The AVMA supports irradiation of food to improve food safety and food quality. Irradiation must be applied at approved levels and following proper safeguards.

The AVMA supports requiring special labeling of irradiated foods only when irradiation causes a material change in the food (i.e., a change in the organoleptic, nutritional, or functional properties) that the consumer could not identify at the point of purchase in the absence of appropriate labeling.

The AVMA supports the use of the label term "pasteurization" in lieu of the term "irradiation" when the marketer has demonstrated to a regulatory agency that the pasteurization criteria of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act have been met.

With respect to animal derived foods, the animals must be slaughtered and processed under federal or state inspection which minimizes possible contamination, and irradiation must not be used as a substitute for unsanitary operations. Irradiated animal products and pasteurized foods must be protected from recontamination until consumed.