摘要：Food irradiation is an effective physical process for decontamination of fresh foods, sprout inhibition of potatoes and onions, and disinfestation of agricultural grains utilizing the ionizable energy of gamma-rays, X-rays, and electron beams. The wholesomeness - a combined notion of toxicological, microbiological, and nutritional suitability - of irradiated foods has been authorized by WHO and other international organizations. Research into the safety of alkylcyclobutanones, a newly detected unique radiolytic product in irradiated foods, is now in progress. Food irradiation has already been cleared in at least 51 countries and more than 400,000 tons of foods are commercially irradiated in at least 16 countries including China, the USA, and Asian countries. Spices and herbs are the main products for food irradiation to eliminate pathogens. However, in Japan, only potato irradiation for sprout inhibition has so far been cleared, and approximately 8,000 tons of irradiated potatoes are distributed on the Japanese market every year. All Nippon Spice Association, the Japanese spice industry association, has been submitting petitions for the approval of spice irradiation for decontamination to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for more than 10 years. TL analysis and alkylcyclobutanone analysis have already been authorized as official irradiation detection methods in the inspection of imported foods. Anti-food irradiation groups are still active and consumers also have vague concerns over the use of irradiation in food processing in Japan. In order to progress to a solution, public information activities using simple explanations are very important.
