Thursday, December 16, 1999

Editorials
Irradiation of food wins federal approval

The issue: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved irradiation of beef, pork and lamb.

Our view: The action is a major advance in the campaign to gain acceptance of irradiation.

Irradiation of food has taken a giant step with its approval by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for beef, pork and lamb. Two years ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved irradiation for red meat.

The process required approval 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 Agriculture Department's action should end the debate over the safety of irradiated foods.

The action has particular interest for Hawaii because irradiation of papayas and exotic fruits -- sanctioned by the federal government years ago -- has been an issue on the Big Island. Irradiation was narrowly approved in a referendum last year despite hysterical claims of opponents likening it to nuclear weapons.
Hawaii County Mayor Steve Yamashiro, an irradiation advocate, got into a dispute over the use of his campaign funds for the irradiation campaign.

This is a health issue of high importance. Irradiation kills bacteria and other organisms responsible for many consumer deaths. It is the only known method to eliminate deadly E. coli bacteria in raw meat. In addition, the Agriculture Department said, the technique can significantly reduce levels of other pathogens, including listeria, salmonella and campylobacter.

Secretary Dan Glickman, in giving final approval to the process, said,"While there is no single silver bullet to cure all food safety problems, irradiation has been shown to be both safe and effective."

Three agencies of the United Nations -- the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization -- have long endorsed food irradiation. Thirty-five countries use it.

Since 1992 irradiation has been approved for poultry in the United States, and is under consideration for hot dogs, lunch meats and other ready-to-eat products. USDA has waived its authority over ready-to-eat products in order to expedite the approval process for them.

Irradiated products will be required to carry labels with the international symbol of irradiation, known as a radura, and a statement that they have been treated with radiation.

The label is needed not because there is anything wrong with irradiated food but because opponents demanded it. The idea is to scare off consumers who are fearful that irradiated food is radioactive. It isn't, but it will take a lot of education to make irradiated food widely acceptable.

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