In this article, Global Foodmate introduces the standards and regulations on food irradiation in China.
1. Definition of food irradiation
According to National Food Safety Standard Hygienic Specification for Food Irradiation Processing (GB 18524-2016), "Food Irradiation" is an irradiation process that uses the radiation chemistry and radiation microbiological effects produced by ionizing radiation in food to achieve the purpose of inhibiting germination, delay or promoting maturation, insecticide, sterilization, sterilization and preservation.
2. Regulations on irradiated food
According to National Food Safety Standard Hygienic Specification for Food Irradiation Processing (GB 18524-2016), the type of irradiated food shall be within the scope of the 8 categories of products specified in GB 14891 (GB 14891.1-GB 14891.8), and other foods shall not be irradiated.
3. Labelling requirements for irradiated food
According to National Food Safety Standard General Standard for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 7718-2011), Foods or any ingredients that have been treated with ionizing radiation or ionizing energy should be marked “irradiated food” near the food name or in the ingredient list.
4. Advices from Global Foodmate
Food companies should at least do the following two things:
(1) Food enterprises should strictly follow the relevant quality control standards for the processing of irradiated foods, and should not blindly pursue the effect of sterilization or preservation to increase the irradiation dose at will.
(2) Food companies should strictly abide by the state's labeling requirements for irradiated foods, protect consumers' right to know, and give consumers the right to choose whether to purchase or not to purchase irradiated food.
