Add spinach & lettuce to irradiated food list

[Guest guest]

Spinach, lettuce is now added to the foods that can be irradiated without

labeling it.

This does not apply to organic foods.

I need to find out if this includes all lettuces and if it's legal to

label non-treated lettuce and spinach that's not organic.

In PA, it's illegal to label " milk without antibiotics " . They

say it implies that treated cows are unhealthy.

Just like Walmart-UK, when they got sued for banning BPA from

plastics.

Another risk of irradiated foods is free radicals. Even though the

treated food is not radioactive, the high energy treatment does create

free radicals. These active compounds will react with packaging and other

chemicals to create new compounds. These chemical reactions can occur for

weeks.

I'm sure no one has tested reactions with all of the packaging materials

available.

More importantly, what about us. Does it react with other foods and

chemicals we consume.

It must. That's the nature of free-radicals. They are unstable and will

react until they form more stable compounds.

California raw almonds differ in that all be heat or chemically treated

and not be labeled

that they are not " raw " . All CA. almonds going to Canada or

Mexico must also be treated.

For all those who eat organic foods, this is somewhat of a blessing.

This action by the US FDA will increase the availability and consumption

of organic foods.

http://www.naturalnews.com/023945.html

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/foodirradiation.htm#cdcposition

What is the CDC's position on food irradiation?

CDC has stated that food irradiation is a promising new application of an

established technology. It holds great potential for preventing many

important food borne diseases that are transmitted through meat, poultry,

fresh produce and other foods. An overwhelming body of scientific

evidence demonstrates that irradiation does not harm the nutritional

value of food, nor does it make the food unsafe to eat. Just as for the

pasteurization of milk, it will be most effective when irradiation is

coupled to careful sanitation programs. Consumer confidence will depend

on making food clean first, and then using irradiation or pasteurization

to make it safe. Food irradiation is a logical next step to reducing the

burden of food borne disease in the United States.

According to the above CDC site, the following 8 countries have

allowed irradiated foods:France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Israel,

Thailand, Russia, China and South Africa .

B.Olinsky, M.S.

Environmental Specialist

B.Olinsky's, M.S., Environmental Specialist, letter to the

FDA 5/07

I am strongly against the FDA permitting a firm to use the term

" pasteurized " or any other term that obfuscates the meaning of

the term " irradiated " . Pasteurization destroys enzymes in food

but Irradiation (bombarding foods with high energy gamma radiation)

creates free-radicals which in turn combine and create more free

radicals. Mice and rats fed diets containing freshly irradiated wheat

showed, repeatedly in separate experiments, increased levels of

polyploidy cells (cells with chromosome abnormalities) in their bone

marrow. Mice fed freshly irradiated wheat-based diets showed evidence of

dominant lethal mutation as indicated by increased numbers of

intrauterine (prenatal) deaths.

Normal monkeys and undernourished children fed diets containing freshly

irradiated wheat showed elevated levels of polyploidy (abnormal)

cells in

circulating lymphocytes (white blood cells).

Irradiation uses high energy particles (gamma) to split molecules into

stable ions and free radicals (inherently unstable and therefore

reactive). These free radicals will transform into complex new compounds

that are either stable or different free-radicals and so on until the

chain is stopped when a stable compound is formed. These reactions will

continue long after the irradiation process is over.

Numerous risks include increased carcinogenic, mutagenic (i.e. converts

nitrate to nitrite), tested at considerably lower levels than needed to

" pasteurize " meats, reduced nutrient value, concerns with

formation of new compounds, alteration of antibiotic resistance bacteria

with antibiotic treated foods, increasing food susceptibility to

microbial decay (some what analogous to why we don't refreeze foods) and

increasing the production of potent carcinogens such as aflatoxin

produced by Aspergillus flavus.

The incorrect term of calling irradiated foods

" pasteurized " is not only dumbing down of labeling laws,

kowtowing to a select industry, giving the FDA a bad image as far as

" spinning " to allegedly protecting consumer health, but also an

affront to consumer’s intelligence. So industry doesn't wants to change

the name to promote consumer acceptance. It may also ultimately hurt

industry if consumers start equating any pasteurized foods as being

irradiated. I wonder in the dairy industry would think if consumers

thought their pasteurized milk or processed cheese food could be

irradiated. What happens when consumers learn about the numerous the

health effects of irradiation, proven by accurate and valid studies.

Taking things a step further….what would attorneys do if a manufacturer

stated that their pasteurized product is not irradiated. Wouldn't this be

illegal? Unfair competition? Would they get sued for implying that

similar (but irradiated) products are different (inferior, can cause

health problems, not as nutritious, etc.).

By: B. Olinsky, M.S.

Environmental Specialist

Previously sent email

Learn more and take action:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/rd/irrad-label.cfm

There are repeated valid and accurate studies showing the health effects

of consuming irradiated foods.

The conclusion of expert testimony was that irradiation is not safe,

alters food and not the same as pasteurization.

The FDA is considering an industry proposal to allow irradiated

foods to be labelled " pasteurized " .

Irradiation uses high energy particles (gamma) to split

molecules into stable ions and free radicals (inherently unstable and

therefore reactive). These free radicals will transform into complex new

compounds that are either stable or different free-radicals and so on

until the chain is stopped when a stable compound is formed. These

reactions will continue long after the irradiation process is over.

Numerous risks include increased carcinogenic, mutagenic

(i.e. converts nitrate to nitrite), tested at considerably lower levels

than needed to " pasteurize " meats, reduced nutrient value,

concerns with formation of new compounds, alteration of antibiotic

resistance bacteria with antibiotic treated foods, increasing food

susceptibility to microbial decay (some what analogous to why we don't

refreeze foods), increasing the production of potent carcinogens such as

aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus.

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS INTO FOOD

IRRADIATION

http://www.ccnr.org/food_irradiation.html

To summarize, I do not believe that irradiated foods have been shown

to be safe for general consumption. Equally important, the effects of

irradiation on the nutrient contents of food are not established.

I believe the prudent action to take is to

prohibit the irradiation of food until the basic issues are sorted out.

To do less would be irresponsible.

R Louria, Ph.D.,Chairman, Department of Preventive Medicine and

Community Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ

ICGFI,FAO, WHO,IAEA,WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission

(Codex) & IPPC

concluded it's safe.

http://www.iaea.org/icgfi/

B.Olinsky, M.S.

Environmental Specialist

--------------------------------------------------------

Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales

UK

Vaccines -

http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm

Vaccine Dangers & Homeopathy Online/email courses - next classes

Sept 08