FYI.........
>
>
> [URGENT -- please circulate this alert to your lists]
>
> ACTION ALERT -- November 28, 2002
>
> From: Dave Martin, Sierra Club of Canada
>
> To: Organizations & Individuals Concerned about Food Quality and Nuclear Hazards
>
> RE: GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO EXPAND FOOD IRRADIATION
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> On November 23, 2002, Health Canada posted proposed new regulations to extend the use of food irradiation in Canada to include ground beef, poultry, shrimp and prawns, and mangoes.
>
> The proposed new regulations are amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations (1094 - Food Irradiation), under the Food and Drugs Act.
>
> The deadline for comments is Friday February 21, 2003, which is 90 days after the November 23, 2002 publication of the proposed regulations in Canada Gazette Part I.
>
> Health Canada is holding information/consultation sessions where your views on the proposed regulations can be formally presented. Participants must pre-register by Thursday December 5, 2002.
>
> Ontario registrants should contact:
>
> Odette Dubois
> tel: 416-973-1447
> fax: 416-973-7794
> odette_dubois@hc-sc.gc.ca.
>
> The Health Canada contact in Ottawa is:
> Claudette Dalpe
> tel: 613-957-1750
>
> The following sessions have been scheduled:
>
> Toronto - Tuesday December 10, 2002
> 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
> University of Toronto, Fitzgerald Building, Room 103
> 150 College St. (at Taddle Creek Rd)
>
> Guelph - December 11, 2002
> 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
> The Arboretum
>
> Montreal - December 9, 2002
> Halifax - December 12, 2002
> Winnipeg - January 14, 2003
> Edmonton - January 15, 2003
> Vancouver - January 16, 2003
> [I am currently trying to get time and location for these meetings - Dave M., or contact Claudette Dalpe]
>
> BACKGROUND
>
> Food irradiation is a method of food preservation in which foods are exposed to gamma radiation from Cobalt 60, Cesium 137 or an electron accelerator. The gamma radiation can sterilize or kill insects, and kill fungi and some bacteria that live in foods. Smaller doses can prevent sprouting or potatoes and onions, and delay the ripening of certain fruits. Irradiation can increase the storage life of some foods, allowing importers and distributors to ship foods further and store them longer. These foods do not become radioactive, but contrary to the conclusions of Health Canada, we believe that there are serious risks and drawbacks to the use of this technology...
>
> * Chemical by-products called "unique radiolytic products" (URPs) are created in foods by irradiation. Some scientific studies carried out on URPs link serious health risks with the consumption of irradiated foods.
>
> * Irradiated foods are less nutritious than fresh foods because radiation damages some vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids. Normal cooking methods and storage of foods will also cause nutritional losses, but irradiation plus cooking and storage decreases the nutritional value even more. Many vitamins are obtained from fresh fruits and vegetables.
>
> *Irradiation has been hailed as an alternative to pesticides. However, at best irradiation might replace some post-harvest uses since pesticides will still be used in the field. Studies have not been done to determine the consequences of irradiating the pesticide residues commonly found in foods.
>
> * Irradiation will not replace many additives commonly used in processed foods. In fact, some additives need to be used in combination with irradiation to control undesirable side-effects.
>
> * Irradiation of poultry is being proposed as a means for preventing salmonella food poisoning. In fact, less than 20% of salmonella poisoning cases can be traced back to poultry. A more effective solution is education about proper storage, handling and cooking of all foods which may carry the salmonella bacteria.
>
> * Irradiation can actually cause food poisoning since treated foods may be contaminated but appear fresh. Microorganisms which normally cause meat to look or smell spoiled may be killed by irradiation, yet hardier bacteria, such as the one causing botulism food poisoning, may survive. Some organisms may even mutate when irradiated, forming new, more radiation-resistant strains.
>
> * Aflatoxin is a toxic and carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substance produced by a bacteria which inhabits damp grains, beans and nuts. Aflatoxin poisoning is a major cause of death in Asia and Africa. Irradiation of this bacteria actually causes it to produce more aflatoxin. Building dry storage facilities is a more practical way to control this organism.
>
> * Increased use of food irradiation will increase occupational and environmental hazards. The level of gamma radiation inside an operating irradiation facility is anywhere from ten to hundreds of times the level that would kill a human in a single short exposure. The gamma source for irradiation must be replaced regularly, so the risk of transportation accidents increases with time. Spent gamma sources also become radioactive waste, and there is still no acceptable method of long-term radioactive waste management.
>
> The Sierra Club of Canada, in cooperation with other organizations and activists is preparing a more detailed analysis, which we would be happy to share, as a basis for submissions. Please contact:
>
>
> Shawn-Patrick Stensil
> Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout
> 613-789-3639
> stensil@cnp.ca
>
>
> The government regulations and their propaganda can be found as follows:
>
> Canada Gazette - November 23, 2002
> [see the regulations section]
>
> <http://www.canada.gc.ca/gazette/part1/pdf/g113647.pdf>http://www.canada.gc.ca/gazette/part1/pdf/g113647.pdf
>
> Health Canada Pre-Publication Notice of Reg's - November 20, 2002
>
> <http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/foodaliment/friiaraaii/food_drugsaliments_drogues/partpartie_1/e_109401.html>http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/foodaliment/friiaraaii/food_drugsaliments_drogues/partpartie_1/e_109401.html
>
> <http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/foodaliment/friiaraaii/food_drugsaliments_drogues/partpartie_1/pdf/e_1094.pd>http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/foodaliment/friiaraaii/food_drugsaliments_drogues/partpartie_1/pdf/e_1094.pd
>
> Health Canada News Release
>
> <http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2002/2002_78bk.htm>http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2002/2002_78bk.htm
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Nuclear Campaign - Sierra Club of Canada
> c/o P.O. Box 104
> Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada L9P 1M6
> (tel/fax) 905-852-0571
> (e-mail) nucaware@web.ca
> <http://www.sierraclub.ca/national>http://www.sierraclub<http://www.sierraclub.ca/national>.ca/national