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Irradiation V. Ozonation....there is some discussion on other sites (e.g., Yahoo) regarding the food processing industry's desire to use irradiation to treat meat. A poster who cites an article which states industry is pressing the FDA to approve irradiation of meat is misleading to some extent, as the FDA approved this method of decontaminating meat on December 2, 1997. What has not been issued as yet is the USDA's final rule on how irradiation is to be applied, thus industry is currently in regulatory limbo on irradiation. The Wall Street Journal (Dec. 3), which cited reaction from ConAgra, IBP, and Tyson Foods, summarized industry's reaction to FDA's approval as less than enthusiastic. While irradiation is one of many technologies being examined by industry, other processes, including ozone, steam pasteurization, and others are also being considered. To say industry is pressing for one method or another at this point is not factual. |
