| FDA Says Zapping Lettuce, Spinach OK |
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| Written by Kiki Hubbard | |
| Wednesday, 27 August 2008 | |
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that it's amending the food additive regulations to allow for the use of irradiation in iceburg lettuce and fresh spinach. The reason for zapping these vegetables with ionizing radiation is to prevent food-borne bacteria from entering the food supply -- to avoid salmonella outbreaks and the like. Is it safe? Public Citizen published a report in 2003 called What's in the Beef? It focuses on unique chemical structures found in irradiated beef and points to studies that raise questions and concern regarding the chemicals' potential toxicity and ability to damage genes. But that's beef. We don't really know the effect on vegetables. Still, some food safety advocacy groups say it is a risky quick fix. Food and Water Watch says irradiation is an "impractical, ineffective and very expensive gimmick" with the potential to destroy flavor and nutritional value. Safe or not, the most important point is this: Such a technology does not address what really needs cleaning up. It does not require more safety testing of food or inspections of facilities, measures that address the source of the problem. It's an expensive bandaide approach that may leave consumers wary rather than relieved when they see the radura symbol (above) on food packaging. Sources: Chicago Tribune and USA Today Comments (11)
  written by Mike, September 02, 2008
I know this is a daft question: do they zap UK food? I'd never even thought they would but now am kinda worried. time to see how my application with the local council is going for an allotment - seems far safer
written by Nicola Terry, September 03, 2008
I believe that in the UK irradiation is allowed for dried herbs, spices and condiments.
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Safe or not, the most important point is this: Such a technology does not address what really needs cleaning up.
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do they zap UK food? I'd never even thought they would but now am kinda worried. time to see how my application with the local council is going for an allotment
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It's true what our moms said...we are what we eat. In fact, it's truer than they thought. What I eat doesn't just affect me anymore, it affects all of us.
Unfortunately, the story of food can sometimes be complicated. But envirovores help each other out...which is why this blog will be bringing you news, tips, and information about food and the environment every step of the way.
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They blamed spinach before. this last round with salmonella they blamed tomatoes and that finger pointing caused tomato farmers to loose over 110 million in crops (thats cost, not selling price) and none of that will get them any retribution.
The real culprit was jalapeno peppers, from mexico none the less. hmm seems to me the spinach was from mexico too. maybe we should irradiate mexico? wouldn't that be a better aimed use of the energy?
It seems to me that Irradiation is a cool energy consuming power hog of an idea, but isn't it better to make sure that the factory farms growing the stuff should simply "clean up"?
maybe if we charged importers a fee to inspect goods coming across the border we would catch this stuff. The fee would only be pointed at the people who are sneaking it in anyhow, so no harn/no foul. They are saving a heap of money with imports anyhow so a little fee would only serve to level the playing field with our farms who already pay to get inspected. hmm seems fair now doesn't it.
I think if you dug a little, you would find that some heavy lobbying got this thru, and that somewhere on the board at the FDA is a stock holder in some irradiation manufacturer.