Irresponsible & Depressing...

[Mark]

"Food Irradiation Summary Sheet"

What are Irradiated Foods?
The exposure of food products to radiation energy such as X-rays, electron beams and gamma rays is used as a means of preservation. The high-energy, invisible lightwaves are used to cause physical and chemical changes in the food increasing the product's shelf life.
- National Food Safety Database, Biotechnology and Food

The Facts
Irradiation is expensive, adding as much as five cents per pound to the cost of ground beef according to USDA estimates.

Not all microorganisms, such as the bacteria that causes botulism, toxins and viruses, are destroyed as a result of irradiation.
- National Food Safety Database, Biotechnology and Food

Foods treated with irradiation may experience nutrient loss. Vitamins A, E, C, K Thiamin (B-1) are very sensitive to radiation.
- National Food Safety Database, Biotechnology and Food

Consumer Information
According to a 1996 poll, 92% of the population said they wanted to know if the food they were purchasing was treated by irradiation.
-Center for Science in the Public Interest Report

Since 1986 food manufacturers have been required by the FDA to label all irradiated foods with a logo, however H.R. 2469, the Food and Nutrition Information Reform Act would remove the labeling mandate. This would allow consumers to unknowingly purchase irradiated food products.
-Center for Science in the Public Interest Report

The present labeling mandates on irradiated foods apply to the sale of food on the packing/wholesale and retail levels. Without sufficient labeling, food can undergo the irradiation process more than once. Currently, wholesale irradiated foods caution the market with "do not irradiate again."
-National Food Safety Database, Biotechnology and Food

Hazards
Children and animals fed newly irradiated food demonstrated polyploidy, a condition in which cells contain more than their normal set of chromosomes.
-Food Irradiation: What are the hazards?, Vanguard Sciences
When irradiated chicken was fed to mice during one of 12 USDA studies, the specimens "showed an increase in testicular tumors, lesions including cancer, kidney disease, and reduced life-spans".
-Food Irradiation: What are the hazards?, Vanguard Sciences
The fungus-generated carcinogens, Alfatoxins, were found in elevated levels in irradiated foods in several studies. Alfatoxins are 1,000 times more carcinogenic than some pesticides that irradiation is meant to replace.
-Food Irradiation: What are the hazards?, Vanguard Sciences
Microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses may develop a resistance to radiation, leading to the development of new strains of organisms.
-Food Irradiation: What are the hazards?, Vanguard Sciences
More than one preservation technique may be used before foods ever reach the consumer. For example, fruits may be irradiated to extend their shelf-life before being canned. This double dose will further deplete the nutritional value of the food.
-Food Irradiation: What are the hazards?, Vanguard Sciences
Meats contaminated with bacteria such as botulism may appear healthy. When the irradiation process kills the spoiling bacteria (which normally warn the consumer of contamination) the harmful bacteria continue to thrive.
-Food Irradiation: What are the hazards?, Vanguard Sciences.

Source:
http://www.greenmediatoolshed.org/tr...dMaterials.adp

Makes you want to grow everything yourself

Peace, Mark