Re: Food Irradiation Symbol

["J. J. Rozental" <josrozen@netmedia.net.il>]

Dear Bruce,

        Very important your topic.  I do believe that the use of food
irradiation is more a question of competent communication rather than
symbol. Food Irradiation communication, both pro-active and reactive, have
been done with competence. This we can understand by the USA and others'
national or international information and looking at so net sites. Really
seem to me that food irradiation is today one of the most competent messages
directly to the public.

Regarding warning & label , I agree perfectly with your point, however
understanding symbols sometimes is quite difficult. Look at the IRPA's logo:
The institution decided to create its logo in  opposite intention of the
trefoil's one,  Please look at the IRPA's site:
http://irpa.sfrp.asso.fr/logohist.html

"The IRPA's symbol has been designed with the idea to convert the negative,
suppressive meaning of the warning trifoil into a positive one symbolizing
protection, health, prosperity. By repeating the extension of one edge of
the segment into a smooth curve in the series of all three segments a new
configuration with three arms arises negating by its form and position the
repelling meaning of the warning trifoil."

Although I know the story of the trefoil logo,  the reason of the three
segment, until now, at least to my knowledge is only hypothesis. 
IRPA, the  high International organization in Radiation protection,
intended to give  a positive image, however gave a negative information when
wrote "trifoil" instead "trefoil"


J.J.Rozental
<josrozen@netmedia.net.il>


At 12:14 PM 3/2/99 -0600, you wrote:
>Hi all
>
>The labeling of irradiated food is a hot topic right now. The main thing 
>to keep in mind is that the radura (and the required text) is for  
>consumer information, and is NOT a warning.  Warning means there is 
>something of danger or evil or a hazard involved. Because the radura 
>looks similar to other warning symbols (biohazard, trefoil, the EPA), 
>some of the people involved in developing food irradiation would rather 
>not have it used. Right now it does not have to be more prominent than 
>other consumer information.  Some of the anti-food irradiation folks are 
>pushing for the label to be more of a warning. I think we need to be 
>careful how we talk about the labeling, especially in the press 
>[opinion]. Also, I think if put in the right light, the labeling will be 
>a plus, meaning "safer food" and "longer shelflife", the same way we see 
>pasteurization as a good label. 
>
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------
>Bruce A. Busby    -     Radiation Health Physicist
>W- bab1303@doh.wa.gov      H-babusby@aol.com
>Rad Prot. Div. - Dept. of Health - Washington State
>7171 Cleanwater Lane, Bldg. 5   Olympia, WA  98504
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------
>
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>
jjrozental

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