Irradiation may soon join the conventional processes of canning, freezing, and curing for preserving food in the United States. It is currently being considered for approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after more than four decades of research. FDA's approval could signal a technological revolution in commercial food processing. However, even if it is approved, irradiated food still faces challenges in the marketplace: consumer acceptance, economic feasibility, and market development by food processors.