Food irradiation is to be allowed in Britain but its use will be strictly controlled and all foods treated will have to be clearly labelled, the Rt. Hon. John MacGregor MP, then Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced in the House of Commons at the end of June. Mr MacGregor told MPs that experts from all over the world are satisfied that the process is safe. It is currently permitted in 35 countries including the USA and France and it is already used in the UK to treat the food of some hospital patients who by their disease or its treatment are at a high risk of infection.