MEMPHIS, TN — The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently approved the use of gamma irradiation to treat meat and poultry products at IBA’s Schamburg, Ill. food treatment facility.

The approval, known as a Grant of Inspection, mean the Midwest facility meets USDA requirements for gamma irradiation treatment of ground beef, pork and poultry. While the facility has treated bacterial contamination in food products for the last fifteen years, it has been unable to treat meat and poultry products until now. IBA also offer X-ray and electron beam radiation of food products.

“Obtaining this approval is the first step in building a network of IBA irradiation processing centers which can provide convenient access for all food producers throughout the United States,” said Jean-Cluade Delobel, chief executive officer of IBA.

Irradiation is approved by the USDA and the FDA, and is endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.

During the irradiation process, food is exposed to a precisely controlled amount of radiant energy that destroys harmful microscopic bacteria pathogens without affecting the nutritional content, taste or texture of the food.

–Jeff VanPelt