The use of new technology to irradiate meat as a protective measure against bacteria such as E. coli and listeria is expected to increase, despite concerns of some consumer groups about its unknown health effects.

Irradiation exposes products to ionizing radiation to kill insects, molds and bacteria. The U.S. government approved irradiation treatment of ground beef in January 2000, and the first batch was processed in May of that year.

Currently, it’s estimated that less than five percent of the total volume of beef production is being irradiated. However, after Pilgrim's Pride Corp. recalled 27.4 million pounds of listeria-contaminated poultry products in 2002--the largest meat recall in U.S. history--irradiation is expected to increase.

SureBeam Corp., the largest provider of irradiation technology, plans to process between 300 million and 350 million pounds of beef this year, up from about 15 million in 2002.

The process eliminates 99.9 percent of contaminants, including E. coli, salmonella and listeria. Higher does have been used in the sterilization of non-food products such as toothbrushes and surgical tools, as well as to kill insects in wheat flour. For food use, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows gamma rays, high-energy electrons and X-rays to be used.

Critics of irradiation say that the process may deplete vitamins and nutrients, as well as leave chemical byproducts in the food. They also say that the process would be unnecessary if meat packers and processors cleaned up food-handling processes.

While the FDA requires a label to be placed on irradiated meat, if the products are permitted in school cafeterias, they will not contain such retail labels. Critics point out that parents will have no way of knowing whether their children’s food has been irradiated.

Despite these concerns, 48 percent of Americans would purchase irradiated meat, according to a survey conducted by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, and the World Health Organization has stated that the process is one of the most effective food decontamination methods available.

Many meat packers and processors, including Excel, a division of Minnesota-based Cargill Inc., TeMeats, and W.W. Johnson Co., are making plans to contract for irradiation capabilities and market irradiated products.

The former ConAgra Foods Inc., now operating as Swift and Co., also has plans to irradiate some of its meat. The company was involved in the third-largest beef recall in history when they recalled close to 19 million pounds of beef because of possible E. coli contamination.

According to the Minnesota Beef Council, food irradiation will become a foundational part of public health right along with pasteurization of milk, immunization against disease and chlorination of the water supply.

Reuters February 5, 2003