Control of imported irradiated frozen meat and poultry using the hydrocarbon method and the DNA comet assay

In Sweden import of irradiated food is not permitted (spices excepted, 1997 ), In this regard the Swedish National Food Administration (NFA) has adopte d two analytical methods for controlling imported irradiated food: the DNA comet assay for screening and the hydrocarbon method as a confirmatory meth od. We report here the results of analyses of various samples imported to S weden from different countries during the last 7 years. It was demonstrated that the control of irradiated food could be reliably performed using thes e methods.