The Food and Drug Administration will allow the use of irradiation to kill foodborne pathogens on fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce beginning Aug. 22. The 42-page final rule is being published Friday in the Federal Register. The action comes almost eight years after the food industry first petitioned for approval of irradiation technology on human food.
FDA's rule noted its new rule is "in partial response to a petition filed by The National Food Processors Association on behalf of the Food Irradiation Coalition" filed in January 2000, asking for approval of ionizing radiation for the control of foodborne pathogens and the extension of shelf life in a variety of human foods. After fresh spinach from California was linked to a nationwide outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in December 2007, the petitioners amended the original request and singled out spinach and iceberg lettuce for action for irradiation.
The final rule applies only to iceberg lettuce and spinach. The use of ionizing radiation on the remaining foods included in the petition remains under review, according to the rule language. To view a copy of the rule, click HERE.
Source: Feedstuffs
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