Re: FDA likely to approve meat irradiation-Spokesman

["Wesley M. Dunn" <WDUNN@brc1.tdh.state.tx.us>]

I would like to take issue with a few "knowns" in this discussion, 
some of which are still pushed my members of this listserver:

First, I dispute that the public, as a whole, is concerned with 
irradiation of food.  I have never met one individual who was not a 
"save the world" type who was against food irradiation.  The only 
people who seem concerned are the "concerned citizens", the media, and 
the public officials.  People, on the other hand, wonder what the big 
deal is.

Second, just because a news article says "nuclear radiation" doesn't 
mean that's the comparison "people" are worried about.  People are 
worried about radioactive contamination, not IRradiation.  The anti-
food activists always hammer about food contamination (e.g., free 
radicals in YOUR food!), not about the fact the radioactive material 
and the food never touch.

Third, its disingenious to say "if you have nothing to hide, why 
complain about the label?".  The true public always says "if it has 
to be labeled, it must be dangerous".  Odd as it may seem, most of 
the true public actually thinks the government is trying to do its 
job.  If the government says its dangerous, people generally believe 
it to be true.  If it was safe, then the government wouldn't be 
putting all these restrictions on, now would they?

Wes

> Date sent:      Wed, 8 Oct 97 19:28:07 -0500
> Send reply to:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
> From:           "Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@ix.netcom.com>
> To:             Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
> Subject:        FDA likely to approve meat irradiation-Spokesman

> The following is positive news!
> =======================
> 
> Wednesday October 8 5:58 PM EDT 
> 
> FDA likely to approve meat irradiation-Spokesman
> 
> WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuter) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration was
> likely to approve irradiation of red meat in the next few months, a
> spokesman said Wednesday. 
> 
> Public acceptance has been low. Proponents say irradiation is mistaken
> for nuclear radiation. 
> 
> FDA reform bills passed by the House and Senate would allow foodmakers
> to eliminate from their labels the ``radura'' logo for irradiation and
> use a smaller typeface to say the product was treated by irradiation.
> The food industry backed the change. 
> 
> ``Legislation that downsizes the radura and disclosure information on
> labels...simply fuels the fires of consumer concern,'' said Nancy
> Donley of the consumer group Safe Tables Our Priority. ``Why try to
> hide the fact that the food is irradiate if you have, in fact, nothing
> to hide?'' 
> 

*********************************************************************
Wesley M. Dunn, CHP                        512-834-6688
Deputy Director, Licensing                 512-834-6690 (fax)
(Texas) Bureau of Radiation Control        wdunn@brc1.tdh.state.tx.us
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