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U.S. To Allow Irradiation Of Meat, With Labeling
This appeared in today's Washington Post
U.S. To Allow Irradiation Of Meat, With Labeling
Associated Press
Wednesday, December 15, 1999; Page A18
Processors will be allowed to irradiate raw beef, pork and lamb to eliminate
deadly bacteria and other organisms, but products will have to carry labels
informing shoppers of the treatment, the government said yesterday.
"While there is no single silver bullet to cure all food safety problems,
irradiation has been shown to be both safe and effective," Agriculture Secretary
Dan Glickman said.
Labels on irradiated products, including sausage made from irradiated beef or
pork, will have to carry the international symbol of irradiation, known as a
"radura," and a statement that they were treated. The symbol, colored green on a
white background, depicts two leaves resting in a semicircle, with a green dot
above it beneath a broken-lined semicircle.
Irradiation, which already was approved for poultry, is the only known method to
eliminate deadly E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria in raw meat and also can significantly
reduce levels of other pathogens, including listeria, salmonella and
campylobacter.
Irradiation had to be approved by both USDA, which is responsible for ensuring
the safety of meat, and the Food and Drug Administration, which has authority
over food additives. The FDA approved irradiation in 1997.
The agencies are also being asked to include in the approved group ready-to-eat
products such as hot dogs and luncheon meats.
Irradiation is seldom used for poultry, but E. coli is more common in beef.
Initially, irradiated meat is likely to be most popular with hospitals and
nursing homes, because of the danger E. coli poses to patients with weak immune
systems, said Carol Tucker Foreman, a distinguished fellow with the Consumer
Federation of America.
"I don't expect you're going to get it for sale at McDonald's any time soon. It
takes a while to build the facilities," she said.
E. coli 0157 can cause serious illness and sometimes death, especially in
children and the elderly. An estimated 73,480 people are infected each year and
about 600 cases are fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
Tim Willard, a spokesman for the National Food Processors Association, said the
USDA decision was "long overdue."
© Copyright 1999 The Associated Press
-- John
"Men of power have not time to read; yet men who do not read are unfit for
power. "
Michael Foot
John Jacobus, MS
Health Physicist
National Institutes of Health
Radiation Safety Branch, Building 21
21 Wilson Drive, MSC 6780
Bethesda, MD 20892-6780
Phone: 301-496-5774 Fax: 301-496-3544
jjacobus@exchange.nih.gov (W)
jenday@ix.netcom.com (H)
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