{"id":1270,"date":"2023-09-26T03:52:20","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T03:52:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ccnr.thedev.ca\/?page_id=1270"},"modified":"2023-10-21T04:30:18","modified_gmt":"2023-10-21T04:30:18","slug":"food-irradiation-and-the-labelling-of-irradiated-foods","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.ccnr.org\/fr\/food-irradiation-and-the-labelling-of-irradiated-foods\/","title":{"rendered":"FOOD IRRADIATION AND THE LABELLING OF IRRADIATED FOODS"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE
\nON CONSUMER AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS<\/h2>\n

ON THE QUESTION OF<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

FOOD IRRADIATION AND
\nTHE LABELLING OF IRRADIATED FOODS<\/span><\/h1>\n
\n
\n

MARY COLLINS, M.P., CHAIRPERSON<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

MAY 1987<\/p>\n

\n


\n[ . . . pour la\u00a0version fran\u00e7aise<\/a>\u00a0]<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

RECOMMENDATIONS<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/blockquote>\n
    \n
  1. The Standing Committee recommends that\u00a0the irradiation of food by any form of ionizing energy<\/span>\u00a0[ should ]\u00a0continue to be regulated as a food additive<\/span>, and be restricted to those foods and doses presently approved by the existing regulations\u00a0until an in-depth scientific assessment of health implications and further toxicological studies indicate that no significant adverse health effects would be expected<\/span>\u00a0to be found by the ingestion of irradiated foods. Notwithstanding the foregoing,\u00a0it is recommended that the\u00a0irradiation of wheat<\/a>\u00a0no longer be permitted<\/span>\u00a0until the specific safety questions addressed in other recommendations in this report are resolved.<\/li>\n
  2. The Standing Committee recommends that the Minister of National Health and Welfare, in consultation with other interested federal government departments and agencies, and representatives of consumer groups, strike\u00a0a consultative panel to be composed of theoretical and analytical physicists chemists, nutritionists, toxicologists and consumer group representatives to conduct\u00a0an in-depth, integrated analysis<\/a>\u00a0to provide further insight into potential biochemical and physiological problems<\/span>\u00a0that might arise from irradiating various foods at varying doses. The information obtained from this analysis should be used to provide\u00a0the basis for developing protocols for tests to determine, more fully, the wholesomeness of irradiated foods<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  3. The Standing Committee recommends that\u00a0baseline studies<\/span>\u00a0as suggested by the consultative panel, be conducted with funding from the Federal Government. Emphasis should be placed on conducting\u00a0tests on wheat and chicken<\/span>\u00a0as recommended elsewhere in this report. Funding for the toxicological tests required to support an application to irradiate specific foods is to be the responsibility of the applicant.<\/li>\n
  4. The Standing Committee recommends that the consultative panel act as an\u00a0advisory body to the Minister of National Health and Welfare<\/span>\u00a0regarding applications for approval to irradiate foods.<\/li>\n
  5. The Standing Committee recommends that\u00a0further feeding studies (not on humans) be conducted to determine if the effects from eating\u00a0irradiated wheat<\/a>\u00a0as indicated by earlier studies do in fact occur<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  6. The Standing Committee recommends that\u00a0if increased\u00a0polyploidy or other toxic responses<\/a>\u00a0are further shown to result from ingesting irradiated wheat, then similar studies should be conducted on other grains<\/span>\u00a0which might be candidates for irradiation. If there is an adverse effect and it is dependent on the period of time between irradiating and ingestion, then this relationship should be established.<\/li>\n
  7. The Standing Committee recommends that the consultative panel (see Recommendation 2) select researchers and\/or research institutes to conduct\u00a0studies to determine the life of\u00a0free radicals<\/a>\u00a0in various foods that may be irradiated (e.g. dried and hardened spices, wheat and other grains)<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  8. The Standing Committee recommends an investigation be conducted into the\u00a0products that may be produced by irradiating pesticide residues<\/span>. Such an examination should include irradiating the more widely applied classes of pesticides in isolated conditions and on fruits and vegetables.<\/li>\n
  9. If the control of food irradiation is to proceed on the basis of establishing a maximum overall average absorbed dose below which no toxicological testing is required, the Standing Committee recommends that\u00a0the maximum overall absorbed average dose should be restricted to 1 kGy except for specifically approved situations<\/span>. This level would reduce the health threat of pathogenic and toxin-producing bacteria such as\u00a0C. botulinum<\/i>\u00a0.<\/li>\n
  10. The Standing Committee recommends that\u00a0methods more cost-effective that irradiation be pursued to contend with the\u00a0Salmonella<\/a>\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0problem in Canada<\/span>. This should include the establishment of a comprehensive public education program to promote proper and safe handling techniques for poultry. This program should be jointly formulated and funded by the Government and the poultry industry. As well, further studies on the wholesomeness of irradiated chicken should be conducted as indicated in Recommendation 3.<\/li>\n
  11. The Standing Committee recommends that the Department of Agriculture in concert with academic microbiologists, and the consultative panel (Recommendation 2) investigate\u00a0the production of\u00a0aflatoxins<\/a>\u00a0after irradiation. Experiments should attempt to ascertain which fungal species (if any) increase production after irradiation and if mutant strains are produced as is suggested in the scientific literature.<\/span>\u00a0In the first instance, studies should be conducted using methods similar to the original aflatoxin studies and then further studies should be conducted under natural conditions where competitor organisms would be present.<\/li>\n
  12. The Standing Committee recommends that investigations be conducted on\u00a0the effect of irradiation on the\u00a0nutritional degradation<\/a>\u00a0of the foods for which irradiation is presently permitted<\/span>. Investigations into the nutritional degradation of other foods should also be conducted before they are approved for irradiation.<\/li>\n
  13. The Standing Committee recommends that in addition to other toxicological tests that need be conducted,\u00a0emphasis should be placed on tests to examine the long-term chronic effects (if any) of ingesting irradiated foods<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  14. The Standing Committee recommends that all irradiated foods, both domestically produced and imported, be fully labelled<\/span>\u00a0as outlined in recommendations\u00a015, 17, 18, 19, 20<\/small>\u00a0and\u00a021<\/small>\u00a0regardless of whether food irradiation continues to be classified as a food additive as recommended by this Standing Committee, or as a food process.<\/li>\n
  15. The Standing Committee recommends that\u00a0all prepackaged irradiated foods shall bear the following symbol, along with the word “irradiated”<\/span>.\u00a0
    <\/center><\/li>\n
  16. The Standing Committee recommends that efforts be made to\u00a0establish a uniform method of labelling irradiated foods on an international level<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  17. The Standing Committee recommends that\u00a0the symbol and the wording be positioned on the principal display panel of all prepackaged irradiated foods<\/span>\u00a0in a minimum size of 4.8 millimeters (\u00a03<\/sup>\/16<\/sub><\/small>\u00a0inch ) , but otherwise in accordance with the size prescribed by the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations (section 14).<\/li>\n
  18. The Standing Committee recommends that\u00a0the symbol and the wording be the same colour as that of the other ingredient labelling<\/span>\u00a0which appears on a prepackaged product that contains irradiated food.<\/li>\n
  19. The Standing Committee recommends that\u00a0all irradiated ingredients be labelled in a clear and readily visible manner<\/span>\u00a0as set out in Appendix VI of this report. This recommended form of labelling is to be positioned on the principal display panel of all prepackaged products as set out in recommendation 17. The colour shall be as prescribed in recommendation 18.<\/li>\n
  20. The Standing Committee recommends that\u00a0irradiated foods sold from bulk containers at the retail level display the recommended symbol and wording on a poster, card, counter sign or other method of display on or immediately adjacent to the food in a conspicuous and prominent manner<\/span>. The symbol and wording, shall be at least two-thirds the size of the print or other symbol displaying the product name on the poster, card, counter sign or other method of display and shall be no smaller than 17.5 mm (\u00a011<\/sup>\/16<\/sub><\/small>\u00a0of an inch ) .\u00a0All bulk irradiated foods must be labelled accordingly regardless of whether the product name is displayed.<\/span>\u00a0The symbol and wording shall be displayed in a colour which contrasts with the background colour of the poster, card, counter sign or other method of display.<\/li>\n
  21. The Standing Committee recommends that the reirradiation of foods not be permitted. The Standing Committee further recommends that the label and invoices or bills of lading of all irradiated foods bear the symbol prescribed in Recommendation 15 and the statement “Irradiated — do not irradiate again”.<\/span><\/li>\n
  22. The Standing Committee recommends that emphasis be placed on providing\u00a0clear unbiased information on food irradiation to the public<\/span>. Information pamphlets on food irradiation should be made available to consumers by the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs through its regional offices.If irradiated foods become available for consumption in Canada,\u00a0the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs should be responsible for coordinating the development of a public information program about food irradiation<\/span>. Financing for the program should be jointly shared by the Department and producers, manufacturers, and processors involved with food irradiation.<\/li>\n
  23. The Standing Committee recommends that if food irradiation is to proceed on a wider scale,\u00a0theoretical and analytical studies should be performed to determine whether X-rays capable of inducing radioactivity are produced when food is irradiated in packaging materials lined in foil<\/span>. If so, proper precautions should be taken to ensure that foods with induced radioactivity are not presented for consumption.<\/li>\n
  24. The Standing Committee recommends that the\u00a0sensitive crystallization test for identifying irradiated fruits and vegetables<\/span>\u00a0be further investigated.<\/li>\n
  25. The Standing Committee recommends that\u00a0research be conducted by Agriculture Canada to develop tests which will identify irradiated foods<\/span>\u00a0and the radiation dose used.<\/li>\n
  26. The Standing Committee recommends that emphasis be placed on\u00a0encouraging countries to adopt uniform standards respecting dosimeters and their placement in each lot of food<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  27. The Standing Committee recommends that once uniform international standards for irradiated foods have been implemented,\u00a0an international inspection system<\/span>\u00a0be developed to ensure that irradiated foods comply with such standards.<\/li>\n
  28. The Standing Committee recommends that AECL take all necessary steps to emphasize the\u00a0regeneration of spent cobalt-60 to reduce levels of radioactive waste materials<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  29. The Standing Committee recommends that special emphasis be placed on\u00a0investigating the effect of irradiation on the\u00a0nutritional value<\/a>\u00a0of foods which constitute a large portion of a diet<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  30. The Standing Committee recommends that in the event that the regulations controlling food irradiation are amended,\u00a0irradiation should continue to be classified as a\u00a0food additive<\/a>\u00a0and be governed by all the controls and requirements for testing food additives. As well, because of the many unique qualities that may be imparted by irradiation, toxicological testing should be required for each food at the dosage at which it is proposed to be treated<\/span>\u00a0if above the 1 kGy level as outlined in Recommendation 9.<\/li>\n
  31. The Standing Committee recommends that if food irradiation is classified as a process rather than as a food additive, regulations be drafted that would require controls and toxicological testing as stringent as would be required for food additives.<\/span><\/li>\n
  32. The Standing Committee recommends that immediately upon the expiration of the two year period during which manufacturers and importers are required to\u00a0retain records<\/span>\u00a0in accordance with Section B. 27.005 of the proposed food irradiation regulations, such manufacturers and importers be required to present those records to the Health Protection Branch for retention by the Branch for a further period of twenty years.<\/li>\n
  33. The Standing Committee recommends, that if the regulations respecting food irradiation are changed, the following amendments be made to the proposed regulations:\n
      \n
    1. In subsection B.27.004.(c)\u00a0more specific locations for the placement of dosimeters in each lot of food<\/span>\u00a0should be required and some minimum standards declared.<\/li>\n
    2. In subsection B.27.004(f)\u00a0recommended processing conditions during irradiation<\/span>\u00a0should be specified.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      \n

       <\/p>\n

      [\u00a0Experts Speak on Food Irradiation<\/a>\u00a0] [\u00a0Nuclear Sunset<\/a>\u00a0]
      \n<\/span><\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS ON THE QUESTION OF   FOOD IRRADIATION AND THE LABELLING OF IRRADIATED FOODS MARY COLLINS, M.P., CHAIRPERSON MAY 1987 [ . . . pour la\u00a0version fran\u00e7aise\u00a0] RECOMMENDATIONS The Standing Committee recommends that\u00a0the irradiation of food by any form of ionizing energy\u00a0[ should ]\u00a0continue to …<\/p>\n

      FOOD IRRADIATION AND THE LABELLING OF IRRADIATED FOODS<\/span> Lire la suite\u00a0\u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1270","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.ccnr.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1270","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.ccnr.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.ccnr.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.ccnr.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.ccnr.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1270"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/wp.ccnr.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1270\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1747,"href":"https:\/\/wp.ccnr.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1270\/revisions\/1747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.ccnr.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.ccnr.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.ccnr.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}