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E. Coli–Linked Beef Recall Underlines Need
for Irradiation
New York, NY—May 1, 1998. The American Council on Science and Health
(ACSH) today stated that the recent recall
of more than one-quarter million pounds of
ground beef emphasizes the need for a safety
step that can be applied at the final stage
of ground meat processing. That step is irradiation.
ACSH notes that only irradiation—and
no other
safety process—such as steam or ozone
processing—can
be applied to ground beef after it
is packaged.
Stated Dr. Ruth Kava, ACSH director
of nutrition,
“The unique benefit of irradiation
is that
it is done at the end of processing,
so it's
less likely that contaminated ground
beef
will leave the plant.”
The largest American meat packer, IBP
Inc.,
tried to recall the ground beef when
it was
notified that the U.S. Department of
Agriculture
(USDA) had found the E. Coli O157:H7
in samples
of ground beef produced on April 14.
No cases
of illness connected with the contaminated
meat have been reported; much of it
has already
been sent to retail outlets and consumers,
and it is assumed that most has been
consumed.
Consumers should always cook ground
beef
to an internal temperature of at least
160°
Farenheit.
Irradiation, which does not diminish
either
the taste or nutritional value of food,
has
been approved for various applications
by
the World Health Organization and by
the
Food and Agriculture Organization of
the
United Nations. In the United States,
the
American Medical Association, the American
Dietetic Association and the Institute
of
Food Technologists have joined ACSH
in endorsing
the use of irradiation to augment the
safety
of the American food supply.
“It is important that consumers understand
that food irradiation is safe,” states
Dr.
Elizabeth Whelan, president of ACSH.
“Food
irradiation does not make food radioactive
any more than a dental x–ray makes
teeth
radioactive.” Irradiation is meant
to supplement—not
replace—the implementation of food
safety
by other means.
The American Council on Science and
Health
is a consortium of over 250 leading
scientists
and physicians.
For more information contact:
The American Council on Science
and Health
1995 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10023-5860 |
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