An intelligence report published by Advance Market Analytics details insights about the potential future of food irradiation around the world, pointing to food safety among the benefits.

United States companies will contribute to the maximum growth of the global food irradiation market throughout the predicted period of 2021-2026, according to the report “Food Irradiation Market Outlook to 2026.”

Food irradiation — the application of ionizing radiation to food — is an ideal food safety practice because it does not make foods radioactive, compromise nutritional quality, or noticeably change the taste, texture, or appearance of them according to food safety experts in the United States and around the world. The process is mandatory for some foods imported to the United States. Some U.S. companies irradiate their raw ground beef.

Food irradiation improves the safety and extends the shelf life of foods by reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects. Like pasteurizing milk, irradiation can make food safer for the consumer according to the study. The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for regulating the sources of radiation that are used to irradiate food. The FDA approves a source of radiation for use on foods only after it has determined that irradiating the food is safe.

With food irradiation, pathogens such as Salmonella or E. coli can be eliminated. In addition to this, food irradiation reduces the need for other pest controls which can harm food. This process has been widely accepted to maintain the quality of the food. These benefits are increasing the market growth, the researchers reported.

A thorough analysis of these factors including economic slowdown, local and global reforms and COVID-19 impact were conducted to determine future growth prospects in the global market. The report provides a detailed overview of key factors in the food irradiation market and factors such as driver, restraint, past and current trends, regulatory scenarios and technology development.

Overview of insights:

Market Drivers

• Increasing concerns of food safety are contributing to the market growth. There have been increasing foodborne diseases that are caused through contamination. In addition, there has been increasing consumption of meat and raw food that can be protected from microorganisms through food irradiation. These factors are fueling the food irradiation market.

Market Trend

• There is rising usage of irradiation in fresh fruits and vegetables.

Restraints

• There is a lack of awareness about food irradiation that may hamper the market growth.

Opportunities

• There is increasing consumption of raw foods, such as lettuce and spinach.

Challenges

• There is a reluctance of some individuals to use the technology.

Major Players

• Food Technology Service Inc. (United States), Sterigenics International Inc. (United States), IonISOS SA (France), ScanTech Sciences Inc. (United States), GRAY STAR Inc. (United States), REVISES Services (United Kingdom), STERIS Isomedix Services (United States), MDS Nordion (Canada), and SADEX Corp. (United States).

Interested in learning more about food irradiation?
IBA, Aerial and Bühler have organized an online symposium fully dedicated to food irradiation. The International Food Irradiation Symposium (IFIS) is scheduled to run online March 9-11. Live sessions have been scheduled between 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central Europe Time (GMT+2) and all sessions will be available online for replay less than one hour after the ending of the session.

The symposium will feature six different modules:

Food Irradiation

• An updat on the current uses of food irradiation, from America to Asia and Australia through Europe.

Regulations

• A review of the different legislations, by continent. With a specific focus on the European situation.

Food Quality

• Impact of irradiation on food quality: Positive and non-desired effects for various applications corresponding to different levels of doses — phytosanitary, decontamination, and sterilization.

Dosimetry

• Dose mappings, Monte-Carlo simulations and practical examples.

Technical Solutions

• An overview of the different irradiation modalities and their respective applications including review of low energy electrons, high energy electrons, and photons.

Workshops

• 3 practical workshops to follow a food product along the different steps of irradiation, dosimetry, physico-chemical and nutritional analysis in labs.