Designation:F1640−09StandardGuideforSelectionandUseofPackagingMaterialsforFoodstoBeIrradiated1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF1640;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.INTRODUCTIONThisguideprovidesinformationontheselectionanduseofpackagingmaterialsintendedtoholdfoodduringirradiationwithionizingenergy(gamma-rays,X-rays,acceleratedelectrons).Ingeneral,irradiationisusedtoreducetheincidenceofspoilageandpathogenicmicroorganismsandparasitesinfoods,controlsproutingoftubersandbulbs,anddisinfestcommodities(seeGuidesF1355,F1356,F1736,andF1885).Packagingmaterialsservetoprotecttheproductfromrecontaminationafterirradiationandmaybeusedtocomplementotherpreservationtechniquestoextendshelflifeoftheirradiatedfood.1.Scope1.1Thisguideprovidesaformattoassistproducersandusersoffoodpackagingmaterialsinselectingmaterialsthathavethedesirablecharacteristicsfortheirintendeduseandcomplywithapplicablestandardsorgovernmentauthoriza-tions.Itoutlinesparametersthatshouldbeconsideredwhenselectingfood-contactpackagingmaterialsintendedforuseduringirradiationofprepackagedfoodsanditexaminesthecriteriaforfitnessfortheiruse.1.2Thisguideidentifiesknownregulationsandregulatoryframeworksworldwidepertainingtopackagingmaterialsforholdingfoodsduringirradiation;butitdoesnotaddressallregulatoryissuesassociatedwiththeselectionanduseofpackagingmaterialsforfoodstobeirradiated.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofthisguidetodeterminethepertinentregulatoryissuesineachcountrywherefoodsaretobeirradiatedandwhereirradiatedfoodsaredistributed.1.3Thisguidedoesnotaddressallofthefoodsafetyissuesassociatedwiththesynergisticeffectsofirradiationandpack-agingasfoodpreservationtechniquesontheextensionofshelflifeorfoodquality.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofthisguidetodeterminethecriticalfoodsafetyissues...
