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USDA to offer irradiated beef to schoolkids



Interesting news story from:



http://www.planetark.org/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=20998



Stewart Farber

===============

6/2/03

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Agriculture Department said it will allow hamburgers and 

meat loaf treated with low doses of bacteria-destroying radiation to be served in 

U.S. school cafeterias. 



Individual school districts have the choice of not buying irradiated ground beef 

from the USDA, officials said.



"Irradiation technology is another tool to enhance food safety," said Elsa 

Murano, USDA undersecretary for food safety.



The department will make the products available in January 2004 for a premium of 

13 cents to 20 cents per pound.



Irradiation, which has been endorsed by the World Health Organization, exposes 

food to ionizing radiation that kills insects, molds and deadly bacteria such as 

E. coli 0157:H7. It is used to sterilize many non-food products and has been used 

on wheat flour since 1963.





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