Irradiation labels? Updated! Need SS'ers help!

[old fashioned]

I'm sure we all know that the majority of our foods get a shot of radiation in some form or another, and that if it is, it has to say so on the label.
I keep looking for this label and can't find any. Even produce is either cellophane wrapped or has a sticker, but either of these usually just have a barcode & country of origin.
So where is the "treated with radiation" info? Or is it marked by a symbol instead of words? Just what are we to be looking for?

ETA--I'm asking everyone to check labels for the radura symbol &/or "treated with radiation or irradiation" please see post below

 

[justusnak]

Hmmmmm, I didnt realise everything was treated with radiation!!! ONE more reason...to be SS!!!!! I dont want to glow in the darK!!

 

[old fashioned]

Have since done a bit of checking and found this......(there are other sites with more info including it's not just in the USA)

http://www.epa.gov/rpdweb00/sources/food_irrad.html

if you have dial up and have trouble with the link, type in the above web address into your web browser or go to the epa website and try a search for irradiated foods

On the right side is a box that has pages "history of food irradiation" (believe it or not it's been around since 1905!!) and "food labeling". Any foods having been treated with irradiation is REQUIRED by FDA to say "treated with irradiation" AND a 'radura' symbol-looks like a flower in a circle.

Anyway heres a few comments from the site.....

FDA has approved irradiation for several foodstuffs including spices and herbs, potatoes, pork poultry and other meats, fruits and vegetables.

And......


Retail Foods---FDA requires labeling of packaged, irradiated food sold at retail stores. Irradiated, whole foods sold in bulk,such as fruits and vegetables, also must display the label.
No label is required for food products that contain irradiated ingredients, such as spices, as long as the entire product hasn't been irradiated.
(does this mean a pkg of Hamburger Helper doesn't need to be labeled for irradiation if only the pasta part hasn't been treated??? or salsa if only the say onions haven't been treated?-this could go on to include most any food that is made of more than one item like cheese or ???)

Wholesale Foods---must be labeled (original packages, invoice, billing document) and display the statement "Do not irradiate again". FDA has not evaluated products that have been irradiated more than once.

Restaurant Foods---No labeling is required. (even though they have been treated)


Now all that aside, again the question......Has anyone ever seen these so called labels??? I'm still searching our packages and haven't found any yet

 

[Wifezilla]

I've never seen one.

 

[noobiechickenlady]

Here is the symbol. I can't recall ever seeing one either.

 

[old fashioned]

So are we to assume if there is no label, the food hasn't been doused with gamma rays?

Or is it more likely their not labeling as they should so not to scare the consumer?

 

[Farmfresh]

Now I am really going to start looking! Probably the reason we don't notice the label is that it is tiny or something.

Also ... interesting that the symbol for irradiation looks like a little green flower don't ya think?

 

[old fashioned]

FF, I agree......quite a contradiction!

 

[Farmfresh]

It is ALL about looking safe and healthy. Same reason there are pictures of red barns and sunny 1950 farm scenes on packs of factory farmed indoor concrete reared bacon and battery chicken eggs and meat packs.

I am always amazed how people can see the words "FRUIT flavored snack" and see a farmy looking picture on the box and then pop it immediately into their kids lunch box without ever reading the package to see that it is really only sugar, high fructose corn syrup, fruit flavor and chemicals. Are people REALLY that stupid?

So they develop a lovely green little flower symbol and then irradiate the bejezzus out of our foods. yea.

 

[old fashioned]

I went to Walmart today since it is nationwide and spent nearly 2 hours checking labels of food products both fresh and canned. Fruits, meats, spices (including ground pepper & whole peppercorns) potatoes and lettuce because these foods have been been recalled in the past because of bacteria problems. But I did forget to check juices and peanut butter. I even checked different brands like Del Monte, Tyson, McCormick, Great Value (Walmart brand) and I don't know how many others.

I did get quite an education about brands, products and labels. I found that Walmart's brand GV's spices nearly all have an allergy warning-May contain trace amounts of soy, wheat, milk, eggs. WHAT?!?! And I can't remember if nuts were included or not in the warning? With the exception of ground nutmeg, it did not have the warning.

I DID NOT FIND ANY RADURA SYMBOL OR STATEMENT about being treated with irradation in anything I checked. Not on any meat, produce (fresh or canned) or spices.

I did find other symbols like a U in a circle, a K in a triangle, and others. Some even had letters or numbers within the shape.

This is leading me to be more suspicious of any actual labeling for radiation being done but has only been said (does that make sense?)
So let me put it this way.....we as consumers can read all about it and I think it's been in the news, BUT is it (labeling) really being done??? or enforced by gvt??? Are we again being lied too???

I'm now on a mission to check out other local grocery stores and possibly even start asking questions. Also, I'm asking if anyone reads this thread/post to do the same and please report back with any findings.

Thanks to all who participate in this search, and remember it's our food supply for goodness sakes!