Price drives ongoing illegal irradiation practices

Irradiation has risen in importance as it has become specifically outlawed in new Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations. But the practice continues due to its ability to cheaply remove contaminants from raw materials.

At SupplySide West, George Pontiakos, the president and chief executive officer of Californian supplier, BI Nutraceuticals, highlighted the price-driven problem as an ever-present temptation GMPs were chipping away at, if not resolving.

“A lot of times because an irradiated component is relatively less expensive than a steam sterilized or heat treated ... [methodology] ... manufacturers who are really price-driven and lacking integrity will employ an irradiated component and hope nobody catches them.”

“It’s declining aggressively since the GMPs came into play. It’s in the industry’s best interests to make sure their raw materials are in compliance with all the fundamental statutes of the GMPs – irradiation being just one of them.”