Food Irradiation

["Fischer, Karl" <kfischer@exchange.nih.gov>]

The following is my colleague's response to previous postings on food
irradiation:

Yes it can have prevented the outbreak of the E. Coli contaminated beef.
If you look at the issue paper #7 of the Council for Agricultural
Science and Technology (CAST), April 1996 they specifically mention E.
Coli as a problem which can be eliminated throught irradiation.  Doses
to kill about 99.9999% of E. Coli occur around 2 kGy at a temp of about
41 degrees F.  In addition it can be used to treat pork for trinchinella
spiralis (trichinosis causer, imagine rare pork!!).  This is a
technology which must be used more in the US.  The HPS also has a
position statement out supporting food irradiation.

This is just a brief synopsis, more complete info. available from:

CAST
2240 west Lincoln Way
Ames, Iowa 50014-3447
515-292-2125, fax 292-512 or better yet on the internet
b1cast@exnet.iastate.edu


Shawn Googins, M.S., CHP
sgoogins@exchange.nih.gov or 
oeniphile@hotmail.com