25% of dried noodles irradiated, says FSAI

A survey carried out by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has found that a quarter of a range of dried noodle products which it examined, along with accompanying seasoning and vegetables, contained ingredients that had been irradiated.

The authority said yesterday that none of the products had been labelled as containing irradiated ingredients as required by law. The FSAI said yesterday that it had examined 55 dried noodle products along with the individual sachets of seasoning and/or vegetables that accompanied them and found that 14 (25 per cent) contained irradiated ingredients.

"The products, sampled in 2005, included plain noodles as well as noodle products with added meat, soya or seafood flavourings, vegetables, herbs and spices.

All the products that had been irradiated were produced outside the EU, but none carried the mandatory labelling stipulated by the EU directive governing food irradiation.

Chief specialist, biotechnology, at the FSAI Dr Pat O'Mahony said that while the results of the survey demonstrated inaccurate labelling, there were no direct implications for the safety of the affected food. However, he said that it was unclear why these food ingredients had been irradiated, or if the process had been carried out in suitable facilities and under correct conditions.

The FSAI has requested the retailers where the products were purchased to remove all affected batches from sale.