How Nuclear Science Helps Tackle Food Waste

Food often spoils while waiting for inspection and results for conformity with regulations and guidelines.

Nuclear and isotopic techniques help verify food authenticity, detect adulteration, and verify the labelling information to ensure compliance with international standards. Faster, trusted certification means fewer delays and less food wasted due to spoilage in transit.

The IAEA and FAO assist countries in combating food fraud, detecting harmful contaminants and ensuring the authenticity and quality of food products.

Through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre, both organizations continue to support food safety and quality and forge partnerships under the Atoms4Food initiative, which aims to leverage innovative nuclear techniques to enhance agricultural productivity, reduce food losses and waste, ensure food security and improve nutrition.