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# FDA Decision to Expand Food Irradiation Masks Weak Import Inspections
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/food_irradiation_0411140426/
- Published: 2014-04-11T17:26:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T14:06:57.000Z
- Description: Wenonah Hauter of Food & Water Watch says the FDA's approval of ionizing radiation for crustaceans shows the agency leans on irradiation instead of hiring inspectors, and ties the move to Trans-Pacific Partnership talks that would expand Asian seafood imports.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Biological, Food Safety, #vivvo-import

**FDA Decision to Expand Food Irradiation Masks Weak Import Inspections**

*Statement by Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch*

**Washington, D.C. –** “Today’s [announcement](http://foodwaterwatch.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d8%2c75%3e4-%3eLCE180%3c7%401-GLCE17.6&RE=MC&RI=4347502&Preview=False&DistributionActionID=19218&Action=Follow+Link&ref=foodconsumer.org) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving the use of ionizing radiation as a food safety measure for crustaceans continues to show how inadequate the FDA food inspection system is, especially for imported foods. Food & Water Watch continues to harbor concerns about the safety of foods treated with radiation, but irradiation continues to be used as a crutch by FDA as a substitute for hiring more inspection personnel and investing in a robust laboratory system that would prevent unsafe seafood from entering the marketplace.

“We import over 80% of our seafood, and much of that comes from countries in Asia, such as the People’s Republic of China, that raise their seafood in squalid conditions. The expansion of irradiation to cover more seafood products will allow those countries to continue to raise their seafood products in filthy and unsanitary factory fish farms since irradiation will be used as the ‘magic bullet’ to make the products safe to eat from microbiological contaminants.

“We also view today’s announcement as one being tied to the negotiations of the new Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement where we will see a further expansion of imported seafood from Asia and a weakening of our food safety requirements for imported food products.”

Food & Water Watch works to ensure the food, water and fish we consume is safe, accessible and sustainable. So we can all enjoy and trust in what we eat and drink, we help people take charge of where their food comes from, keep clean, affordable, public tap water flowing freely to our homes, protect the environmental quality of oceans, force government to do its job protecting citizens, and educate about the importance of keeping shared resources under public control.

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**Contact:** Darcey Rakestraw, [202-683-2467](tel:202-683-2467); [drakestraw@fwwatch.org](mailto:drakestraw@fwwatch.org)