Reuters, May 29 — Despite opposition from thousands of parents, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Thursday it will allow hamburgers and meat loaf treated with low doses of bacteria-destroying radiation to be served in school cafeterias.
INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL districts will have the choice of not buying irradiated ground beef when the products become available in January 2004, the USDA said.
“This allows ample time for schools to educate parents and the community so that informed decisions can be made,” said Eric Bost, USDA undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services.
Some 27 million school children receive free or low-cost meals daily under the USDA’s national school lunch program.
Irradiation, which has been endorsed by the World Health Organization, exposes food to ionizing radiation that kills insects, molds and deadly bacteria such as E. coli 0157:H7. It is used to sterilize many non-food products and has been used on wheat flour since 1963. Nearly two dozen supermarket chains and two major restaurant chains currently offer irradiated meat products to U.S. customers, the USDA said.
“Irradiation technology is another tool
to enhance food safety,” said Elsa Murano, USDA undersecretary for food
safety.
FINAL DECISION RESTS WITH SCHOOLS
It is unclear how many American school districts want to buy irradiated beef, the USDA said. The products will cost schools an extra 13 to 20 cents per pound.
It will also be up to each school whether to tell students if they are eating irradiated beef, the USDA said.
The American School Food Service Association said it will recommend that schools offer an alternative meal to students when irradiated beef products are on the menu.
Congress last year required the USDA to allow government-approved food safety technologies such as irradiation to be used in commodities purchased by the federal school lunch program.
After the USDA invited public input in November, thousands of parents submitted criticism of the proposal. They claim their children will be used as “guinea pigs,” saying not enough research has been conducted on irradiation to assure safety.
Food industry groups have dismissed the letters, saying they were organized by Washington-based Public Citizen and do not represent overall public opinion.
“Scientific evidence strongly supports the safety of food irradiation, as well as the many benefits this technology offers for consumers,” said John Cady, president of the National Food Processors Association.