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Public interest groups denounce Giant's decision to sell irradiated meat (Friday, Nov. 15, 2002 -- CropChoice news) -- The following is a Public Citizen press release.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Giant Food's decision to sell irradiated ground beef is
irresponsible because of the potential harm to consumers, the environment and animal
welfare, public interest groups said today at a press conference outside the Giant
store in Cleveland Park. The groups urged Giant to use its buying power to demand
that meat suppliers produce clean, wholesome meat free of irradiation.
The grocery store chain, which has stores in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey
and the District of Columbia, began carrying irradiated ground beef in its stores
Nov. 3. The irradiated meat is produced by Carneco Foods LLC (in partnership with
the world's largest beef producer IBP), in Columbus, Neb., and is irradiated by
SureBeam, the largest irradiation company.
In calling for a new approach to food safety, speakers at the press conference
highlighted numerous health, safety and regulatory questions about irradiation.
"At the same time they are pushing irradiation, the meat industry is trying to take
away the authority of the USDA to inspect meat and slow down the lines in meat
plants," said Tom Devine, legal director for Government Accountability Project.
"Irradiation is a poor substitute for strong government meat inspection and clean
production."
Added Ken Midkiff, director of the Sierra Club's Clean Water Campaign, "Irradiation
is a tool big meat companies want to use to mask the filthy conditions on giant
factory farms. Intensive animal production methods not only have an impact on food
safety, but produce staggering amounts of waste that foul the air and water and drive
family farmers out of business."
The arrival of irradiated ground beef in Giant stores has received considerable media
attention, and the product has been deeply discounted. But previous test-marketing
efforts of irradiated food in several states ended with the product being pulled from
shelves due to disappointing sales. The federal government has also scrutinized
SureBeam's advertising practices, which include comparing irradiation to the familiar
process of pasteurization.
"Over the past few years, people across the country have rejected irradiated meat,"
said Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen. "But instead of allowing consumers
to make an informed choice, SureBeam compares its products to entirely different
processes - like pasteurization. We are here to educate the public with the rest of
the story about irradiation, so consumers can say 'no' to this technology with their
food dollars."
Irradiation depletes vitamins and nutrients, and forms new chemicals that have not
been adequately studied for toxicity. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) did not properly assess the safety of irradiated food before
legalizing it for human consumption, research by Public Citizen has found.
Because irradiation alters the chemistry of everything in its path, not just the
bacteria it is intended to kill, irradiated foods contain chemical byproducts of the
process. One class of these byproducts, called cyclobutanones, does not occur
naturally in any food. They recently were found to cause genetic damage in rats, and
genetic and cellular damage in human and rat cells.
Peter Jenkins, policy analyst with Center for Food Safety, pointed out that some of
the chemicals found in irradiated meat have significant potential to impact human
health. "There is growing scientific evidence of potential genetic damage to
consumers and their future children from irradiated foods. The expansion of
irradiated foods in supermarkets is an out-of-control experiment using millions of
Americans as guinea pigs," said Jenkins.
Wendy Swann, of the Animal Welfare Institute added, "Irradiated food perpetuates a
system of meat production that relies on the inhumane treatment of animals. By
masking the food safety problems caused by the cruel practices and inhumane
conditions at massive factory farms, irradiation allows these factories, and their
appalling treatment of animals, to continue."
The groups said meat safety should be considered throughout the production process,
negating the need for irradiation at the end.
"Giant and SureBeam want consumers to think that irradiation provides some 'added
assurance' about food safety," said Richard Caplan, environmental advocate with
USPIRG. "But the best way to ensure food safety is to produce wholesome meat in the
first place, instead of figuring out how to kill bacteria at the last possible step.
Instead of a silver bullet, we need to focus on production that will benefit family
farmers, the environment and consumers."
The groups also sent a letter to Giant Food urging the company to reconsider its
decision to stock irradiated food. It was signed by Center for Food Safety,
Government Accountability Project, Sierra Club, DC Statehood Green Party, Animal
Welfare Institute, National Family Farm Coalition, Public Citizen, and U.S. PIRG.
To read the letter online, please visit:
http://www.citizen.org/cmep/foodsafety/food_irrad/articles.cfm?ID=8564
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