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Consumer Comments on Food Irradiation 2

***Don't irradiate our spinach!
*** Irradiating food makes food more dangerous, not safer. Some major concerns with food irradiation include: -The formation of free radicals, which can set off chain reactions in the body that destroy antioxidants, tear apart cell membranes, and make the body more susceptible to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, liver damage, muscular breakdown and other serious problems. -Serious health problems in laboratory testing including premature death, fatal internal bleeding, cancer, stillbirths and other reproductive problems, mutations and other genetic damage, organ malfunctions, stunted growth and vitamin deficiencies. -The creating mutant forms of dangerous bacteria, like E. coli and Salmonella -Nutrient loss in foods, including the destruction of vitamins and essential fatty acids. -The formation of carcinogenic chemicals, like benzene and toluene. -While irradiated lettuce and spinach must be labeled in supermarkets, there are currently no labeling requirements for restaurants serving irradiated produce or other items. Patrons and clients may consume irradiated lettuce and spinach in the future without their knowledge, nor consent.
*** Food should not be irradiated, and if it is, it should be required to be labeled as such!
*** I do not support the use of ionizing
***radiation in the American food supply. I strongly oppose this form of pathogen control because of the resulting negative impacts that can cause human health problems.
***Hello, I think it is clearly in the interests of consumers to label all food (not just lettuce and spinach) that has been irradiated. If someone were to reply, 'But it has been proven safe', then I would reply, 'Then why not label it?' I strongly support truth in labeling for all food, including animal products. Burke Thomas Duke University Vegan
***I am concerned about the process of exposing food to ionizing radiation in order to destroy disease causing pathogens, like bacteria and viruses. Irradiating food makes food more dangerous, not safer. Nutrients are lost in foods, including the destruction of vitamins and essential fatty acids. While irradiated lettuce and spinach must be labeled in supermarkets, there are currently no labeling requirements for restaurants serving irradiated produce or other meats. I am strongly opposed to exposing my children to foods that have been irradiated. There are many alternatives to irradiation.
***Instead of putting a controversial band-aid (irradiation) on this problem, why not clean up the way conventional farming is practiced? As a US citizen, I am sickened by non-organic farming methods. Please stop listening to lobbyists aka corporations, and start listening to the American people.
***I am opposed to irradiating foods. Irradiation does not solve the problem of unclean factory farming practices, and in fact diminishes the nutritional value of our food. There are currently no labeling requirements for restaurants serving irradiated produce or other items. Innocent children may consume irradiated lettuce and spinach in the future without their parents knowledge or consent. There is evidence that irradiation may be dangerous, with some of the concerns listed below: -Nutrient loss in foods, including the destruction of vitamins and essential fatty acids. -The formation of carcinogenic chemicals, like benzene and toluene. -The formation of free radicals, which can set off chain reactions in the body that destroy antioxidants, tear apart cell membranes, and make the body more susceptible to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, liver damage, muscular breakdown and other serious problems. -Serious health problems in laboratory testing, including, including premature death, fatal internal bleeding, cancer, stillbirths and other reproductive problems, mutations and other genetic damage, organ malfunctions, stunted growth and vitamin deficiencies. -The creating mutant forms of dangerous bacteria, like E. coli and Salmonella Thank you, Chris Nelson

***I strongly object the comments by US Organic Consumers. Facts, research, science, professional associations, international experts have documented that processing food by ionizing radiation is generally safe and appropriate to achieve the desired effect, ie to protect the consumer. Dieter A.E. Ehlermann, Dipl.-Phys.; Direktor und Professor a.D. (retired) member of the Programme Committee for IMRP2008 (www.imrp2008.com) associate editor of Rad.Phys.Chem. Berater fur Strahlentechnik und Lebensmittelbestrahlung vormals: Bundesforschungsanstalt fuer Ernaehrung, Karlsruhe consultant, radiation technology and food irradiation formerly: Federal Research Centre for Nutrition, Karlsruhe Hochstetter Str. 52, D-76351 Linkenheim-Hochstetten, Germany Tel. +49 7247 - 89573; FAX: +49 3221 - 118 7597 mobil: +49 172 717 4284; eMail: dieter.ehlermann@web.de
***I am so disappointed to hear that our government is looking to allow such a procedure, with unknown - and possibly devastating - results. Government has an obligation to its people, to make sure that the foods it stamps its approval on are safe to consume. If radiation is allowed on lettuces and spinach, I will have lost completely my waning faith in the government of this United States, and will have finally curbed to my suspicions of a corrupt FDA. Thank you, A concerned voter, consumer, and university professor.
***Please consider keeping our food a form of nourishment, on all levels. Do not be seduced by solutions that seem easy today that will create devastation tomorrow. Thank you.
*** I am writing to express my dismay that our FDA is allowing healthy foods we all need - lettuce and spinach - to be irradiated. This country has sunk so low, when the agencies meant to protect us the people, protect the capitalists. Please listen to the people - no irradiation of our food.
***Irradiating greens is a bad idea. Irradiating them eliminates the vitamins, minerals and micronutrients, most of which we do not even have listed, much less an understanding of. Thank you, Pat Lipsey
*** Please don't irradiate our food---- clean up those acts!!!
***To say is simply and succinctly, "No Nukes"!!! I'll take e-coli over irradiation any day, not that I think this is going to happen any way. Just leave our food supply pure please. Have a fruit filled day! Anjou Jones
***Is not the right to life one of the three inalienable natural rights protected in our nation's constitution? And is it not ironic that government programs such as the FDA, beneath the constitution, should decide that the ingestion of carcinogens and free radicals caused by irradiation does not infringe upon this right? The decision to allow irradiation is tantamount to a pledge of support to the cancer and malnutrition already growing in this country. This decision threatens the public health and the inalienable right to life just as much as it undermines the credibility of the FDA itself.
*** While irradiated lettuce and spinach must be labeled in supermarkets, there are currently no labeling requirements for restaurants serving irradiated produce or other items. Patrons and clients may consume irradiated lettuce and spinach in the future without their knowledge, nor consent.-There are many alternatives to irradiation.
***As a health care professional working in cancer prevention, I urge you to reconsider the recent approval to irradiate spinach and lettuce. Irradiation contributes to the formation of free radicals which are implicated in cancer development. In addition, irradiation decreases the nutritional value of the food. The focus should be on holding agricultural businesses accountable for their handling practices to ensure safe food processing. Irradiation is just an excuse for the industry to be lax on their standards.
***Could we do the logical thing, and fix the problem at its source, instead of create more problems!?
***I object to the practice of Irradiation and certainly object when no notification to the consumer is provided. Irradiation is absolutely not needed. Why are you working with band-aid when you could be looking in to the source - the growing practices used by growers.
*** Please, please reverse your decision to allow the irradiation of our food. Please stand up to corporations; consider the collective welfare of the American people. Thank you.
*** Do NOT IRRADIATE OUR FOOD!
***I do not want my food irradiated. I want clean processing plants and the humane treatment of animals in those plants. And if you choose to approve the irradiation of food I want it labeled so I do not have to buy it
*** I would like to take this opportunity to voice my opinion and strong opposition to the use of ionizing radiation for human foods. I am aware, and unfortunately the large majority of Americans are not, or do not wish to be, about the negative impacts of such action. In case one is not aware, irradiating food makes food more dangerous, not safer. Similarly, instead of forming retroactive solutions to a larger problem, such as better oversight and regulations on food production and farming, which the FDA should focus on as opposed to irradiation approval, why not take steps to eliminate and reduce the contamination on the front end? If nothing else, should the irradiation of human food occur, at least I should be aware of it not only from labeling on the packaging of products that I buy, but regulations should be in place to force other bodies to advertise and make consumers aware that I they are consuming irradiated products on the secondary market- such as schools, restaurants, etc. as noted earlier. Even better- let's have the FDA and other related bodies assert more time, energy, and resources into promoting humane and organic sustainable alternatives to factory and chemical farming of both plant and animal crops. This alone would put the cart behind the proverbial horse and work with the end in mind. I appreciate this opportunity to voice my opinions...
*** I am opposed to the irradiation of our lettuce and spinach. While I understand the desire to reduce e-coli outbreaks, I believe the answer must be more careful production. The health of the citizens of the United States is your responsibility. You are not doing your job. It is absolutely necessary to let all consumers clearly know what products are being radiated. This includes products that are used in restaurants. Please do not let the people your are responsible for suffer the consequences of this action. At least make sure we know what is being radiated. Is the reason this is obscured because people will not buy the product? Do not pass this ruling. Mary Basrai, RN, MSA
***No irradiated foods.Use alternative methods to sterilize or simply leave it to the consumer to sterilize in the manner the consumer chooses.we are intelligent enough to know how to prepare our food so as not to get sick from our food!!!



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.WARNING!
This Spinach Irradiated!

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***We don't want any of your irradiated food. We will not buy any of it under any circumstances. Most other people with any sense will do likewise. So your little food profiteers who you sponsor for profit will not make a dime on us.
***Irradiation of spinach and lettuce may be in the interest of big growers, but it is not in the interest of the consuming public. The real problem is the unsanitary conditions these foods are exposed to. Why not require a clean up of the food processing industry instead of forcing American's to eat dirty food with dead bacteria? Irradiation destroys the nutritional content of these otherwise very healthy foods. To save the growers from law suits and food recalls, we are subjecting Americans to higher cancer rates, eye disease and birth defects by destroying key types of nutrients in these foods by irradiation.
*** It is my dream to live in a country where the government cares for the well being of it's people. This includes the food we eat, water we drink, and the healthcare available to all. It is not acceptable to offer foods to the public which have been manipulated without their knowledge. For example irradiating food, which causes a loss of nutrients. It is even more unacceptable to take such action without labeling, people have a right to choose safe and healthy foods. I am asking that the FDA and the government listen to the voices of its people.
***Regarding irradiating spinach and lettuce: PLEASE do not allow this to be done. There are other ways to have safe vegetables than risking chemicals and treatments that may alter cell structure once ingested. At least we can buy organic safely still but eating in restaurants would be another story. If the irradiation is to be done, can there be a way to let food buyers in the restaurant business know it is being done and pass it on to the consumer? Please start looking at new ways that are being developed for your citizens. Government agencies were designed for the people, not for the industries that benefit monetarily from taking short cuts and engaging in risky procedures. The meat industry could be required to be held to higher standards if anyone cared more about the citizens than the bottom line at the end of the year. Thank you. Yvette Schultenover
***We are opposed to the irradiation of our foods, and in particular, we're opposed to decreased labeling requirements of such materials presented to consumers
***Absolutely not! If growers and handlers would use the proper precautions in handling our produce, we wouldn't even have to consider zapping food to reduce contamination. Irradiation alters the molecular structure and nutritional content of food. Is the FDA that intent on making us a nation of weaklings dependent on the pharmaceutical industry??
***I am 100% against food irradiation. be it spinach, lettuce, or animal products. There are many scientific reasons which I'm sure you already know about, including mutations of e-coli, loss of vitamins, creation of free radicals thereby encouraging disease, loss of vital life energy of the food rendering it dead, to mention a few. I am furious that you bend to corporations that want another way to make money, rather than doing your duty to clean up the food supply chain. Betty Jo Byrne
***I strongly oppose the irradiation of any food. The health risks are great and the practice does not address the problems of why there are so many food-born diseases in what we eat.
***-There are many alternatives to irradiation.
***NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Nutrient loss, formation of carcinogenic chemicals, no labeling requirements for restaurants creating mutant forms of dangerous bacteria, like E. coli and Salmonella formation of free radicals.JUST DON'T DO IT!please!!
***Dear Public Servants: I am against our food supplies being irradiated. Stop reducing the healthful beneficial properties that our foods provide us. Irradiating foods does not benefit the consumer, please act on our behalf to stop irradiation of our food supplies. Thank you, Linda Allen
*** My wife and I (both physicians) are vehemently opposed to irradiating vegetables. Why add another toxin (radiation) to food to cover for toxins (bacteria or other) that you refuse to clean up? While we can protect ourselves by not purchasing irradiated food in the market, we will have no such protection eating out. Hence, we will choose not to eat out at all, rather than risk eating radiation induced molecules foreign to all life on the planet. This is very short sighted. Personally, given a choice, we would rather deal with bacteria than carcinogenic molecules our bodies were not designed to handle. Robert Rowen, MD Teresa Su, MD
*** I believe you are making a critical mistake in expanding the irradiation of foods to include lettuce and spinach.
Food irradiation has not yet been proven safe, and should undergo studies by third-parties before it becomes widespread. I think people deserve to eat fresh, clean food, instead of contaminated food that has been irradiated to render it pathogen-free, possibly simultaneously altering the nutrient content and quality. The mass-marketing of irradiated foods is turning anyone living in the USA into a guinea-pig! Please reconsider!
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More Frankenfoods!
I'll Never Go Hungry in the US!

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Please clean up our food preparation / industry where the problem lies, not create another one by radiating our foods and making them more harmful and unbeneficial to the consumer. A sick country makes it more of a burden on the country! Lori in Ohio
***I am against irradiation of spinach, lettuce and of other produce,such as beef. It is WRONG to treat the problem at the end of the chain instead of where it originally began. Don't make the end-user suffer just because those who deliver contaminated produce fail to observe mandatory sanitary precautions before serving the public contaminated food. I AM AGAINST IONIZING RADIATION!!!
*** As a health care provider in California, I do NOT support radiation of human foods.
Irradiation isn't good for humans, so we should minimize its use wherever possible. Instead, the FDA should require that agriculture be cleaned up. Anyone who has ever driven by a feedlot (as I often do on my way to work) can see that the conditions there are filthy. It is inevitable that pathogens will end up in the food supply when such conditions are ignored. This can be prevented by cleaning up animal husbandry and agriculture at its source. Please do NOT go forward with plans to permit the use of ionizing radiation of our food. Thank you.
*** Dear FDA, Keeping our vegetables clean, edible, and healthy for our bodies needs education, clean water, and healthy soil in which to grow our food! All three of these things benefit every other endeavor we undertake as well.
As the manager of a new farmstand, I take pride in offering products from farmers who take care of their soils and animals and their families. I take pride in offering a completely different product than that found in supermarkets, a choice with none of the side effects listed as possible and LIKELY effects of irradiation.
I completely oppose the approval of irradiation of any product, including Spinach and Lettuces. Stop poisoning us in the name of the govt and agribusiness. Given a choice, which food would the heads of any of these companies eat? Fresh, free-range, grown without poisons....and served without added poison or process, too. That kind of food is so good as to be the first choice of anyone who has tasted with choices at hand.
Not only do I oppose irradiation, I will work to give my neighborhood more choices....so that my neighbors expect more from their food supply than that which would poison them.
*** Please do not radiate our food!!! Keep it safe for everyone!!!
***I think this irradiation constitutes the lazy persons' way out and is completely unnecessary. I think we need to remain free to make out personal choice in consuming our produce without Irradiation. As a Vegan Raw Foodist I am very upset and concerned about the ingestion of radiated produce. Pleas consider the concerns of myself and so many others. Gill Gillono
*** Are you trying to kill us with cancer? DO NOT irradiate our food! You are trying to kill your own people! Stop it!
***Food irradiation is the controversial practice of bombarding food with high levels of x-rays (ionizing radiation) in order to destroy disease causing pathogens. Unfortunately, in the process of irradiation, other hazards arise, like the creation of toxic free radicals, vitamin and nutrient loss, and the formation of carcinogenic chemicals.
While irradiated lettuce and spinach must be labeled in supermarkets, there are currently no labeling requirements whatsoever for restaurants, schools, hospitals, or nursing homes serving irradiated produce or other nuked foods such as beef. Thanks!
*** It troubles me to see that Irradiation of lettuce and spinach has been approved.We should spend our energies cleaning up Industrial feedlots instead. Thank You, P.Sparrow
*** NO IRRADIATED FOODS!!! NO GMOs!!!
*** Fix the problem at the source. Do not "NUKE" the food !!!
***Irradiating food is a bad idea. There are better alternatives. Please do everything you can to stop the use of food irradiation and the lack of labeling of irradiated foods. To remain healthy and viable as a species, we must build up our immunity and body systems, and stop poisoning ourselves! Is this not obvious?
***Clean up the food industry.
*** Dear FDA, I do not agree with the irradiation of foods. I feel there are many other ways to deal with the issue of food contamination. Please do not continue with the irradiation program. We need to better understand how to pinpoint the origins of food contamination, and study the reasons for contamination pertaining to that specific incident. Healthier and more sanitary methods should be implemented in farming and packaging. This will deal with the issue more thoroughly. Please do not sacrifice nature as a fist option. I feel there are much safer and economical ways to go about this issue. Thank you for listening. Sincerely, Daniel McNamara
***Please do not irradiate our food supply!
*** I am against the irradiation of our food supply including greens. It will have a serious effect on our health. Please do not do it.
***Please do not permit the irradiation of spinach and lettuce or any other produce. Do not ignore the negative side effects of irradiation i.e., the creation of toxic free radicals, vitamin and nutrient loss, the formation of carcinogeniic chemicals and the possibility of creating mutant strains of e coli and salmonella bacteria. If you are truly the "GUARDIAN" of American health not to take this information into consideration is in my opinion unconscienable and irresponsible.
*** I'm sure that the people who make these important decisions also have children, grandchildren or nieces and nephews who will be deeply affected by the outcome. Am I wrong to assume that you truly want them to live a healthy disease free life? Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Stephanie Nelson-Brooks
***This is a letter of protest against the irradiation of our produce, Even with labeling in the supermarkets, there is no way of protecting ourselves with food in restaurants and institutions.
***Please do not mandate irradiation of food products. We are doing just fine without this unnecessary, damaging, and potentially health threatening measure being enacted. This will cause far more problems then it will solve. The very definition of a boondoggle
***god is watching
*** As a middle school teacher trying to have a positive influence on health and nutrition at my school, I am concerned that irradiating the very foods that we teachers are trying to get the students to eat more of is ultimately counterproductive. This technological "band-aid" will more harm to agribusiness and our health than good.
*** It is a very sad day when the FDA decides instead of cleaning up the processes of factory farming, to put in place procedures that will cause even more harm to the general public in the long run. Irradiating food is not the solution to making our food sources safer, it is only a short term stop gap measure and labeling of all irradiated foods should be a must so consumers can make their own decisions. Much like the bovine growth hormone, sounded like a good idea at the time, but it proved to cause more health problems in the long run. The general public should not be treated like laboratory rats!
*** CONSIDER THE KNOWN DANGERS OF IRRADIATION AND DO NOT APPROVE THIS TREATMENT OF LETTUCE AND SPINACH.
*** Please do not do this. No more quick fixes that turn out to be long term problems. Please do not Ionize our food. Thank you.
***I believe mandating irradiation of produce is harmful at worst and unnecessary at best. I put a huge effort and spend a huge amount of my income making sure my children eat clean food and I am deeply concerned that I will be subjected to this practice. It is just insane. I grew up on a family farm and watched it go to hell with the influx of factory farms. They are filthy and disgusting and need to be the target of cleaning up the food industry. Poison yourselves, but please leave me out of it!
***As a nutrition consultant and candidate for my doctorate in naturopathy, I urge you to combat pathogens by requiring better safety methods at the farm level. Please do not further consider compromising the nutritional quality of the public's food supply by irradiating it. It is certainly possible and highly desirable to farm in a healthful way that minimizes food borne pathogens, as opposed to those methods used by large-scale factory farms. By encouraging more healthful farming practices, you will better preserve the nutritional value of the public's food supply and in turn, contribute to better health for our nation as a whole. When you destroy vitamins, enzymes and other micronutrients in food through irradiation, you in no uncertain terms contribute to the declining health of those individuals consuming irradiated food. It does not have to be a choice between "clean," pathogen-free food or nutrient-rich food. We can have nutrient-rich food without pathogens. Most quick and dirty solutions are ultimately harmful, this one is no exception. Please focus your efforts on safe, healthful farming practices and not irradiation.
However, if you do approve irradiation of the public food supply to any further extent, I entreat you to require the clear labeling of all products that have been irradiated, including those of restaurants, hospitals and other food preparation services, so that at least educated people will have a choice where their health is concerned. God will have to protect the uneducated. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of these opinions.
***This is outrageous.My family and I are going to be buying organic from now on because of this change in how our lettuce and spinach is processed. I believe the irradiation is an overreaction to the problem.
***Irradiation of lettuce and spinach is not ok! It is harmful to the health of all consumers by creating damaging free radicals, carcinogens and the loss of vital nutrients. It is dreadful to see that such vitamin, nutrient - rich foods which are claimed to prevent cancer are now being irradiated and losing nutrients and possibly LEADING to cancer. PLEASE STOP THIS IRRADIATION AND THINK OF THE HEALTH OF CONSUMERS.
***I am writing to ask you to stop the practice of irradiating food - in this case, lettuce and spinach. The problem should be handled at the source thereby negating the need for food irradiation. We are not certain of the safety and long term effects to health with respect to people who eat irradiated foods. Please do not allow spinach and lettuce to be irradiated.
***For the health and welfare of the nation I urge you to reconsider this decision to allow food irradiation to be used to control food-borne pathogens and extend the shelf-life in various human foods. We know irradiation destroys many nutrients in foods that are essential to the health & welfare of our citizens. We also know that free radicals generated during radiation of foods are harmful to our health. Sincerely, Linda Kelly
***I believe irradiation is a step back for the safety of our foods. We should instead be looking at outlawing the fertilizers that are being used that are contaminated, which are causing these outbreaks of illnesses. Having the produce safe in the first place will always be more effective than attempting to kill something after wards. Furthermore, irradiation can't prevent contamination in the packaging/shipping/etc. processes.
*** I believe it is irresponsible and lazy to irradiate our foods. Irradiating food makes food more dangerous, not safer. -There are many alternatives to irradiation. Visit OCA's Irradiation Alternatives page for more information. This information is well documented. I ask that you listen to the people and stop irradiating our food and follow organic guidelines in raising of meat and growing of produce in this country once and for all. The American people have a right to know what's in our food.
*** I am outraged to think that this will pass. Why don't we look at the "why" in this problem. We don't need to expose our food, the people who eat it, the environment and workers at risk. Please consider going organic, and ways to detoxify our food process (aong with our impact to the planet).
*** I am totally opposed to having my food irradiated and will not buy anything that has been. I have had cancer and will not risk getting it again by having my food tampered with - clean up the factory farmed food system instead.
*** We need to keep all our product free of these horrible toxins. Please do not pass this new law. Thanks you Tammie Donnelly
*** Why don't you go to the source of your problem-- a disease-ridden factory-farmed food system instead of allowing the irradiation of lettuce and spinach. Food irradiation is the controversial practice of bombarding food with high levels of x-rays (ionizing radiation) in order to destroy disease causing pathogens. Unfortunately, in the process of irradiation, other hazards arise, like the creation of toxic free radicals, vitamin and nutrient loss, and the formation of carcinogenic chemicals. While irradiated lettuce and spinach must be labeled in supermarkets, there are currently no labeling requirements whatsoever for restaurants, schools, hospitals, or nursing homes serving irradiated produce or other nuked foods such as beef. This is not fair, I have a right to know what I am eating. Food irradiation is prohibited on any product labeled as "organic" and it better stay that way. But all food should be labeled opening and honestly. We are only as good as the stuff we put into our bodies.
*** If the government required better living conditions for livestock the need for irradiation of meats would not be an issue. More room, cleaner yards, and sunlight decrease infections dramatically. Irradiating vegetables wouldn't be necessary if slurry from livestock were not used as fertilizer with all its contaminants from close quarters, etc. without being sun dried first. I strongly disagree with the short term, unquantified and largely unstudied quick fix remedy of irradiation of any foods. Sincerely, Ilse Funk
***Once again the public's health is not top priority but rather what is easiest to administer for the fda. If the farmers and the industry were forced to clean up their feed lots we would see less contamination and recalls of food. Our customers want labeling of products such as irradiated food in all areas, stores, restaurants and food services. We have the right to know if our food has been irradiated as well as genetically modified. As a store, we will not purchase any commercial lettuce or spinach products. Rather we will purchase Organic only so our customers can be assured they are getting a product that is not irradiated.
Consumer Comments on Food Irradiation