Article: FDA: Irradiating spinach, lettuce OK to kill germs

[Guest guest]

Yes I just heard it on the radio. But do they havre to label it irradiated?

 

 

c

-

Jeff Rogers

-

Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:31 PM

Article: FDA: Irradiating spinach, lettuce OK to kill

germs

 

 

You may remember my alerting this list the end of last year about the

USDA's interest in addressing contamination in leafy greens. They

welcomed public comment. There was a risk that they would come up with

a mandatory pasteurization requirement, such as irradiation.

 

Well, it looks like they're going with irradiation. The good news:

it's not mandatory... yet!

 

Be sure to read labels!

 

Jeff

 

FDA: Irradiating spinach, lettuce OK to kill germs

 

By Lauran Neergaard, AP Medical Writer

Thu, Aug. 21, 2008

 

WASHINGTON -- Consumers worried about salad safety may soon be able to

buy fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce zapped with just enough

radiation to kill E. coli and a few other germs.

 

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday will issue a regulation

allowing spinach and lettuce sellers to take that extra step, a long-

awaited move amid increasing outbreaks from raw produce.

 

Full story:

http://www.kentucky.com/473/story/497253.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I thought of that after I sent the email. If it is like the almond

pasteurization, then no! I haven't read the actual ruling, so I can't

say for sure. With the USDA's track record, I don't expect them to

require labeling, so we will need to ask a lot of questions. This

shouldn't affect fresh (unpackaged) greens (I hope!). And, in general,

organics aren't irradiated (can someone confirm regulations on

organics?).

 

Jeff

 

On Aug 21, 2008, at 10:47 PM, Catherine wrote:

 

> Yes I just heard it on the radio. But do they havre to label it

> irradiated?

>

>

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Here's another article that addresses labeling. Apparently the FDA

appreciates proper labeling more than the USDA.

 

Jeff

 

" The FDA will require irradiated produce to be labeled. "

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-08-21-fda-irradiation-spinach\

-lettuce_N.htm?csp=34

 

 

On Aug 21, 2008, at 10:47 PM, Catherine wrote:

 

> Yes I just heard it on the radio. But do they havre to label it

> irradiated?

>

> c.

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

 

 

> And, in general, organics aren't irradiated (can someone confirm

> regulations on organics?).

 

 

Organic foods CANNOT be irradiated, according to the USDA's National

Organics Standards.

 

Good source for organic info:

www.organicconsumers.org

 

Doh

[Guest guest]

You may remember my alerting this list the end of last year about the

USDA's interest in addressing contamination in leafy greens. They

welcomed public comment. There was a risk that they would come up with

a mandatory pasteurization requirement, such as irradiation.

 

Well, it looks like they're going with irradiation. The good news:

it's not mandatory... yet!

 

Be sure to read labels! (if they label it)

 

Jeff

 

 

FDA: Irradiating spinach, lettuce OK to kill germs

 

By Lauran Neergaard, AP Medical Writer

Thu, Aug. 21, 2008

 

WASHINGTON -- Consumers worried about salad safety may soon be able to

buy fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce zapped with just enough

radiation to kill E. coli and a few other germs.

 

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday will issue a regulation

allowing spinach and lettuce sellers to take that extra step, a long-

awaited move amid increasing outbreaks from raw produce.

 

Full story:

http://www.kentucky.com/473/story/497253.html

[Guest guest]

> Organic foods CANNOT be irradiated, according to the USDA's National

> Organics Standards.

 

 

It's the USDA (OK, and the FDA) that I'm worried about! Especially now

that the FDA has given the go-ahead on irradiating greens.

 

Thanks for the info!

[Guest guest]

 

Jeff Rogers

 

> It's the USDA (OK, and the FDA) that I'm worried about! Especially now

 

> that the FDA has given the go-ahead on irradiating greens.

 

 

I know, it's hard to feel very confident. But while the USDA outline

the standards (with some influence from good organic advocates and a lot

of influence from the non-organic agribusinesses), the USDA is not the

growers, or the non-governmental oversight agencies (like Oregon Tilth,

Ca. Certified Organic Farmers, Global Culture, etc.).

 

We basically have to hope that the people who are producing the organic

produce are following the standards, and the non-governmental oversight

agencies are, as well.

 

Then again, it doesn't help matters when you learn that organic abusers

are on the rise, using labels illegally. :sigh: Organic Consumers

Association has a " Save Organic Standards " campaign, if anyone's

interested in checking it out:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm

 

Doh