• Food Irradiation



• Water For All



• Global Trade Watch



• Civil Justice and Legal Rights



• Campaign Finance Reform



• Energy Deregulation



• Take Action!

Tell California Supermarkets Not to Sell Irradiated Food

Many stores in California are now, or may soon, begin carrying irradiated food. Help put a stop to these dangerous practices.

Irradiation is the process of exposing food to high doses of ionizing radiation in order to kill bacteria and extend shelf life. It is also part of the meat industry's attempt to mask filthy conditions and unhealthy products. As the industry becomes increasingly consolidated, public health and the environment are being overlooked in favor of faster production, longer shelf life, and higher profits. But irradiation is a quick fix that does nothing to stop the unsanitary practices at slaughterhouses and inadequate meat inspection that lead to food-borne disease in the first place.

Irradiation also changes the chemical structure of food and can deplete nutrients to the point that it is little more than empty calories. And it does nothing to prevent the inhumane conditions and environmental damage from factory farms, or the public health threat posed by the contamination of water supplies with animal waste. Food irradiation is a quick fix, not a thoughtful, long-term solution to the complex problem of food-borne disease.

Grocery industry executives need to hear from the community that they will not accept this quick fix approach to a complicated problem. Let them know that you won't buy irradiated food and you don't think their stores should carry such a product. The best way to get the message across is to write the president of the stores listed below. You can also fill out the comment cards found inside the stores and talk to store managers and meat department employees to let them know that you don't want irradiated food.

Here are some ideas to keep in mind as you write:

* Introduce yourself, your organization if you belong to one, and your role in that organization

* Mention that you are a customer of the store (tell them which store you shop at)

* If you have had any particularly positive dealings with the store in the past, mention those

* If you are a person who already looks for opportunities to incorporate your values into your purchases ( e.g. recycled, organic, non-sweatshop ), this is a good point to make.

Some key points on irradiation you could incorporate:

· The Food and Drug Administration failed to follow its own safety rules when it began legalizing food irradiation in the early 1980s;

· Studies show that chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer and birth defects, such as benzene and toluene, are formed in meat that has been irradiated. Other chemical compounds formed in irradiated food have never been studied for potential health effects;

· Studies indicate that irradiated food has significantly lower vitamin content than non-irradiated food;

· Irradiation masks filth, such as fecal matter, disease and other contaminants, that arise from unsanitary slaughterhouse and meat processing facilities.

Click here for store addresses.

more resources

Because Public Citizen does not accept funds from corporations, professional associations or government agencies, we can remain independent and follow the truth wherever it may lead. But that means we depend on the generosity of concerned citizens like you for the resources to fight on behalf of the public interest. If you would like to help us in our fight, click here.