The following is from the April 2002 issue of Acres USA, a monthly journal on eco-agriculture.

Irradiation: Farm Bill Fine Print

Although irradiated food has proved to be a flop with consumers, the industry hasn't given up, and it's getting some powerful help.  In addition to the mail irradiation bonanza following 9-11, two last-minute additions to the U.S. Senate version of the Farm Bill are clearly designed to increase consumption--and decrease public awareness--of irradiated foods.

Section 442 ("Use of Approved Food Safety Technology") states that the Secretary of Agriculture cannot prohibit the purchase of commodities for nutrition programs it administers if those commodities have been treated with food safety technologies approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Among the technologies approved by HHS is irradiation.  Programs covered include the National School Lunch Program and the Child Nutrition Act of 1996.

Section 1079E ("Pasteurization") directs the HHS Secretary to redefine pasteurization to include any process that HHS has approved to improve food safety.  Irradiation is one of those processes.  For the past five years, the food irradiation industry has been attempting to persuade the FDA to change the current labeling requirements for irradiated foods so that they could be labeled as either "Cold Pasteurized"  or "electronic Pasteurized," but public opposition has been stiff.

Both provisions were added by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) to the Senate version of the Farm Bill (H.R. 2646) during the final hours of debate.  They were hidden in a 396-page amendment that few senators had seen prior to its being considered on the floor.  The Senate passed the Farm Bill on February 13.

Meanwhile, the USPS admits in a press release that "irradiation can adversely affect some mailable products, such as biological samples, diagnostic kits, photographic film, food and eyeglasses and contact lenses.  Electronic devices would likely be rendered inoperable and drugs and medicines also can be affected."  Customers are reassured, however, that "the only mail currently being irradiated is mail going to specific government offices."