Posted on 12/17/2002 7:48:53 AM PST by ZGuy
The Bush administration's plan to allow irradiated meat to be served to millions of U.S. school children is raising the ire of some concerned parents. Irradiation, which has been endorsed by the World Health Organization, exposes food to low doses of electrons or gamma rays to destroy deadly microorganisms such as E. coli O157:H7 and salmonella.
Under the U.S. farm subsidy law enacted in May, the U.S. Agriculture Department must allow government-approved food safety technology such as irradiation to be used in commodities purchased by the federal school lunch program. Some 27 million schoolchildren receive free or low-cost meals daily in the program.
The USDA currently prohibits the irradiated meat in its vast school lunch program, which spends billions of dollars annually to buy meat, vegetables, fruits, and other foods.
Last month, the USDA asked for public input on implementing a program for irradiated beef and so far has received more than 200 responses. Most were from disgruntled parents opposing irradiated meat.
"As a parent, I will stop allowing my children to eat school cafeteria food if irradiated food is allowed to be served," said Steve Steinhoff of Madison, Wisconsin.
Wilfred Small from New York City said that "years from now we shall look back with regret on the day we started feeding irradiated food to our children.''
Other parents urged the USDA to conduct more research on the new technology before distributing it to children. Some said the use of irradiation will give meat companies an excuse to relax their food safety programs, leaving animal feces or other contaminants in meat.
"Do not use irradiated food in school cafeterias," said Tina Manassaram of Orlando, Florida. "Innocent children will pay the price for the meat industry's laziness."
ENVIRO GROUP BEHIND STRONG OPPOSITION
Meat industry officials dismissed the letters, saying they were organized by Washington-based Public Citizen. The letters do not represent the overall public opinion of irradiated meat, they said.
"I don't think the average consumer ... is aware of the need to to write in support of it," said Janet Riley, spokeswoman for the American Meat Institute. "The more consumers know about irradiated meat, the more they are willing to accept it."
A nationwide survey conducted by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association found 48 percent of Americans likely to purchase irradiated meat. The November survey was up from a 38 percent response in February.
Industry groups want the USDA to implement a pilot program to gradually introduce irradiated meat to school cafeterias. If the USDA ultimately decides to allow irradiated meat, many parents said the meat should be segregated and labeled.
"Consumers have a right to know if their food is being irradiated," said Debbie Ortman of Hermantown, Minnesota. "How am I going to be able to tell what foods to tell my children to eat or not to eat when in school?"
Currently, irradiated foods must be labeled and bear a special symbol informing consumers. The American School Food Service Association, which supports the new technology, said it will ask the USDA to segregate irradiated meat so parents can decide whether their child should eat it.
"We don't anticipate that anyone or any school district is going to be required to eat irradiated meat," said Barry Sackin, the group's vice president.
The USDA will accept comments on meat irradiation until Dec. 22. Alisa Harrison, USDA spokeswoman, said the department intends to propose changes that would allow the technology by the end of the year.
If "Last month, the USDA asked for public input on implementing a program for irradiated beef and so far has received more than 200 responses. Most were from disgruntled parents opposing irradiated meat." then those of us who want safer meat should contact the USDA today to give them an "informed" opinion.
What a ditz. I'll bet Steve Steinhoff has no reservations about allowing his children to drink pasturized milk. Irradition is cold pasturization.
I want some assurance that the food my Grandchildren eat at school is safe. It's unfortunate Mr. Steinhoff doesn't hold the same concern for his children. He needs to get himself educated on this matter before he spouts off again.
Release No. 0484.02
Alisa Harrison (202)-720-4622
Matt Lloyd (202) 720 4623
USDA REQUESTS INPUT REGARDING FARM BILL REQUIREMENT ON APPROVED FOOD SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES FOR USE IN COMMODITY PURCHASE PROGRAMS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2002 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it is seeking input regarding a requirement in the 2002 Farm Bill pertaining to the use of approved food safety technologies for commodity purchase programs.
Specifically, the new Farm Bill states that USDA “shall not prohibit the use of any technology to improve food safety that has been approved by the Secretary of Agriculture or has been approved or is otherwise allowed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services” for use in various commodity purchase programs.
When coupled with approved intervention and food safety systems, new food safety technologies can provide additional food safety protections, as well as additional choices for consumers when purchasing products. Food safety technologies include intervention measures such as anti-microbial chemical rinses, irradiation and Ultra Violet light. For example, the use of irradiation for raw meat and poultry products was approved in 1999 after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that it was a safe measure in helping reduce food borne pathogens. Food irradiation is recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the most effective food decontamination methods available for meat and poultry products.
USDA has compiled facts and information about various food safety technologies on a new website located at www.usda.gov/fst. The website includes CDC, FDA and USDA fact sheets, questions and answers, scientific research and other information.
Comments will be considered as USDA begins to examine implementation specifications. Interested parties wishing to submit comments regarding this 2002 Farm Bill requirement can do so at the following address:
Livestock and Seed Programs
Agricultural Marketing Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Stop 0249, Room 2092-S
Washington, DC 20250-0249
Fax: 202/720-3499
E-mail: foodsafetytechnology@usda.gov
Superstitious nonsense. I suggest you watch the PBS series, "Surviving the Iron Age", where 17 volunteers lived in a reconstructed Celtic village, in the manner of Iron Age people. One of the main lessons of the experiment is that they were all chronically sick from spoiled food. One family had to leave because of it, and health inspectors nearly shut the project down.
Modern farming, storage and transportation techniques prevent deaths and illnesses from food-borne pathogens.
No, but I buy local produce and meats from nearby farms. My own garden was mediocre last year, but I'm hoping to do better next year.
I for one like my burgers juicy rare, but order them medium these days because of ecoli. I think irradiation could help this.
I can't recommend eating ground meat from an unknown source that hasn't been fully cooked. I like rare meat when the butchering has been done properly (no dirty knives stuck into the meat) and it's been seared on all sides. I much prefer promoting freshness and proper slaughter and butchering than irradiating slop from factory farms. There's many good reasons to avoid factory farms and having no need for irradiation is just one of them.
We should take responsibility for our health and avoid bureaucratization of medicine. Likewise we should all choose healthy foods to avoid the government subsidies for unhealthful practices. We should avoid corporatization of foods including excessive processing, excessive storage, and excessive treatments such as irradiation.
It will cost you more but it's your choice for your health.
Given that veal is widely considered the highest grade of beef, I should say it is.
I think he needs to get himself radiated.
I would assume until proved otherwise, that any chemical changes caused by irradiation would be similar to those caused by pasturization. Probably less.
I regularly thaw hamburger in the microwave. So, I suppose that counts.
To the naysayers: Economics folks. Efficiency and reduction of waste = higher standard of living.
Close but no cigar. Environmentalist=Socialist=Anti-American.
After the revolution, technology will be OK, because the right people will be in charge.
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