NFPA Faults FDA Notice on Irradiation Labeling

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Tuesday February 16, 5:44 pm Eastern Time

Company Press Release

SOURCE: National Food Processors Association

NFPA Faults FDA Notice on Irradiation Labeling

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Cites NFPA's Irradiation 
Labeling Petition  

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- An advance notice of 
proposed rulemaking (ANPR) by the Food and Drug Administration, 
announcing that the Agency is considering proposing revisions of 
its labeling requirements for foods treated with irradiation, ``falls 
short of what FDA should have done,'' according to the National 
Food Processors Association (NFPA).  

``While this action by FDA is a step in the right direction, it is a 
very short step, and it comes later than mandated by Congress,'' 
said Regina Hildwine, NFPA's Director of Food Labeling and 
Standards. ``NFPA believes that FDA should have taken advantage 
of this opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of NFPA's petition 
to the Agency, rather than simply seeking answers to a number of 
questions on labeling.''  

The Food and Drug Modernization Act of 1997 directed FDA to 
issue a rule amending the Agency's food irradiation labeling 
requirements by November, 1998. ``It has taken FDA 15 months to 
develop an ANPR, which is far short of the expectations of 
Congress that the Agency would issue a final rule within 12 
months,'' Hildwine pointed out. On May 21, 1998, NFPA filed a 
citizen petition with FDA, asserting that the Agency's current 
'radiation' disclosure requirements for irradiated foods are neither 
scientifically nor legally justified.  

``NFPA strongly believes that current irradiation labels -- by 
resembling 'warning labels' discourage industry use of irradiation to 
prevent foodborne illness,'' Hildwine stated. ``Moreover, existing 
'radiation' disclosure requirements contribute to consumer 
apprehension as to the safety of irradiated foods. Obviously, the 
current regulations are not in the best interests of either the food 
industry or consumers.  

``NFPA will be providing strong comments and information to FDA, 
continuing to make our point that current labeling rules do not 
accurately reflect the Agency's position that irradiation is a safe 
and effective technology. We hope that FDA will move swiftly to 
propose, and then finalize, a rule amending existing labeling 
requirements to ensure that any such requirements help advance 
the use of food irradiation.''  

NFPA is the voice of the $430 billion food processing industry on 
scientific and public policy issues involving food safety, nutrition, 
technical and regulatory matters and consumer affairs.

------------------------
Sandy Perle
E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net
Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205

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