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This electronic document was downloaded from the GPO web site, November 1999, and is provided for information purposes only. The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, is updated each year in early summer. The most current version of the regulations may be found at the GPO web site or from the current printed version. [Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 21, Volume 3, Parts 170 to 199] [Revised as of April 1, 1999] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 21CFR179.26] [Page 419-421] TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) PART 179--IRRADIATION IN THE PRODUCTION, PROCESSING AND HANDLING OF FOOD-- Table of Contents Subpart B--Radiation and Radiation Sources Sec. 179.26 Ionizing radiation for the treatment of food. Ionizing radiation for treatment of foods may be safely used under the following conditions: (a) Energy sources. Ionizing radiation is limited to: (1) Gamma rays from sealed units of the radionuclides cobalt-60 or cesium-137. (2) Electrons generated from machine sources at energies not to exceed 10 million electron volts. (3) X-rays generated from machine sources at energies not to exceed 5 million electron volts. (b) Limitations. [[Page 420]] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Use Limitations ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. For control of Trichinella spiralis in Minimum dose 0.3 kiloGray pork carcasses or fresh, non-heat- (kGy) (30 kilorad (krad)); processed cuts of pork carcasses. maximum dose not to exceed 1 kGy (100 krad). 2. For growth and maturation inhibition of Not to exceed 1 kGy (100 fresh foods. krad). 3. For disinfestation of arthropod pests Do. in food. 4. For microbial disinfection of dry or Not to exceed 10 kGy (1 dehydrated enzyme preparations (including megarad (Mrad)). immobilized enzymes). 5. For microbial disinfection of the Not to exceed 30 kGy (3 following dry or dehydrated aromatic Mrad). vegetable substances when used as ingredients in small amounts solely for flavoring or aroma: culinary herbs, seeds, spices, vegetable seasonings that are used to impart flavor but that are not either represented as, or appear to be, a vegetable that is eaten for its own sake, and blends of these aromatic vegetable substances. Turmeric and paprika may also be irradiated when they are to be used as color additives. The blends may contain sodium chloride and minor amounts of dry food ingredients ordinarily used in such blends. 6. For control of food-borne pathogens in Not to exceed 3 kGy (300 fresh or frozen, uncooked poultry krad); any packaging used products that are: (1) Whole carcasses or shall not exclude oxygen. disjointed portions of such carcasses that are ``ready-to-cook poultry'' within the meaning of 9 CFR 381.1(b)(44), or (2) mechanically separated poultry product (a finely comminuted ingredient produced by the mechanical deboning of poultry carcasses or parts of carcasses). 7. For the sterilization of frozen, Minimum dose 44 kGy (4.4 packaged meats used solely in the Mrad). Packaging materials National Aeronautics and Space used need not comply with Administration space flight programs. Sec. 179.25(c) provided that their use is otherwise permitted by applicable regulations in parts 174 through 186 of this chapter. 8. For control of foodborne pathogens in, Not to exceed 4.5 kGy and extension of the shelf-life of, maximum for refrigerated refrigerated or frozen, uncooked products products; not to exceed 7.0 that are meat within the meaning of 9 CFR kGy maximum for frozen 301.2(rr), meat byproducts within the products. meaning of 9 CFR 301.2(tt), or meat food products within the meaning of 9 CFR 301.2(uu), with or without nonfluid seasoning, that are otherwise composed solely of intact or ground meat, meat byproducts, or both meat and meat byproducts.. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (c) Labeling. (1) The label and labeling of retail packages of foods irradiated in conformance with paragraph (b) of this section shall bear the following logo along with either the statement [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR01FE93.000 [[Page 421]] ``Treated with radiation'' or the statement ``Treated by irradiation'' in addition to information required by other regulations. The logo shall be placed prominently and conspicuously in conjunction with the required statement. The radiation disclosure statement is not required to be more prominent than the declaration of ingredients required under Sec. 101.4 of this chapter. As used in this provision, the term ``radiation disclosure statement'' means the written statement that discloses that a food has been intentionally subject to irradiation. (2) For irradiated foods not in package form, the required logo and phrase ``Treated with radiation'' or ``Treated by irradiation'' shall be displayed to the purchaser with either (i) the labeling of the bulk container plainly in view or (ii) a counter sign, card, or other appropriate device bearing the information that the product has been treated with radiation. As an alternative, each item of food may be individually labeled. In either case, the information must be prominently and conspicuously displayed to purchasers. The labeling requirement applies only to a food that has been irradiated, not to a food that merely contains an irradiated ingredient but that has not itself been irradiated. (3) For a food, any portion of which is irradiated in conformance with paragraph (b) of this section, the label and labeling and invoices or bills of lading shall bear either the statement ``Treated with radiation--do not irradiate again'' or the statement ``Treated by irradiation--do not irradiate again'' when shipped to a food manufacturer or processor for further processing, labeling, or packing. [51 FR 13399, Apr. 18, 1986, as amended at 53 FR 12757, Apr. 18, 1988; 53 FR 53209, Dec. 30, 1988; 54 FR 32335, Aug. 7, 1989; 55 FR 14415, Apr. 18, 1990; 55 FR 18544, May 2, 1990; 60 FR 12670, Mar. 8, 1995; 62 FR 64121, Dec. 3, 1997; 63 FR 43876, Aug. 17, 1998]