| Irradiated School Lunch: Embracing a Bum Steer By Jody Scott-Olson, Co-founder of Healthy Kids Minnesota |
| On May 29, 2003, the Department of Agriculture lifted its prohibition on irradiated ground beef in the National School Lunch Program. Irradiated beef is expected to cost a few cents more than regular hamburger and could be available as early as January 2004. Districts purchasing irradiated beef will find the boxes arriving at schools clearly labeled, but students and parents may not find themselves as informed. Schools choosing to introduce the mutagenic meat are encouraged to tell parents, but are not obligated. Indeed, irradiation kills pathogens like E. coli, salmonella and listeria. According to research published in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal in July of 2002, schools reported an average of 24 outbreaks involving 50,000 students between 1973 and 1997. In light of recent recalls, irradiation is not only embraced by the food processing industry to counter liability issues but also by public health agencies committed to a safer food supply. Touted as the fourth pillar of public safety, irradiation has indeed been thrust to the upper echelons of public health. Many consumer groups disagree with irradiation advocates, however, and careful examination casts the light of uncertainty on this galvanized theory. In recent decades control over agriculture in the U.S. has shifted from the family farm to colossal agribusiness operations, prompting the need for mammoth processing plants. Here millions of cows are turned into New York Strip in no time, making cleanliness next to impossible. The only source of E. coli is found in the intestines of cattle. Irradiation does nothing to clean your food, but lessens the likelihood contaminated food will make you ill. Irradiation is considered to be so effective that the government will allow tainted beef that would otherwise be thrown away to be irradiated and sold to consumers. At approved doses irradiation doesn�t eliminate all bacteria in meat and meat can still become contaminated if handled improperly. Many are concerned that this final phase fix takes the focus off of preventing contamination from happening in the first place. Moreover, consumers are unimpressed with the steering contrivances that have turned contaminated waste into a marketable commodity. Samuel Epstein, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at the University of Illinois School of Public Health and chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition is one of the world�s leading authorities on cancer prevention. Dr. Epstein writes: �A wide range of independent studies prior to 1986 clearly identified mutagenic and carcinogenic radiolytic products in irradiated food, and confirmed evidence of genetic toxicity in tests on irradiated food.� The U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona voiced his concerns to the Wall Street Journal citing �he didn�t believe there was enough scientific evidence on the long term-term effects of irradiation.� The Berkeley, California school board agreed and on November 6, 2002 became one of the first to pass a resolution prohibiting the purchase of irradiated foods. The resolution asserted �no long-term health and side-effect studies on humans.� In December 2002 the European Parliament stopped new approvals of irradiated foods. Research released last fall by Germany�s Federal Research Centre for Nutrition suggests that the substance known as 2-alkylcyclobutanones (products created by irradiating fat in food), may act as tumor promoters. Other concerns have been raised regarding everything from nutrient loss to substantial increases in trans fatty acids, leaving many with more questions than answers. The USDA began sending information to districts nationwide encouraging them to purchase irradiated beef. Monroe Central school board, in central Indiana was one of the first districts to approve irradiated beef. Clifford Coulter, president of the Monroe school board said �If it�s approved by the USDA, then we should have no reason to not approve it. We should be able to trust them.� Monroe Central School Superintendent Monte Stebbins said state educational officials found an insufficient demand and said �It could be several years before enough schools ask for it,� Closer to home, the Spring Lake Park school board, a suburb north of Minneapolis is considering a Right-to-Know resolution after the districts participation in an irradiation pilot project sparked controversy among parents. The resolution would ensure concerned parents a public hearing should the district consider serving irradiated beef to students in the future. Indeed, irradiation issues are complex and wide-ranging. Despite controversy, American food safety icons maintain that the benefits of killing food borne pathogens outweigh the potential long-term health risks, a debate best played out in the public health arena as opposed to our public schools. |
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| Views on irradiated food vary drastically world-wide, while some countries allow irradiated foods, others forbid them. In the Untied States many may think that irradiated meat will protect their children from food borne illness, while others are ardently opposed to the untested product. Regardless of which school of thought you subscribe to all parents want what�s best for their children, in this case, accurate information and a choice. |
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