Food irradiation

[Floyd Galpin <fgalpin@compuserve.com>]

CompuServe highlighted the AP news release below as their lead news of the
day.
***************************************************************************
***************

Top News: Irradiation Pushed for Tainted Meat

WASHINGTON (AP) -- As public concern about tainted meat grows, the industry
is promoting bacteria-destroying irradiation as an alternative to the
Clinton administration's proposal for mandatory recalls and tougher
penalties. Granting greater authority to the agriculture secretary in
contaminated meat cases is tantamount to "making a single political
appointee the police, the judge, jury and executioner," said Kelly Johnson,
executive vice president of government affairs at the National Food
Processors Association. Fearing the economic fallout of more highly
publicized recalls, the meat industry is trying to persuade the Food and
Drug Administration to approve irradiation for beef and is lobbying
Congress to allow smaller, less ominous irradiation labels for all foods.
Irradiation--exposing food to low levels of radiation--is already permitted
for poultry, pork, fruits and vegetables, but is not in widespread use for
several reasons: consumer wariness, expense and opposition by consumer
groups that question its safety. The Senate Agriculture Committee planned a
hearing today on the administration's mandatory recall bill and the
potential of new technology such as irradiation. Agriculture Secretary Dan
Glickman wants Congress to grant the Agriculture Department authority to
issue mandatory recalls instead of using persuasion and public pressure for
voluntary recalls. Glickman wants authority to seek civil penalties of up
to $100,000 per violation per day and a requirement that anyone in the food
supply chain must notify USDA of any evidence of contamination. The food
processing industry, however, contends that USDA can already force
companies to issue recalls by using public pressure and can close down
plants by pulling its inspectors from production lines. To access the CSi
NewsRoom for additional news reports from The Associated Press and other
sources, GO NEWS. Discuss the government's actions in this case in the
White House Forum, GO WHITEHOUSE. Learn proper techniques for cooking meat
in the Cooks Online Forum, GO COOKS.

The information contained in the AP news report may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten, or otherwise distributed without the prior written
authority of The Associated Press.

Copyright 1997. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.