(22) Food Irradiation(Center for Consumer Research, Univ.
of California, Davis)
Benefits of Food Irradiation ï What is Food Irradiation ï Is Food Irradiation a Good
Idea? ï Are Irradiated Foods in the Supermarket? ï Food Irradiation Safety Issues ï Who
Opposes Food Irradiation and Why? ï How is Food Irradiation Regulated? ï How is Food
Irradiation Used? ï Consumer Acceptance of Food Irradiation ï Myths about Food
Irradiation ï More Information on Food Irradiation ï Questionnaire and Feedback Form
(23) ADA: Food Irradiation (American Dietetic Association)
"More than 40 years of multispecies, multigenerational animal studies have shown no
toxic effects from eating irradiated foods. Additionally, human volunteers consuming up to
100% of their diets as irradiated food have shown no ill effect ... Consumers consistently
rate irradiated fruit as equal to or better than non-irradiated fruits in appearance,
freshness and taste ... It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that food
irradiation is one way to enhance the safety and quality of the food supply."
(24) Ten Most Commonly-Asked Questions About Food Irradiation (USDA/FSIS)
http://www.foodsafety.org/sf/sf037.htm
A Q&A point-of-purchase consumer information pamphlet prepared by the USDA Food Safety
& Inspection Service.
(25)Questions & Answers About Irradiation: a technology for protecting our
food supply. (Minnesota Department of Health)
"New or previously unrecognized food safety issues like E. coli contamination in meat
have underscored the importance of protecting people from food-related illnesses. Food
irradiation is expected to play an important role in meeting this challenge. This fact
sheet answers some common questions about this increasingly important technology."
(26) Press Release WHO/68 - 09/19/94 (World Health Organization)
"Food irradiation is safe and effective. This is the main conclusion of a detailed
study just published by the World Health Organization ... A publication of this kind was
needed on account of the reluctance and even fears aroused in some quarters by the
irradiation-or ionization-of foods, an extremely promising technique which could
substantially increase the supply of safe food and thus improve public health throughout
the world."
(27) Radiation Pasteurization of Food (Council for Agricultural Science
& Technology)
"Several other fruits that are available in Hawaii, but not on the mainland, have
been imported and irradiated for customer acceptance trials, with excellent results ...
Fruits and vegetables are being irradiated in the United States to eliminate insects and
spoilage organisms ... In addition, Japan and other countries that ban the use of chemical
sprout inhibitors, irradiate potatoes and onions to prevent sprouting."
(28) Food Irradiation: Frequently Asked Questions: English (Food Safety
Advisory Center, U.K.)
"The weight of scientific opinion considers food irradiation to be a safe process,
and another useful tool for protecting our food ... Irradiation has been studied since
1905, and no other food processing method has been subject to such close examination for
so many years."
(29) Food Irradiation(University of Florida)
A fact sheet prepared by the Home Economics Department, Florida Cooperative Extension
Service, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida (02/94).
"The potential benefits of food irradiation may come closer to realization now that
regulatory barriers are beginning to be removed, interest in alternatives to pesticides is
high and some studies are demonstrating consumer acceptance of products."
(30) AEA Information Resource: Q & A (International Atomic
Energy Energy)
The Fact Sheets included here cover issues relating to: status and trends; scientific and
technical terms; food irradiation and radioactivity; chemical changes in irradiated food;
nutritional quality of irradiated foods; genetic studies; microbiological safety of
irradiated food; irradiation and food safety; irradiation and food additives and residues;
packaging of irradiated foods; safety of irradiation facilities; controlling the process;
food irradiation costs; irradiated foods and the consumer; trade in irradiated foods.
(31)The Food Irradiation Information Site (Michelle Marcotte & J.
Paul Farrell)
"Irradiation Disinfection and Preservation of Food is of growing interest to
consumers, news reporters, food company executives, educators and students of food
technology. This web site provides information about the subject with links to national
and international organizations."
(32) Food Irradiation Today (Hospitality Institute of Technology &
Management, University of Minnesota)
"Nationally syndicated columnist Jane Brody (1995) recently compared public outcry
against irradiation of foods to the protests registered against the pasteurization of
milk. A century ago, 'myth-mongering opponents' kept the pasteurization of milk from
commercial use for over 50 years ... Unfortunately, irrational fears about irradiation too
often stand in the way of rational consideration of its benefits and realistic
consideration of its risks..."
(33)Food Irradiation(National Food Safety Database & University of
Georgia Cooperative Extension Service)
http://www.foodsafety.org/he/he494.htm
"[Food irradiation] can be an effective way to treat a variety of problems in our
food supply ... However, it has not yet obtained a significant place in the U.S. food
industry. This apparent hesitancy is caused in part by very vocal and active opponents who
provide inaccurate information to instill fear about food safety into the public's
mind."
(34) Food Irradiation: Toxic to Bacteria, Safe for Humans (FDA Consumer)
"Market tests show that once consumers learn about irradiation, they will buy
irradiated food ... irradiated papayas outsold the non-irradiated product by more than 10
to 1 when in-store information was available."
(35) Has Irradiation Scared Us Senseless?(International Food
Informational Council)
http://ific.org/insight/irrad.htm
"She and her colleagues conducted an in-store consumer test of tree-ripened papayas
treated with irradiation and papayas treated with the usual method of double-dipping in
hot water-which requires picking the fruit before ripening. The consumers expressed clear
preference for the irradiated papayas' appearance and taste."
(36) Food Irradiation (Health Physics Society position statement, July
1988)
"Evidence is mounting that information campaigns on food irradiation are beginning to
assume high profiles in the political and public sectors. Certain messages are being
communicated that, for the most part, are factually incorrect. The objective of this
position statement, issued by the Health Physics Society, is to correct this
misinformation through information currently accepted within the scientific
community."
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