From:
Defenders Rural Updates!
January 30, 2003

Forwarded by Jane Clark

IRRADIATING SCHOOL LUNCHES

The "New York Times" this week profiles some of the issues
involved with a little-known provision in last year's farm bill, which
directs the USDA to purchase irradiated beef for the school lunch
program.  While food treated with gamma rays to kill bacteria is not
radioactive, some research indicates that carcinogenic compounds
form when fat is irradiated.  Irradiation is touted as an answer to
food safety concerns by the beef industry, which is less supportive
of other measures to keep contaminated meat out of the food chain
-- such as extensive bacterial testing or improved slaughterhouse
conditions.  Carol Tucker Foreman, director of the Food Policy
Institute at the Consumer Federation of America, said: "There is
nowhere in the world where a large population has eaten large
amounts of irradiated food over a long period of time.  It makes me
queasy that we are going to feed it to schoolchildren."

The full article is available at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/29/dining/29WELL.htm

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