Food Irradiation: Positive Aspects

[Forbes-Ewan, Chris]

	-----Original Message-----
	From:	NAME "Martha" [SMTP:MMUNZGUE at ACD.MHC.AB.CA]
	Sent:	Friday, January 21, 2000 10:07 AM
	To:	Public Health Nutrition Discussion and Information Group
	Subject:	Re: food irradiation

	Thanks for the information about food irradiation.  My daughter is
	investingating a job which involves lobbying against removal of
	the regulation that requires irradiated food to be labelled.  I'm
wondering how
	urgent a problem that is?

	Martha


After the initial negative message about food irradiation, I waited to see
the messages from US food technologists pointing out the positive aspects.
There haven't been any so far -- perhaps there aren't any food technologists
on this listserv -- so I am sending a compilation of messages that I sent
last year to the Australian nutritionists network (Nutnet), on which food
irradiation was extensively discussed last year:

The position of the American Dietetic Association (JADA 1996: 96(1): 69-72)
is that 'food irradiation is one way to enhance the safety and quality of
the food supply. The ADA encourages the government, food manufacturers, food
commodity groups, and qualified dietetics professionals to continue working
together in educating consumers about this technology'.

Aspects of the food industry that can benefit from the use of irradiation
include the spice industry, processing of raw chicken (a major source of
food-poisoning bacteria), disinfestation of grains, and retarding natural
senescence of fruit and vegetables. The ADA position statement also points
out that 'Food irradiation has the longest history, more than 40 years, of
scientific research and testing of any food technology before approval'. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture
Organisation (WHO) both recognise irradiation as an important addition to
existing methods of control of pathogens and food spoilage. The technique
was approved in 1997 in the US for treatment of beef, lamb and pork. This
approval followed recall of 10.75 million kg of tainted hamburger meat in
August 1997 (report in the Australian newspaper -- the Launceston Examiner
-- 4 Dec 97). The ADA points out that 'About 6.5 to 33 million cases of food
borne illness are estimated to occur in the United States; about 9,000 of
these result in death... 'Irradiation has been identified as one solution
that enhances food safety through the reduction of potential pathogens and
has been recommended as part of a comprehensive program to enhance food
safety'.

Food irradiation also seems to be acceptable to the public at large. The
following report on acceptance of food irradiation was taken from the FSNet
(food safety network) listserver, based at Guelph University in Ontario (18
Dec 97): 'In a collaborative project, Iowa State and Kansas State University
surveyed Manhattan, Kan. residents and found that 87% would buy irradiated
chicken if it was priced 10% below non-irradiated chicken. If it was priced
10% higher 31% would still choose it'. Clearly, at least in the US, there is
not an overwhelming groundswell of public opinion against the technique.

The ADA points out that 'Food irradiation does not replace proper food
handling...the handling of foods processed by irradiation should be governed
by the same food safety precautions as all other foods. Food irradiation
cannot enhance the quality of a food that is not fresh, or prevent
contamination that occurs after irradiation during storage or preparation'. 

Although I don't have any qualms about mandatory labelling, so that people
can choose not to buy irradiated food if they have some objection to the
process, it should be borne in mind that food irradiation is not yet another
attempt to 'deprive us of our precious bodily fluids' (as the mad major in
the movie Dr Strangelove described fluoridation of the water supply). Food
irradiation is simply another technique that has specific uses and is,
according to the ADA, WHO, FAO, USFDA (among others) safe and effective. 


Chris Forbes-Ewan

Senior Nutritionist
Defence Nutrition Research Centre
76 George St
Scottsdale  Tas  7260
Australia

Phone:	Int + 61 3 6352 6607	(03 6352 6607 within Australia)
Fax: 	Int + 61 3 6352 3044	(03 6352 3044 within Australia)

E-mail:	chris.forbes-ewan at dsto.defence.gov.au

PLEASE NOTE: THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS MESSAGE ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR,
THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE POSITION OF THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION