[ZGuy]

The "environmentalists" and people quoted in this article would rather expose children to E. coli and salmonella knowing that some may die rather give up this phony fund-raising scare tactic against irradiation.

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.

[Iowa Granny]

"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.

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.

[Frank_Discussion]

AAAAUUGGGGHH!!!! Dangit, folks just don't do any effing research!

The envirowankers hear the words "radiation" or "nuclear" or another derivative of such, and they go bonkers. Irradiated food is safer than non-irradiated: the radiation does not linger in the food.

What do they think is being done? Do they think somebody pulls out a salt shaker of ground up uranium and sprinkle it over the food? My heavens, it's not fallout!

</end rant>

[palmer]

Food that requires irradiation should not be eaten, irradiated or not. Without high intensity farming, unsanitary slaughtering, or long storage and transportation times, irradiation would not be necessary. Federal food subsidies, including irradiation, should be abolished, they bias the market away from fresh, locally grown foods.

[ZGuy]

I believe this is the announcement for public input the article refers to :

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

[kidd]

This is pure ignorance. Irradiated food lasts longer with less refrigeration. Less wasted food. Less wasted energy. No need for any kind of preservations. Fewer chemical refrigerants. A true environmentalist would be all for this. However, the "environmentalist" of today is actually an anti-technologist.

[general_re]

Okay. Let's take a quick poll - how many here have actually eaten irradiated beef?

[ZGuy]

[ctdonath2]

What few address on either side is why irradiating food works as a preservative method. The technique is comparable to how radiation therapy works in cancer treatment. The radiation randomly breaks down molecules, interfering with cell life processes - basically the germs either suffer terminal systems malfunction, or get poisoned by eating molecular garbage. In cancer treatment, this means killing lots of cells in the targeted area, and the person suffers a vague sense of exhaustion as the body desperately works hard to clean up the mess of dead cells and unexpected broken molecules. In food, this means the undesireable germs and parasites die off as lots of random molecules are turned into scrap, some of it poisionous.

Yes, there is no specific problems clearly linkable to irradiated food - precisely because of the random nature of molecular breakdowns caused by the radiation. The toxins produced and consumed are certainly low-level and widely varied; this does not strike me as something suitable for human consumption.

Some may compare this to known valid threats of certain diseases; that E. Coli and Salmonella are real problems does not eliminate the haze of random toxins in irradiated foods. I would not wish either on anyone; my conclusion (feel free to prove me wrong) is that 'tis better to thoroughly cook clean foods (home grown or hunted preferred) and kill the nasties that way, than to consume unknown toxins unaffected by cooking.

[Willie Green]

"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?"

Geeze, Debbie, it's pretty simple.
Just tell your kids don't eat it if it glows in the dark.
Other than that, they'll be OK.