Window for Comments on Irradiated Food in National School Lunch Program.

[Guest guest]

This is interesting:

 

Action Alert: Comment Now on Irradiated Food in National School

Lunch Program.

 

The USDA has issued a request for comments on their proposal to buy

irradiated food for their commodity purchase programs,

which includes the National School Lunch Program. Although they have

been encouraged by Congress to include irradiated food, they have

asked

the public to comment first. This is your chance to tell them what

you

think about irradiated food!

 

In 2001 the USDA attempted to pull this same stunt, and with your

help

we effectively prevented irradiated food from entering

the National School Lunch Program! WE CAN DO IT AGAIN! EVERY

COMMENT IS IMPORTANT!

 

**WHY SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED?**

~The health effects of children consuming irradiated meat are

unknown.

 

~ Irradiating food causes the creation of unique chemicals. Research

has shown numerous health problems in lab animals that

ate irradiated food, including reproductive problems, genetic damage

and cancer development.

 

~ Irradiated food in schools need not be labeled, which obstructs

parents' right-to-know what their children are eating.

 

~ Irradiation masks filthy meat.

 

~ Irradiating food depletes nutrients. Should we feed our children

nutritionally deficient food?

 

 

**WHAT CAN YOU DO?**

Comment deadline is December 20!

 

~ Fax the USDA and enter your additional comments.

http://www.citizen.org/fax/background.cfm?ID=89 & source=12

 

~ Write, or e-mail the USDA with your comments.

Write to:

Livestock and Seed Programs

Agriculture Marketing Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Stop 0249, Room 2092-S

Washington, DC 20250-0249

 

E-mail: foodsafetytechnology

 

~ Work at the local level to prevent irradiated food from entering

your school district! (contact Monique at 202-546-4996 for an

organizing packet to get started.)

 

~ Write a letter to the editor of your local paper explaining the

situation and asking for parental support! (Include your contact

information or share Public Citizen's contact information.)

 

**TALKING POINTS**

~ The health effects of children consuming irradiated meat are

unknown.

If the safety of this technology is questionable, why

serve it to children?

 

~ Parents have a right-to-know what their children are eating, yet

the rules on labeling irradiated food don't apply to schools.

 

~ Taxpayer money should not be used to prop up this questionable

technology at the expense of the safety of American children.

 

~ How much longer is the USDA going to let the meat industry get away

with producing food that is contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7,

listeria or salmonella without a proper inspection and testing

regime?

 

~ Irradiation is not an acceptable way to deal with filth on meat.

Is this administration willing to put our children's health at risk

to let industry off the hook on cleaning up their processes?

 

~ The National School Lunch Program is meant to provide children

with a healthy well-balanced meal, not nutritionally deficient food

treated with a controversial technology.

 

~ There is an appalling lack of research into the long-term health

effects experienced by children who are exposed to toxic chemicals in

foods. Dr. William Au, a toxicologist at the Department of Preventive

Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas

Medical Branch in Galveston, has argued that " the scientific

community and regulatory agencies have very little knowledge

regarding how children respond to insult from toxic chemicals. These

concerns also apply to toxicological risk with respect to eating

irradiated food.