Crisis adds to case for irradiation, say experts
Source: Agencies |
June 8, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Microwaving salad vegetables with just a bit of radiation can kill dangerous E. coli and other bacteria and US food safety experts say the outbreak in Europe shows that wary consumers should give the long-approved step a chance.
The United States government has approved irradiation for a variety of foods - meat, spices, certain imported fruits, and the seeds used to grow sprouts. Even iceberg lettuce or spinach can be irradiated without the leaves going limp. The process does not make food radioactive.
But sterilized leafy greens are not on the market, and overall sales of irradiated foods remain low. The US Grocery Manufacturers Association says one reason is that sellers worry about consumer mistrust.
"We need to do whatever we can to give us a wider margin of safety," says Dr Michael Osterholm, a University of Minnesota infectious disease specialist who frequently advises the government.
"Food irradiation for a number of produce items would give us not just a marginal increase, but give us probably the Grand Canyon increase of safety."
The source of the E. coli strain in Europe has not been pinpointed and health authorities have warned consumers not to eat any type of sprout, the newest suspect, and also to avoid tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce until the mystery is solved.
The US has faced its own spate of tainted produce in recent years, with E. coli, salmonella, listeria and other bugs linked to lettuce, spinach, hot peppers, sprouts, cantaloupes and more.
The outbreaks have renewed interest in higher-tech fixes like irradiation, which zaps food with electron beams, like the kind used to run TVs, or with gamma rays or X-rays.
The United States government has approved irradiation for a variety of foods - meat, spices, certain imported fruits, and the seeds used to grow sprouts. Even iceberg lettuce or spinach can be irradiated without the leaves going limp. The process does not make food radioactive.
But sterilized leafy greens are not on the market, and overall sales of irradiated foods remain low. The US Grocery Manufacturers Association says one reason is that sellers worry about consumer mistrust.
"We need to do whatever we can to give us a wider margin of safety," says Dr Michael Osterholm, a University of Minnesota infectious disease specialist who frequently advises the government.
"Food irradiation for a number of produce items would give us not just a marginal increase, but give us probably the Grand Canyon increase of safety."
The source of the E. coli strain in Europe has not been pinpointed and health authorities have warned consumers not to eat any type of sprout, the newest suspect, and also to avoid tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce until the mystery is solved.
The US has faced its own spate of tainted produce in recent years, with E. coli, salmonella, listeria and other bugs linked to lettuce, spinach, hot peppers, sprouts, cantaloupes and more.
The outbreaks have renewed interest in higher-tech fixes like irradiation, which zaps food with electron beams, like the kind used to run TVs, or with gamma rays or X-rays.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
