Irradiation is used for sanitary and phytosanitary purposes to kill bacteria (such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli) that can cause food poisoning and to eliminate organisms harmful to plant or plant products such as insects and other pests.
L-irradjazzjoni tintuża għal skopijiet fitosanitarji biex toqtol il-batterji (bħal Salmonella, Campylobacter u E. coli) li jistgħu jikkawżaw l-avvelenament mill-ikel u biex telimina organiżmi li huma ta' ħsara għall-pjanti jew prodotti tal-pjanti bħal insetti u pesti oħra.