Food supplements 'illegally irradiated'

Radiation can be used to kill bacteria in food but, in the UK, only cooking herbs and spices can be treated this way.

Irradiated foods must also be clearly labelled so that consumers know what they are buying.

The Food Standards Agency survey found 58 supplements, or 42% of the sample, had been exposed to radiation - none revealed this on the label.

The popular supplements, including ginkgo biloba, garlic, ginger and aloe vera, were found at more than a dozen different outlets, including well-known names such as Holland and Barrett, Neal's Yard and GNC Herbal.

There is no claim that the products are unsafe, but the companies concerned have been told to remove them from sale.

Local trading standards have been alerted to the problem, and may prosecute if they find the problems are repeated.

A spokesman for the agency said that repeat testing was likely to follow swiftly.

'Misleading'

The agency also tested samples of herbs, spices and prawn and shrimp.

They found two samples of herbs and spices, and five of seafood which tested positive for irradiation - without this being declared on the label.

Dr Jon Bell, director of Food Safety Policy at the FSA, said: "These results for dietary supplements are not acceptable.

"There is no food safety concern, but they were being sold illegally.

"Consumers should not be misled in this way and the Food Standards Agency has made it clear that the industry must take action to remove affected products."

A spokesman for the Consumer's Association said: "It is disgraceful that so many products have been found to be illegally irradiated. It is essential that manufacturers remove these products from sale.

"The FSA and local authorities must investigate how this has happened on such a large scale and prosecute those responsible."

A spokesman for the Proprietary Association of Great Britain, which represents the makers and sellers of supplements, said the law on irradiation was "complex".

He said: "All the companies in PAGB membership have recently initiated internal quality control programmes to ensure that products do not contain traces of irradiated ingredient.

"It should be noted irradiation poses no danger to consumers and in fact, makes the raw material safer for human consumption.

"In addition, WHO encourages the use of the irradiation process in order to reduce the incidence of food borne diseases caused by micro-organisms."