The Basics on the Foodfight Over Irradiation

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"Short bursts of radiation damages the DNA of the bacteria.." on the produce? Then the produce must as a consequence be also damaged, - and the consumer that eats the produce!

Kinga Barry of FL 10:24PM September 07, 2008

To address the fear mongering about bird flu above, the 1918 pandemic killed primarily through pneumonia, and certainly not through food-borne pathogens. I don't think the FDA is soon going to be recommending radiating lungs to treat infection.
Personally, I consider my chances of dying from a car accident extremely more likely than getting seriously ill from a food-borne bacteria in this country, to the extent that I think it not worth the bother, expense, or liability of spreading radioactivity about food processing plants -- though if I was a food exec faced with insurance bills to protect against punitive damages I might feel otherwise. I will avoid buying rad treated food for that reason. Plus, I just don't like the spin or the spinners. Now, on the other hand, if you were to offer me a free lunch, hot or not, I would have to put my scruples aside and dig in.

Ridahoan of ID 7:38PM September 07, 2008

E. Coli live in the colon of cows.
Farms are not "clean rooms"
Sampling error prevents detection of some tainted beef.
Human error results in insufficiently cooked hamburger, since if cooked to 160 degrees the risk becomes zero.
Irradiation is the most studied food process in history, studied for over 70 years. It is safe, effective, inexpensive, does not leave a residue, and can extend shelf life.
People who are immune suppressed, those with diabetes, AIDS, and cancer,or the elderly and very young are risking their lives by eating tainted foods.
For this reason irradiation should be approved for all foods, since it has been proven safe and effective. People should have a right to protect their lives.
If you don't belong to one of these groups, keep in mind that the Avian Flu is out in our future. In the 1918 flu epidemic most did not die from the flu. Most died of secondary bacterial infections.

of CA 4:39PM September 07, 2008

We have yet to deal with the bad effects of pastuerization of Milk, and dairy products. 86% of everyone who cunsume pastuerized dairy are allergic to these products. The Toxic effects of eating pastuerized foods is the cause of many illnesses. The same will happen through Irridation of meats, and
Poultry. I sincerely wish that the FDA will begin to Hire people
who are well educated to operate their offices.

Edward John Abdo of AL 4:07PM September 07, 2008

I implore everyone to submit your comments to the FDA now, before the comment period ends. Here is what I wrote to them:
Here is what I wrote in my comment:
Dear FDA,
The current paradigm that exists in the conventional factory farm is to blame for the problems with bacterial contamination of produce items such as spinach and iceberg. Instead of punishing the consumer with irradiated food, find the source of the problem and correct that and also fine producers who are not so careful.
Establish stricter federal standards to enforce these procedures and safeguards. When you make decisions to blanket irradiate an entire group of food in the name of "consumer safety" it is permanent and will have far-reaching negative repercussions for the end-user. Everyone pays the price then. You say that irradiation does not affect the quality of the food, from a nutritional as well as textural-quality standpoint. I can not believe that ionizing radiation that is strong enough to kill 99.9% of pathogenic bacteria is not going to in any way harm or lessen the vitamin, mineral and enzyme content of these fresh living plant foods.
Worst of all, you are mandating this across the board to include organic produce as well as conventional, which I believe is in violation of current organic standards. The fact that you would propose these changes and mandates to change current practices and then not want to inform the consumer with proper labeling of such items, or worse yet deceive by calling this method of sterilization "cold pasteurized", is appalling. You must presume that most of us are stupid. First of all living food, when it is sterilized, whether it is through pasteurization, irradiation or gassing becomes dead food and can not support life. The reason we eat food is to support our lives, without it we die. So am I to presume that the underlying motive, disguised as fear-mongering in the name of consumer safety, is actually the promotion of a death initiative?
I implore you to fix the problem at the source with the producers who use a current growing paradigm that doesn't protect against contamination, namely, using irrigation water contaminated with feces from sick and dying "factory-farmed" conventionally raised cattle and swine, instead of penalizing scrupulous producers and consumers for the rest of eternity.
Sincerely,
Ann

Ann Marie T. Gunn of FL 3:22PM September 07, 2008

People need to learn to learn to improve their hygienic standards.
Well maintained wooden chopping or cutting boards are naturally antiseptic - plastic is not
Wash fruit and vegetables in potable water to which a small amount of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or vinegar has been added. A pharmacist or biochemist can tell you the proper amount to use.
Marinate meat, poultry and fish in pure vinegar before preparation.
Irradiated filth is still filth.

Croft Woodruff 3:06PM September 07, 2008

The AMA, FDA, WHO and the ADA all must be exposed for the frauds that they are. They do NOT represent the well being of the people, they are nothing more than lobbyist fronts for corporations. Their "directors" are appointed from the very industries from which they supposedly protect the public. This is a despicable breach of trust, and must be stopped.
No politician has the guts.

congressive of CA 12:35AM September 07, 2008

Tainted spinach scare, and voila, irradiation is fast-tracked. Remember the scare?
Cause:"the [spinach] field included the presence of wild pigs, the proximity of irrigation wells used to grow produce for ready-to-eat packaging, and surface waterways exposed to feces from cattle and wildlife."
Solution: IRRADIATION!
Now, even though tomatoes were exonerated, the loss to big agra will fast-track irradiated tomatoes to a produce section near you.
Poisoning the planet for profit. That's the American way.

congressive of CA 12:29AM September 07, 2008

"The only thing that stands between a person and their own perfect health is information. Empowered with the right information, anyone can improve their health, reduce their dependence on prescription drugs, enhance their quality of life and expand their mental awareness and creativity.
Achieving outstanding health is not complicated. The human body already knows how to be healthy. All you have to do is give your body outstanding nutrition so that it has the building materials it needs to heal disease and rebuild itself from the inside out. You must also avoid all of the foods and food ingredients that cause disease. Today, more than 95% of all chronic disease is caused by food choice, toxic food ingredients, nutritional deficiencies and lack of physical exercise.
--Mike Adams"
http://www.healthranger.org/

Erick of CA 12:25AM September 07, 2008

You can eat whatever you like America, I will not buy poisoned food. Look up the word RADIOLYTIC or RADIO-LYTIC and read some of the truth about irradiated foods and the poisons radiation create in them, and then tell me that the studies are not credible. The only thing these regulations are designed to do is make unsanitary corporate agriculture more profitable while freeing up FDA expenditures to be used in wars of choice. Our bankrupt and now deeply immoral nation can no longer afford to inspect foods and production facilities. People are getting sick mostly because of the feces they are eating in their diets, fix that but do not tell us that we require irridation. Today spinach and lettuce, tomorrow everything on the shelves. Time to buy a few acres and make my own food.

Markus of OR 4:35PM September 06, 2008