021218 Parents Protest Schools Irradiated Meat Plan

Washington - The Bush administration's plan to allow irradiated meat to be served to millions of U.S. school children is being criticized by some concerned parents.

Irradiation, which has been endorsed by the World Health Organization, exposes food to low doses of electrons or gamma rays to destroy deadly microorganisms such as E. coli O157:H7 and salmonella.

Under the U.S. farm subsidy law enacted in May, the U.S. Agriculture Department must allow government-approved food safety technology such as irradiation to be used in commodities purchased by the federal school lunch program. Some 27 million schoolchildren receive free or low-cost meals daily in the program.

The USDA currently prohibits the irradiated meat in its vast school lunch program, which spends billions of dollars annually to buy meat, vegetables, fruits and other foods.

Last month, the USDA asked for public input on implementing a program for irradiated beef and so far has received more than 200 responses. Most were from disgruntled parents opposing irradiated meat.

"As a parent, I will stop allowing my children to eat school cafeteria food if irradiated food is allowed to be served," said Steve Steinhoff of Madison, Wisconsin.

Wilfred Small from New York City said that "years from now we shall look back with regret on the day we started feeding irradiated food to our children."

Other parents urged the USDA to conduct more research on the new technology before distributing it to children. Some said the use of irradiation will give meat companies an excuse to relax their food safety programs, leaving animal feces or other contaminants in meat.

"Do not use irradiated food in school cafeterias," said Tina Manassaram of Orlando, Florida. "Innocent children will pay the price for the meat industry's laziness."

ENVIRO GROUP BEHIND STRONG OPPOSITION

Meat industry officials dismissed the letters, saying they were organized by Washington-based Public Citizen. The letters do not represent the overall public opinion of irradiated meat, they said.

"I don't think the average consumer ... is aware of the need to write in support of it," said Janet Riley, spokeswoman for the American Meat Institute. "The more consumers know about irradiated meat, the more they are willing to accept it."

A nationwide survey conducted by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association found 48 percent of Americans likely to purchase irradiated meat. The November survey was up from a 38 percent response in February.

Industry groups want the USDA to implement a pilot program to gradually introduce irradiated meat to school cafeterias.

If the USDA ultimately decides to allow irradiated meat, many parents said the meat should be segregated and labeled.

"Consumers have a right to know if their food is being irradiated," said Debbie Ortman of Hermantown, Minnesota. "How am I going to be able to tell what foods to tell my children to eat or not to eat when in school?"

Currently, irradiated foods must be labeled and bear a special symbol informing consumers.

The American School Food Service Association, which supports the new technology, said it will ask the USDA to segregate irradiated meat so parents can decide whether their child should eat it.

"We don't anticipate that anyone or any school district is going to be required to eat irradiated meat," said Barry Sackin, the group's vice president.

The USDA will accept comments on meat irradiation until Dec. 22. Alisa Harrison, USDA spokeswoman, said the department intends to propose changes that would allow the technology by the end of the year.

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