*please post widely* *apologies for cross-posting* Action Items 1) Last call for comments on irradiated food in the National School Lunch Program! The USDA public comment period on their proposal to purchase irradiated food for the National School Lunch Program is ending in 30 days! So, please get as many folks as you can to send in comments before April 11! The USDA had originally declared a 30-day comment period right before Thanksgiving, but when several Congressional members wrote letters to the USDA to request an extension of the comment deadline, the USDA declared the comment period "open-ended." Now, they have declared that in 30 days the comment period is over and a decision on whether or not to purchase irradiated food for federal nutrition programs is expected in April. The USDA is supposed to post all comments online, but are backlogged by thousands of comments. Of the ones that they have posted, 4 times as many comments are against irradiation as for it. Let's keep the comments coming! E-mail is the best way to contact them, so please send comments to: [log in to unmask] For talking points go to http://www.citizen.org/cmep/foodsafety/schoollunch/articles.cfm?ID=8758 2) New Stores Selling Irradiated Meat - They May Be In Your Area! New supermarket chains have chosen to stock irradiated meat including Bi-Lo, Bruno's Copps Food Center, Dierberg Markets, Food Fair, Food World, Fresh Value, Marsh Supermarkets, Martin's, and Stop & Shop. Go to http://www.citizen.org/cmep/foodsafety/food_irrad/articles.cfm?ID=8724 to find out what supermarkets in your state are carrying irradiated meat and send them a free fax requesting that they pull it from their shelves. New Developments at Wal-Mart Wal-Mart has recently begun a test-marketing effort of irradiated ground beef in a few of their supercenter stores. Check out your local Wal-Mart to see if they are stocking it. If they are, tell the meat manager that you don't want it, and let us know which store is carrying it. You can also send a free fax to Wal-Mart in opposition of them carrying irradiated meat by going to http://www.citizen.org/cmep/foodsafety/food_irrad/articles.cfm?ID=9025. 3) Help Canadians Fend Off Irradiation! On November 23, 2002, Health Canada announced proposed new regulations to extend the use of food irradiation in Canada to include ground beef, poultry, shrimp and prawns, and mangoes. With only one week's notice, Health Canada, the arm of the Canadian government that oversees food irradiation, began to hold a string of public forums across the country. Public Citizen gave public testimony at the Ottawa hearing. Originally, the deadline for public comments was set for February 21st, 2003, but as a result of unavailable materials and public dissent, the deadline was. Health Canada is following the same process seen in the United States. They are pushing irradiation on the Canadian public without proper input from citizens. They are ignoring years of research indicating health concerns associated with eating irradiated foods. They are turning a blind eye to the economic ramifications on small-scale farmers. You can help, fax or email a letter opposing food irradiation to the Canadian government. SAMPLE LETTER Bureau of Food Regulatory, International and Interagency Affairs Building No. 7 (0702C1), Tunney's Pasture Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0L2 Fax: 613-941-3537 E-mail: [log in to unmask] Health Canada: On November 23, 2002, Health Canada posted proposed new regulations to extend the use of food irradiation in Canada to include ground beef, poultry, shrimp and prawns and mangoes. I urge you not to approve the widespread use of irradiation in Canada. The United States has been pushing this dangerous technology, despite the disapproval of the American citizens. Now, Americans are not 100% sure that their food is free from irradiation and children may be eating irradiated foods, despite research indicating decreased wholesomeness of irradiated food. Europe, on the other hand, is taking the lead in protecting their citizens. In December 2002, the European Parliament voted against extending the list of approved irradiated foods beyond spices, herbs and seasonings. Now, the European delegates to Codex, with the support of their Scientific Committee on Food, oppose eliminating the maximum dose level for irradiating foods. Canada too can be a leader in protecting their citizens. Do not follow the hasty actions of the US by blindly accepting increased irradiation in Canada. I urge you to protect your people. Yours Sincerely, Your Name and Address ******************** If you would like to be removed from the radfood list, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the words "unsubscribe radfood" in the message. If you would like to be added to the radfood list, send an email to [log in to unmask] with the words "subscribe radfood" in the message. To learn more about food irradiation, visit our website at http://www.citizen.org/cmep/ Questions about the radfood list can be directed to [log in to unmask] -Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy and Environment Program Erin E. Jordahl Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club 3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280 Des Moines, IA 50310 515-277-8868 [log in to unmask] www.iowa.sierraclub.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp