FDA mulls relaxing rules for irradiated food

Washington, D.C. — The Food and Drug Administration may allow foods to be irradiated without consumers knowing about it.

Irradiated foods would not have to be labeled so long as the irradiation did not change the taste, texture and other material aspects of the product, under the agency’s proposed rules. The technique kills bacteria but does not cause food to become radioactive.

The agency would also allow the use of the term “pasteurized” instead of “irradiated” for foods that are labeled.

The proposal, which was being published today in the Federal Register, could benefit an irradiation company based in Sioux City, the Sadex Corp., which treats ground beef, pet treats and other products with electron beams.

Sadex has been testing its technology on fruits and vegetables in the wake of a series of food poisoning outbreaks traced to spinach and other produce.

Among the items the company has tested: lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, cantaloupes and radishes.

“None of those products have indicated any material change in texture, quality, taste and nutritional value,” said Harlan Clemmons, president and chief operating officer of Sadex.

He said the FDA proposal would improve consumer acceptance of irradiation.
FDA’s proposal stems from provisions authored in the 2002 farm bill by Sen. Tom Harkin, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

But Harkin, D-Ia., stopped short of endorsing FDA’s proposal, calling the plan a “mixed bag.”

“On the one hand, FDA is following the intent of Congress regarding this issue, but on the other hand, the agency is sending the message that labeling of irradiated food is unnecessary,” Harkin said in a statement.

Under current regulations, irradiated foods must bear special labels.

FDA’s proposal was immediately criticized by Food and Water Watch, a consumer activist group.

“It’s going to generate a lot of controversy and I think it’s going to generate a lot of confusion,” said Tony Corbo, a lobbyist for the organization.

FDA outlined its proposal in a 54-page document that acknowledges that research shows consumers wanted more information about irradiated foods, not less.

Participants in focus groups viewed alternate terms such as “cold pasteurization” as misleading, FDA said.

The agency said it isn’t clear how many food companies would start irradiating products if the proposed rules go into effect. FDA will accept public comments on the proposal for 90 days.

I don’t know how you feel about irradiating food, but we need more information about it.  WE need to do more research into this avenue of food degermination,  I need to find out how to comment on this issue with the FDA.  Anybody know how to do it?