The Impact of Consumer Acceptance on Trade in Irradiated Foods

The subject of food irradiation has provoked more reaction, more debate, more polarised positions among consumer organisations than any other recent issue in food policy. The contemporary consumer attitudes towards food irradiation are described, with the arguments for and against its use. It is argued that in the absence of any positive message from a respected source for its use the opposition –political, environmental, ethical, medical – has caused consumer attitudes to harden.