Washington - The National Food Processors Association (NFPA) today petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), asking that the Department review and solicit public comment on issues related to labeling requirements for meats and meat products treated with irradiation.
"On December 3, 1997, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of irradiation to treat refrigerated or frozen uncooked red meat, to control foodborne pathogens and extend product shelf life," noted Brian Folkerts, NFPA's Vice President of Government Affairs. "Once again, irradiation has been affirmed as a safe process with strong consumer benefits, particularly regarding the safety of foods."
Folkerts stated that "Because food safety is an important public health issue, and because irradiation has been found to be an effective means of eliminating disease-causing organisms in foods, NFPA believes that government has a responsibility to help advance the use of irradiation. One issue is revising labeling requirements. Current irradiation labels -- by resembling 'warning labels' -- discourage industry use of irradiation to prevent foodborne illness."
FSIS is expected soon to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to permit the use of food irradiation to treat meat and meat products, and to prescribe labeling requirements for irradiated meat products. The NFPA citizen petition, filed on February 9, 1998, requests that FSIS address and invite comment on:
Whether special labeling requirements, such as "radiation" disclosures, are scientifically or legally justified.
Whether a "radiation" disclosure requirement for the labeling of irradiated meat would contribute to unfounded consumer apprehension as to the safety of irradiated meat and tend to discourage the use of that process by food companies.
Whether, in light of these issues, the current labeling requirements for irradiated poultry products should be revised.
Whether -- if any labeling requirements are deemed warranted -- both the meat and poultry regulations should conform to the FDA regulations with respect to the placement and lettering of any required statements.
"We believe that these important public policy issues must be addressed in order to advance the future use of irradiation as a proven technique to prevent the occurrence of foodborne illness," Folkerts stated. "Soliciting public comment on this issue will ensure that FSIS hears from a variety of sources on how to make labels on irradiated products more informative -- and less misleading -- for consumers."
NFPA is the voice of the $430 billion food processing industry on scientific and public policy issues involving food safety, nutrition, technical and regulatory matters and consumer affairs.
Meat Industry Insights News Service
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