Health Canada is in the midst of a 75-day consultation period on a proposal to allow irradiation of frozen and fresh ground beef in Canada.

While there has been some public concern over the process, Health Canada's Bureau of Chemical Safety director Barbara Lee says it's completely safe to consume irradiated beef, noting the process is currently allowed on foods such as onions and potatoes.

"(Irradiation) has undergone a complete safety assessment where we look at the nutritional, chemical, microbiological, and toxicological aspects of the practice, and we've confirmed it is safe," she says. "Irradiation is process that exposes food to a type of energy that's known as ionization radiation, and it's used in food processing... for a number of uses, but in this case, it's used to reduce the level of harmful bacteria. It also has uses of inhibiting sprouting and increasing shelf life."

Lee stresses this practice is an optional and complementary safety measure, and does not replace other food safety processing practices and processes.

"It doesn't necessarily replace the current safety practices and procedures used in food establishments, (for) example... handling, sanitation, and storage," she says. "It's just another tool in the toolbox. It's optional to be used by the industry if it's going to have them have a safer product at the end."

Lee says they are holding the consultation period because this proposal would entail a regulatory change.

Irradiation has been approved for frozen and raw ground beef in the U.S. since 1997.