Joint Media Release
Food Irradiation Watch - FoE Brisbane
3 April 2006
Unlabelled irradiated noodle products in Ireland raise questions in Australia
Food Irradiation Watch (FI Watch) are concerned that food products found to be irradiated without labelling in Ireland may also be on sale unlabelled in Australia. The incident highlights the inadequacy of labelling laws to protect consumers.
A March report by Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSIE) found unlabelled irradiated ingredients in 25% of noodle brands tested. The noodles from South Korea, Singapore and China, had some or all irradiated ingredients. The brands included: Koka, Maitre Khan, McDonells, Nissin, Nong Shim, Padlo Korean Noodle, President, President Unif-100, Samyang Foods, Sau Tao, Sichaun, and Tesco Value, some of which are on sale in stores in Australia.
FSIE concluded that, "labelling of food that has been treated with ionising radiation is a legal obligation and an essential tool in facilitating consumer choice...it is difficult to have confidence in the safety of food that has been treated with ionising radiation when it is unclear why the treatment was administered and if it was carried out in suitable facilities under the right conditions."
FI Watch agrees. Spokesperson Kim Stewart said, "This is the third report in recent months showing the failure of labelling to allow consumers to know if their food is irradiated. Last month 50% of food supplements tested in the UK were found to have been irradiated withut labelling. Last fortnight we see unlabelled irradiated Mangoes for sale in New Zealand. Without labelling, people are unwittingly consuming this controversial technology without thier consent."
"Food Standards Ireland has recalled the brands in question and said that testing is onging and appropriate action will be taken. Food Irradiation Watch is calling on Food Standards Australia Zealand to follow suit."
Media contact: Kim Stewart FI Watch 0413 397 839
Food Irradiation Watch is an affiliate of Friends of the Earth Australia