LABORATORY FOR DETECTION OF IRRADIATED FOOD slinz@ichtj.waw.pl

Head: Dr Wacław Stachowicz

Laboratory was created in 1994 to afford possibility of the examination of food to prove whether treated with ionising radiation (gamma rays or accelerated electrons). Laboratory is involved in research activity to improve detection methods for irradiated foods to meet the increasing requirements of customers.

The accredited detection methods are listed below (Scope of Accreditation, Appendix to certificate No AB 262).

• Laboratory is accredited from 25^th October 1999. .
• Present Certificate of Testing Laboratory Accreditation no AB 262 has been issued on 16^th November 2006 by the Polish Centre for Accreditation and is valid until 24^th November 2010.
• Laboratory is registered by FSA and SSA (list of accredited laboratories for irradiation testing of spices by TL and PSL methods).

Current analytical activity of the Laboratory compiles:

1. Detection of irradiation in food containing bone (poultry, fish) and in shelled eggs with the use of electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry (EPR) with reference to PN-EN 1786 European Standard;
2. Detection of irradiation in food containing cellulose (nuts, strawberries) with the use of electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry( EPR) with reference to PN-EN 1787 European Standard ;
3. Detection of irradiation in foods from which silicate minerals can be separated (all kind spices and herbs) with the use of thermoluminescence method (TL) with reference to PN-EN 1788 European Standard;
4. Detection of irradiation in foods (spices, shrimps, shells) with the use of a screening method based on the detection of luminescence stimulated by pulsed light (Pulsed photo stimulated luminescence - PPSL) with reference to PN-EN 13751 (U)European Standard.
5. Detection of irradiation in food containing crystalline sugar (dried fruits e.g. resins, figs dates etc) with the use of electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry (EPR)with reference to PN-EN 13708 European Standard.

Thermoluminescence (TL) Reader for detection of irradiation in food from which silicate minerals can be separated PN -EN 1788

Present research activity is focused on the improvement of the isolation procedure of powdered mineral fraction from complex samples containing one irradiated food component dispersed in the mass of not irradiated product (herbal pharmaceutics for example). The EPR and PPSL techniques are tested to be adapted for the detection of radiation treatment in such kind of complex samples too.


Currently the examination of spices, herbs, seasonings, shrimps and their blends, poultry, fish, nuts, complex pharmaceutics and herbal extracts is being accomplished for domestic and foreign customers.

Most of food samples are delivered from Germany, Italy, Denmark, United Kingdom

Electron Spin Resonance (ERP) spectrometer for detection of food containing stable radicals after radiation treatment PN - EN 1786 PN - EN 1787 PN- EN 13708

2006