CSPI FACT SHEET: Oppose Weakening The Labeling Requirements For Irradiated Food

CSPI REPORTS

Oppose Weakening The Labeling Requirements For Irradiated Food

Consumers Can Now Tell If Their Food Has Been Irradiated By Looking at the Label.

Food treated with irradiation is now labeled to notify consumers of that fact, as required by the Food and Drug Administration's regulation. The required label includes this logo, which must be displayed prominently on the food:

H.R. 2469, the "Food and Nutrition Information Reform Act," Would Eliminate This Labeling Requirement.

Manufacturers would be allowed to bury information about irradiation on the back of product labeling.

The fact that a food has been irradiated could be stated in tiny print, no bigger than the ingredient list.

FDA would be prohibited from requiring manufacturers to use the consumer information logo that has been in place since 1986.

Consumers Want to Be Clearly Informed About Whether Their Food Has Been Irradiated.

In a 1996 poll, 92 percent of consumers surveyed said they wanted irradiated foods to be labeled. This was true even though respondents were told that irradiation may have some food safety benefits.

Irradiation can affect the flavor and texture of food, and can reduce its nutritional value. Consumers have a right to be informed of these effects so that they can make informed choices in the marketplace.

The irradiation logo is an important, non-alarmist tool for educating consumers about the way their food has been processed. The logo is derived from the symbol that is used internationally to label food that has been irradiated.

"Hidden" labeling prevents consumers from learning that their food has been irradiated. Without the logo and prominent placement of the irradiation label, consumers will not notice that their food has been irradiated.

The Current Irradiation Labeling Requirement Does Not Burden Manufacturers.

Under the current regulation, manufacturers can include additional factual information on the label along with the required logo, describing the benefits of irradiation.

For more information, please contact Caroline Smith DeWaal, Director of Food Safety, at (202) 332-9110, ext. 366.