
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 2, 1990                   TAG: 9005020087
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

POULTRY RADIATION GETS FDA APPROVAL

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved irradiation of poultry to control salmonella and other bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses. But the industry said it had no plans to use the procedure because of consumer opposition and because "the consumer can achieve the same thing by cooking the chicken," said Stephen Pretanik, science director at the National Broiler Council.

The FDA said irradiation is safe and effective in eliminating most bacteria in chicken, turkey and other fresh and frozen birds, making poultry safe for longer periods under refrigeration. It emphasized that "the process does not make the food radioactive and, as a result, does not expose consumers to radiation."

But Michael Colby, director of Food and Water Inc., a group that researches food safety and environmental issues, said the FDA's action was "an outrage to consumers and to anyone who cares about safe food products." He said scientific evidence that irradiation is safe is lacking, and the FDA by approving irradiation is allowing poultry growers and processors to speed up their operations without having to clean up their facilities. - Associated Press

by CNB