FDA Logo U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationCenter for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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CFSAN/Office of Food Additive Safety
September 2008

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Foods Permitted to be Irradiated Under FDA's Regulations
(21 CFR 179.26)


Food Purpose Dose
Fresh, non-heated processed pork Control of Trichinella spiralis 0.3 kGy min. to 1 kGy max.
Fresh foods Growth and maturation inhibition 1 kGy max.
Foods Arthropod disinfection 1 kGy max.
Dry or dehydrated Enzyme preparations Microbial disinfection 10 kGy max.
Dry or dehydrated spices/seasonings Microbial disinfection 30 kGy max.
Fresh or frozen, uncooked poultry products Pathogen control 3 kGy max.
Frozen packaged meats (solely NASA) Sterilization 44 kGy min.
Refrigerated, uncooked meat products Pathogen control 4.5 kGy max.
Frozen uncooked meat products Pathogen control 7 kGy max.
Fresh shell eggs Control of Salmonella 3.0 kGy max.
Seeds for sprouting Control of microbial pathogens 8.0 kGy max.
Fresh or frozen molluscan shellfish Control of Vibrio species and other foodborne pathogens 5.5 kGy max.
Fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach Control of food-borne pathogens, and extension of shelf-life 4.0 kGy max.
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