Foods that have been irradiated by the BARC in India as part of their research include potatoes, onions,spices, mangoes and shellfish. This has been shown to extend shelf life.
The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says irradiated food is safe, but the Center for Food Safety (USA) says irradiation may change the make up of food, increasing levels of chemicals such as benzene that are associated with cancer and may decrease the food's vitamin content.
International regulations demand that all irradiated foods be labeled (some may be labeled as "cold pasteurized" or "electronically pasteurized"). The irradiation symbol on food packaging is radura, which resembles a flower.
