Food irradiation dialogue [letter]

Dr. D. B. Louria in his Counterpoint on Food Irradiation supports the application of food irradiation”…to protect people from the contamination by microorganisms in some food items…. But if used it should be only under well- defined and limited circumstances.” This proposal allows for a constructive dialogue. Food regulatory agencies in the United States and elsewhere have clearly defined the rules that have to be applied if and when irradiation is chosen for the processing of food. Regarding the “limited circumstances” this too is an acceptable proposal. From a public health point of view those circumstances should be defined by epidemiologic evidence. The public health community should direct the application of irradiation to those foods. Their role in the causation of foodborne illness is particularly important as shown by foodborne disease surveillance data. (excerpt)