Chapter 9: Food Irradiation for Phytosanitary and Quarantine Treatment

Irradiation at doses less than 1 kGy is an effective phytosanitary measure with minimal adverse effects on the quality of most fresh produce. There are internationally recognized guidelines for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary measure and for the conduct of trade in irradiated fresh produce. It is the only method that has an internationally agreed dose to sterilize all fruit flies on any host (a generic dose) and for which generic doses for other insects and pests are under consideration. Irradiation offers a cost-competitive, non-chemical alternative to several other phytosanitary measures and can be used to decrease the dependence on fumigation with methyl bromide, a gas with adverse effects on the environment through ozone depletion and on human health. In the last decade, trade in irradiated fresh produce has increased steadily with over 20 000 tonnes traded in 2015. The USA and New Zealand are the main importing countries and main exporting countries are Mexico, Vietnam, Australia, Thailand, and India. Many different irradiated fruits are traded, predominantly guava, mango, sweet potato, and dragon fruit. This chapter discusses solutions to issues that would further assist growth in international trade, but the overall advantages of irradiation indicate that it should be regarded as a phytosanitary treatment of choice in the future.