Love for Life

Radioactive salad?
by Barb Jarmoska
Freshlife.com founder
15th September 2008

"The original sponsor of food irradiation in the U.S. was the Department of Energy, which wanted to create a favorable image of nuclear power as well as dispose of radioactive waste." Organic Consumer's Association

Rather than tightening up sanitation and food handling practices, the U.S. government will now allow food producers to irradiate fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce at a level capable of killing E. coli and salmonella. This is the first time radiation at this level has been permitted on vegetables.

Advocates for food safety condemned the agency's recent decision, and asserted that irradiation lowers nutritional value, creates unsafe chemicals and ruins flavor.

The government already allows food processors to irradiate beef, eggs, poultry, oysters, some fruits and vegetables and spices. Fortunately, the market for irradiated foods is small because the government also requires that these foods be labeled as irradiated, and the labels scare away savvy consumers. The FDA is considering a proposal to weaken or change the labeling requirement, claiming the practice is safe and consumers do not need to be informed.

What Exactly is Irradiation and does Freshlife sell any foods that are irradiated? An overview view of the irradiation procedure will appear in tomorrow’s FreshMail – and NO, Freshlife does not sell irradiated foods.

Barb Jarmoska, Freshlife founder

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