Comb irradiation is big in some other countries.  Irradiation costs in US are only  part of the barrier to use.  


Two major factors are:  1) the geographical distribution and paucity of places that can irradiate combs, and 2) the even smaller number of places that will accept honey combs for treatment.


1) Migratory commercial beekeepers may be able to route place an irradiation facility, but few small scale beekeepers have a facility close at hand, and the cost of hauling or shipping boxes of comb to and from may, by itself, negate the choice based on added cost.


2) Food irradiation facilities are not likely to accept boxes of combs with flaking paint, dried dirt, grass sticking out, etc.  And there is a significant chance of having a real mess if any of the combs contain honey.


Years ago, I was sampling bees, pollen, and honey from colonies placed on the DOE Idaho National Engineering Laboratory.  The colonies were being used to monitor radioactive fall-out from their fuel-rod reprocessing facility and some of their active reactors, to look for leakage from waste disposal site, and to monitor  heavy metals contaminating a firing range.


The lab decided to try analyzing honey using neutron activation - without consulting me.  A sample of honey was placed in the reactor.  It exploded inside the reactor.  There was a staggering bill to clean up all of the irradiated honey.


Costs of this technology in USA are high:


1) Cost per comb for irradiation,
2) Transportation cost,
3) Costs of honey left in combs causing problems,
4) Costs of cleanup is dirt and other garbage is brought into the facility.


Remember, those that irradiate food products are usually doing so with  'clean' packed product - peas in a plastic bag, not combs in dirty boxes.






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