechanical
deboning of poultry carcasses or parts of
carcasses).7. For the sterilization of frozen, Minimum dose 44 kGy (4.4
packaged meats used solely in the Mrad). Packaging materials
National Aeronautics and Space used need not comply with
Administration space flight programs. Sec. 179.25(c) provided
that their use is otherwise
permitted by applicable
regulations in parts 174
through 186 of this
chapter.8. For control of foodborne pathogens in, Not to exceed 4.5 kGy
and extension of the shelf-life of, maximum for refrigerated
refrigerated or frozen, uncooked products products; not to exceed 7.0
that are meat within the meaning of 9 CFR kGy maximum for frozen
301.2(rr), meat byproducts within the products.
meaning of 9 CFR 301.2(tt), or meat food
products within the meaning of 9 CFR
301.2(uu), with or without nonfluid
seasoning, that are otherwise composed
solely of intact or ground meat, meat
byproducts, or both meat and meat
byproducts.9. For control of Salmonella in fresh Not to exceed 3.0 kGy.
shell eggs..10. For control of microbial pathogens on Not to exceed 8.0 kGy.
seeds for sprouting..11. For the control of Vibrio bacteria and Not to exceed 5.5 kGy.
other foodborne microorganisms in or on
fresh or frozen molluscan shellfish..12. For control of food-borne pathogens Not to exceed 4.0 kGy.
and extension of shelf-life in fresh
iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach..13. For control of foodborne pathogens, Not to exceed 4.5 kGy.
and extension of shelf-life, in
unrefrigerated (as well as refrigerated)
uncooked meat, meat byproducts, and
certain meat food products.14. For control of food-borne pathogens Not to exceed 6.0 kGy.
in, and extension of the shelf-life of,
chilled or frozen raw, cooked, or
partially cooked crustaceans or dried
crustaceans (water activity less than
0.85), with or without spices, minerals,
inorganic salts, citrates, citric acid,
and/or calcium disodium EDTA.------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Labeling. (1) The label and labeling of retail packages of foods irradiated in conformance with paragraph (b) of this section shall bear the following logo along with either the statement [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR01FE93.000
``Treated with radiation'' or the statement ``Treated by irradiation'' in addition to information required by other regulations. The logo shall be placed prominently and conspicuously in conjunction with the required statement. The radiation disclosure statement is not required to be more prominent than the declaration of ingredients required under Sec. 101.4 of this chapter. As used in this provision, the term ``radiation disclosure statement'' means the written statement that discloses that a food has been intentionally subject to irradiation.
(2) For irradiated foods not in package form, the required logo and phrase ``Treated with radiation'' or ``Treated by irradiation'' shall be displayed to the purchaser with either (i) the labeling of the bulk container plainly in view or (ii) a counter sign, card, or other appropriate device bearing the information that the product has been treated with radiation. As an alternative, each item of food may be individually labeled. In either case, the information must be prominently and conspicuously displayed to purchasers. The labeling requirement applies only to a food that has been irradiated, not to a food that merely contains an irradiated ingredient but that has not itself been irradiated.
(3) For a food, any portion of which is irradiated in conformance with paragraph (b) of this section, the label and labeling and invoices or bills of lading shall bear either the statement ``Treated with radiation--do not irradiate again'' or the statement ``Treated by irradiation--do not irradiate again'' when shipped to a food manufacturer or processor for further processing, labeling, or packing. [51 FR 13399, Apr. 18, 1986, as amended at 53 FR 12757, Apr. 18, 1988; 53 FR 53209, Dec. 30, 1988; 54 FR 32335, Aug. 7, 1989; 55 FR 14415, Apr. 18, 1990; 55 FR 18544, May 2, 1990; 60 FR 12670, Mar. 8, 1995; 62 FR 64121, Dec. 3, 1997; 63 FR 43876, Aug. 17, 1998; 65 FR 45282, July 21, 2000; 65 FR 64607, Oct. 30, 2000; 69 FR 76846, Dec. 23, 2004; 70 FR 48072, Aug. 16, 2005; 73 FR 49603, Aug. 22, 2008; 77 FR 71316, 71321, Nov. 30, 2012; 79 FR 20779, Apr. 14, 2014]