Irradiation
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Zapped Cover Image
http://documents.foodandwaterwatch.org/Zapped.pdf
Read Wenonah Hauter’s book about irradiation.
Irradiation Will Not Solve Food Safety Problems
Food producers need to address the source of the problem – too fast processing lines and dirty conditions at plants – not promote an expensive, impractical and ineffective technology like irradiation.
Heard the irradiation industry claim that they can ensure produce safety? See our factsheet on why Irradiation and Vegetables Don’t Mix.
News Item: Irradiated Mangoes for Motorcycles, a Fair Trade?
Secretary of Agriculture Michael Johanns has kicked off the import of irradiated mangoes from India, with a photo opportunity at the United States Chamber of Commerce building in Washington DC. The event marks the re-introduction of mangoes from India into the United States, after an 18 year absence due to concerns about pests that might travel with the mangoes and hurt domestic crops.
The concern about pests was pushed aside by USDA’s approval of the use of irradiation for Indian mangoes. And concerns about the economic impact of importing more produce on domestic producers were shoved aside with talk of what a great deal the United States Trade Representative had negotiated – in exchange for the United States taking India’s irradiated mangoes, India was supposed to change their air emission standards and tariffs to allow the import of Harley Davidson motorcycles.
That is, until today, when Harley Davidson announced that the deal had fallen through because India did not mangoeslower their tariffs, so the company won’t enter the Indian market after all. But it looks like the mangoes are still on the way to supermarket shelves near you.
So keep an eye out for mangoes that have the irradiation symbol on the label (or a nearby sign.) Tell us if you see them – and tell the store manager you won’t buy irradiated food.
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