05/28/2026
Is your food irradiated?
Quick answer: not if it's locally grown and/or organic.
According to this blog from Mountain Rose Herbs, foods in U.S. supermarkets must be labeled if they have been treated with radiation, but many consumers will miss this info if they're not actively looking for it. While radiation kills pests and bacteria and prolongs shelf life, it can also reduce certain nutrient levels and cause other changes in food.
Is this bad? Not always. But on an individual level, you may choose to pursue cleaner, less processed foods by buying fresh and local (I was once told that asparagus is the #1 radiated food that gets imported into the US. It cannot legally enter the country without radiation because it harbors so many insects).
You have to ask yourself: would I rather eat something that's been doused with chemicals to prevent spoilage, or blasted with invisible rays, or neither, or both?
Food irradiation is common in mainstream food production in the United States. So what is irradiation and how does it affect your herbs and spices?
