Re: Food Irradiation

[Franz Schoenhofer <schoenho@via.at>]

At 22:01 03.11.1998 -0600, you wrote:
>A recent issue of Modern Maturity has a somewhat positive article about food
>irradiation.  However, as a counterpoint they quote Ronnie Cummins, director
>of the Pure Food Campaign, as saying that, "there are numerous instances
where
>feeding animals irradiated food produced heart problems, cancer, reproductive
>damage, and chromosome abnormalities."
>
>Does anyone have any information on these "numerous instances"?  I am not
>aware of any studies that showed those affects from gamma irradiated food,
but
>thought this was a good place to check before writing a rebuttal letter to
the
>editor.
>

Ted,

I think that if somebody intends and wants to prove the bad effects about
irradiation of food then He/she should give facts and evidence. It is not
the obligation of us to prove that the unsound and irrational argueing is
unsound and irrational. All what your Ronnie Cummins states should be
verified by peer reviewed literature, not just hear-say. As to my
experience all these "rumors" do not stand against any scientific
evaluation or simply do not really exist, though these rumors circulate.
Ask the Ronnie Cummins about the source of his arguments and the literture
he refers to. I bet you will not receive any answer. 

Regards,

Franz


Franz Schoenhofer
Habicherg. 31/7
A-1160 Vienna
Austria
Tel.: +43-1-495 53 08
Fax.: same number
mobile phone: +43-664-338 0 333
e-mail: schoenho@via.at

Office:
Federal Institute for Food Control and Research
Department of Radiochemistry
Kinderspitalg. 15
A-1095 Vienna
Austria
Tel.: +43-1-40 491 520
Fax.: +43-1-40 491 540
e-mail: schoenhofer@baluf.via.at
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