Last Updated: 17/12/2025
Is Irradiated Pet Food Safe for My Pet? A Vet Explains
What is irradiated pet food? Get the facts from an Australian vet on how this biosecurity treatment works, the nutritional concerns, and the important safety risks, particularly for cats. Help your pet "pet better" with clear, science-backed advice.
Author: Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 10 minutes - short read
As pet parents, we all want to ensure our furry friends are eating the safest, most nutritious food possible. Irradiation is a process some imported pet foods undergo to meet Australia's strict biosecurity rules, keeping our unique environment safe from foreign diseases and pests. While it's a great tool for biosecurity, it has raised some important questions about its effect on the food's nutritional value and overall safety for our pets.
In this article we'll unpack the science behind irradiated pet food, explain why it's used, and give you the clear, expert advice you need to make the best food choices for your dog and cat.
What is irradiated pet food and why is it used?
'Irradiated pet food' refers to pet food products that have been subjected to a sterilisation procedure by exposure to either electromagnetic radiation (most common - using Gamma irradiation or x-ray ionising radiation), or particle radiation (less common - using electron beam).
Irradiation has been used in the food industry in many countries to extend the shelf life of food by reducing the population of bacteria in the finished product. The option of irradiation is not available as a biosecurity import measure for food for human consumption unless supported by the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
Australia has some of the most biodiverse environments in the world. Our biosecurity policies are designed to protect these pristine environments, and keep Australia free from harmful pests, diseases and weeds.
Pet food products can pose a risk to our country as they may contain disease agents or pests that are exotic to Australia. Irradiation of pet food products is currently accepted by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) as a "biosecurity treatment for a range of products of animal origin"1, in order to address biosecurity concerns about the product. This is "especially the case where a product does not meet Australia's biosecurity requirements, the product has not been adequately processed or tested to address Australia's biosecurity concerns, or where the manufacturer is unable to provide the department with sufficient information to complete the risk assessment."1
How does gamma irradiation work on pet food?
In the pet industry, there are two main ways to manage food safety risks, especially for imported products: heat treatment and irradiation. Both of these processes can affect the food's characteristics, including potentially impacting certain nutrients and creating radio-lytic byproducts.
The science of irradiation
- What is it? The main type of irradiation used is gamma irradiation. This process uses high-energy rays that come from materials like cobalt-60. When cobalt-60 decays, it becomes nickel, and emits 2 high energy gamma rays which have great penetrating ability, similar to x-rays.
- How does it work? These gamma rays are highly penetrating - they can pass right through the pet food, even after it's been packaged. When the rays hit the food, they energise the atoms in the product, a process called ionisation.
- The Goal: Ionisation breaks down the DNA of any harmful germs (microorganisms) in the food, making them inactive and unable to cause disease.
The trade-offs: Nutrients and quality
- No Radioactivity: The most important thing to know is that the rays used are not strong enough to make the food radioactive. The food remains completely safe from that perspective.
- Nutritional Impact: The macronutrients in the foods (carbohydrates, fats and proteins) have not found to be significantly affected in terms of nutrient value and digestibility by treatment with irradiation. However, some micronutrients, can be particularly sensitive to irradiation:
- Vitamins: Key vitamins like Vitamin A, E, and Thiamine can be significantly reduced.
- Fats: Irradiation can also increase the oxidation (or 'spoiling') of fats in the food. This has been found where the product has been treated with a dose over 25 kilogray (kGy).
The Australian standard
The amount of irradiation required for pet food in Australia is set high - at 50 kilogray (kGy).
Because this high dose can significantly reduce certain vitamins and affect fat quality, irradiation as a biosecurity option is not supported by DAFF if the products are likely to make up a significant portion of an animal's diet, such as dry kibble.
It is important to note that the gamma rays are well below the threshold for photonuclear activation of any chemical element, so no radioactivity can be induced in the treated food.
Irradiated pet food: What the science says about safety and nutrition
There have been numerous studies looking into the safety of irradiated foods. Some of these are:
1959 - A study was performed on rats fed either fresh or stored beef irradiated to 2.79 megarad (equivalent to 27.9 kGy) and 5.58 megarad (equivalent to 55.8 kGy). The consumption of the irradiated diet resulted in internal bleeding and prolonged blood clotting times in growing male rats. Generally the female rat did not show this syndrome. Supplementation with vitamin K prevented the bleeding.18
1965 - The United States Army Surgeon General was given responsibility for testing irradiated food wholesomeness. They concluded that in general, irradiated foods are as acceptable as non-irradiated foods.6
1970 - A study was performed on rats over a 2 year period and through 3 generations. The rats were fed carrots irradiated to 2.79 megarad (equivalent to 27.9 kGy) and 5.58 megarad (equivalent to 55.8 kGy) as 35% of their total dry diet. A small but significant depression in growth rate was seen, otherwise no deleterious effects were observed. The growth depression was not observed consistently in subsequent experiments.17
1976 - The effect on reproductive function of feeding adult rhesus monkeys a diet of irradiated wheat flour and potato was evaluated. At the end of 3 months, the experimental and control animals behaved similarly with regard to their reproductive functions.19
1980 - The Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)/WHO Expert Committee on the Wholesomeness of Irradiated Food concluded that the 'irradiation of any food commodity up to an overall dose of 10 kGy presents no toxicological problems'8
1994 - The World Health Organisation reviewed a large number of animal feeding studies, mainly in dogs and rodents, looking at the safety and nutritional adequacy of irradiated food, and concluded that when requirements for good manufacturing practice are implemented, food irradiation is safe and effective.2
1999 - The Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)/WHO Study Group concluded that food irradiated with doses above 10 kGy (classified as 'High-Dose Irradiation') is both safe to consume and nutritionally adequate.7
2007 - Investigations on 8 out of 190 cats from a colony experiencing impaired coordination in their hindlegs were carried out. The findings provided circumsantial evidence that the exclusive feeding of a gamma-irradiated diet of reduced vitamin A content was associated with the development of the neuronal lesions, leading to a syndrome of feline leucoencephalomyelopathy (a neuro-degenerative disorder of the white matter of the brain and spinal cord).9
2008 - Following on from the 2007 study, the same researchers investigated the effects of 'typical'and 'high end' doses of gamma irradiation, and of pasteurisation on the amounts of fat, protein, carbohydrate, taurine, certain vitamins and peroxide in commercially available dry cat, dog and rodent diets. They found that the only treatment-related changes occurred with vitamin A and peroxide. Both doses reduced the vitamin A level in the cat diet to below recommended allowances for growth and reproduction, only the high dose reduced the vitamin A content in the rodent diet, and neither dose altered the vitamin A level in the dog diets. Irradiation increased the peroxide content of all 3 animal diets. 10
2009 - A study reproduced leucoencephalomyelopathy in cats similar to spontaneous outbreaks by feeding a gamma-irradiated dry diet with elevated peroxide and reduced vitamin A concentrations.5
2009 - Between June 2008 and March 2009, 87 cats in Australia developed symmetrical hindlimb ataxia, paraparesis, tetraparesis, paraplegia or tetraplegia in association with eating an imported, irradiated dry pet food.4
2009 - A study investigating multiple sclerosis in cats found that cats fed an irradiated diet during pregnancy developed a severe neurological disease, resulting in severe myelin degeneration. On returning to a normal diet, those cats recovered slowly withing 3-4 months. No dietary deficiencies or toxic accumulations were found in the food or in the tissues from affected cats.11
Studies have confirmed the general safety of irradiated food at doses typically used for product for human consumption (i.e. <10 kGy). However, due to the significant reduction in some vitamins, other nutritional factors and increase in lipid oxidation at doses over 25kGy, irradiation of foods that will be consumed as a significant part of an animal's diet (e.g. kibble) is not supported by DAFF.1
Is irradiated cat food safe? The crucial risks for cats
Numerous studies have shown that irradiated pet food is not safe for consumption by cats. The use of gamma irradiation for imported cat foods and treats is therefore no longer offered as an option for importers as of 200913, and in line with this, we do not recommend feeding cats any irradiated food products.
For multi-pet households, care must be taken to prevent cats from consuming any irradiated dog food products.
In approving the import of pet foods, DAFF assesses the risk of those foods based on the country and species of origin of each ingredient, and the processing of those ingredients and the final product.
If the product and/or it's ingredients have been heat treated sufficiently (according to regulations), the import is approved. For those dog food products which do not meet the requirements, importers have the option to irradiate the foods.
If importers choose to irradiate their products, the Australian Standard for the Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food requires that the product will be labelled 'must not be fed to cats'.13
Are there risks with irradiated dog food?
Irradiation is a method of ensuring food safety and minimising the potential risk of pathogenic bacteria, viruses and food-borne parasites to your dog. There are currently no studies linking irradiated dog food products to any ill-health effects in dogs. Along with pathogenic bacteria, metals, pesticides, illegal dyes and more, irradiation is being investigated by the US Food and Drug Administration, as one of many potential causes of illnesses in pets relating to jerky treats. At this stage however, their testing has not implicated any specific agent/s as the cause.
In line with Australian standards and regulations, at Pet Circle we do not sell any irradiated food products for cats, or any irradiated complete and balanced dog foods.
We recommend limiting the amount of treats to no more than 10% of your pet's daily calorie intake (whether irradiated or not for dogs) to ensure that their overall diet remains complete and balanced. Keep treats as just that - a treat for good behaviour, a well-deserved reward. Shop from our range of Australian-made dog treats and cat treats for treats that align with Australian standards of food-safety and manufacture.
FAQs
Navigating pet food safety can feel like a maze, but when it comes to irradiated food, the key is knowing the science and following Australian standards. While irradiation is an essential biosecurity measure for some imported products, the high doses used can unfortunately compromise the nutritional value and safety of food, especially for our feline friends. This is why it's vital to remember the rule: irradiated food must not be fed to cats.
By staying informed and choosing products that align with Australian food safety and manufacturing standards, you can confidently help your dog and cat thrive!
References
Department of Agriculture. 2014. Gamma irradiation as a treatment to address pathogens of animal biosecurity concern. Department of Agriculture, Canberra. https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/ba/memos/2014/gamma-irradiation-review.pdf. Accessed 4 April 2023
World Health Organization. 1994. Safety and nutritional adequacy of irradiated food. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/39463. Accessed 4 April 2023
Grossweiner 2009. Direct action of Ionising Radiation. http://www.photobiology.com/educational/len/part2.htm. Accessed 4 April 2023
Child G, Foster DJ, Fougere BJ, Milan JM, Rozmanec M. 2009. Ataxia and paralysis in cats in Australia associated with exposure to an imported gamma-irradiated commercial dry pet food. Aust Vet Journal. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1751-0813.2009.00475.x. Accessed 4 April 2023
Caulfield CD, Kelly JP, Jones BR, Worrall S, Conlon L, Palmer AC, Cassidy JP. 2009. The experimental induction of leukoencephalomyelopathy in cats. Vet Pathol. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1354/vp.08-VP-0336-C-FL. Accessed 4 April 2023
McDowell ME, Raica N, Jr. 1962. Review of the United States Army's irradiated food wholesomeness program. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD0296953.pdf. Accessed 4 April 2023.
Joint FAO/IAEA/WHO Study Group on High-Dose Irradiation (Wholesomeness of Food Irradiated with Doses above 10 kGy). 1999. High-dose irradiation : wholesomeness of food irradiated with doses above 10 kGy : report of a Joint FAO/IAEA/WHO study group. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/42203. Accessed 4 April, 2023
Joint FAO/IAEA/WHO Expert Committee on the Technical Basis for Legislation on Irradiated Food, World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations & International Atomic Energy Agency. 1981. Wholesomeness of irradiated food : report of a Joint FAO/IAEA/WHO Expert Committee. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/41508. Accessed 4 April 2023
Cassidy JP, Caulfield C, Jones BR, et al. 2007. Leukoencephalomyelopathy in Specific Pathogen-free Cats. Veterinary Pathology. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1354/vp.44-6-912. Accessed 4 April 2023
Caulfield CD, Cassidy JP, Kelly JP. 2008. Effects of gamma irradiation and pasteurization on the nutritive composition of commercially available animal diets. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19049256/. Accessed 11 April 2023.
Duncan ID, Brower A, Kondo Y, Curlee JF Jr, Schultz RD. 2009. Extensive remyelination of the CNS leads to functional recovery. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2672502/. Accessed 11 April 2023
Radcliff AB, Heidari M, Field AS, Duncan ID. 2020. Feline irradiated diet-induced demyelination; a model of the neuropathology of sub-acute combined degeneration? PLoS One. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31978144/. Accessed 11 April, 2023
Standing Council on Primary Industries, Pet Food Controls Working Group. 2012. Managing the Safety of Domestically Produced Pet Meat, and Imported and Domestically Produced Pet Food. https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/animal-plant/animal-health/pet-food-safety/report-of-the-scopi-pet-food-controls-working-group.pdf. Accessed 11 April, 2023
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, PIMC Pet Foods Controls Working Group Report. Enclosure 5, https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/animal-plant/animal-health/pet-food-safety/enclosure-5.pdf. Accessed 11 April 2023.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, PIMC Pet Foods Controls Working Group Report. Enclosure 9, https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/animal-plant/animal-health/pet-food-safety/enclosure-9.pdf. Accessed 11 April 2023.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, PIMC Pet Foods Controls Working Group Report. RSPCA Position Statement. https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/sitecollectiondocuments/animal-plant/animal-health/pet-food-safety/rspca-position-statement.pdf. Accessed 11 April 2023.
Ian J. Tinsley, Jesse F. Bone, Edward C. Bubl. 1970. The growth, reproduction, longevity, and histopathology of rats fed gamma-irradiated carrots. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0041008X70900025. Accessed 11 April 2023.
V. Chalam Metta, M. S. Mameesh, B. Connor Johnson. 1959. Vitamin K Deficiency in Rats Induced by the Feeding of Irradiated Beef, The Journal of Nutrition. https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/69/1/18/4775756?redirectedFrom=fulltext. Accessed 11 April 2023.
Ravinder Sialy, R.N. Chakravarti, C.R. Nair & B.D. Gupta. 1976. Effect on the Reproductive Functions of Female Rhesus Monkeys of Feeding Irradiated Wheat Flour and Potato Diet, International Journal of Radiation Biology and Related Studies in Physics, Chemistry and Medicine. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553007614550661. Accessed 11 April 2023.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Wed 17 Dec 2025
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr. Gillian loves being able to provide depth and detail to pet parents questions, and give up to date, evidence based advice. She loves the variety of pets and inquiries she receives - she especially loves the 'curly' questions that require some research! Seeing the gorgeous photos that pet parents send through of their babies is a highlight of the day! Gillian enjoys to further her veterinary knowledge, and has completed further training in ultrasonography, behaviour and backyard poultry!
