FDA Ignoring Evidence that New Chemicals Created in Irradiated Food Could Be Harmful

[Guest guest]

>Consider the implications of the post office's plans to irradiate mail. In

>the mail, people send food, medications, plants, animals, undeveloped

>film, etc......... SunToads

>

>***********

>Source:

>http://www.mercola.com/2001/dec/15/irradiated_food.htm

>

>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ignored growing evidence

>that a new class of chemicals formed when food is irradiated could be

>harmful, according to a report released today by Public Citizen and the

>Center for Food Safety.

>

>The groups are urging the FDA to refrain from legalizing irradiation for

>any additional types of food until the new chemicals are tested for safety.

>

>The chemicals, called cyclobutanones, do not occur naturally anywhere on

>Earth. They recently were found to cause genetic damage in rats, and

>genetic and cellular damage in human and rat cells.

>

>The groups' report, Hidden Harm, details how the FDA has ignored this

>unique class of chemicals, which are created in many irradiated foods that

>the agency has legalized for sale in this country -- including beef, pork,

>chicken, lamb, eggs, mangoes and papayas. It is expected that

>cyclobutanones also would be formed in many other foods the FDA is

>currently considering to legalize for irradiation.

>

>The organizations today also released a sworn affidavit of toxicologist

>William Au, who was retained by the groups to independently review the

>risks posed by cyclobutanones and other chemicals formed by irradiation

>that could cause genetic damage.

>

>Along with a letter outlining numerous health concerns caused by food

>irradiation, the groups filed Hidden Harm and Au's affidavit with the FDA

>to oppose pending petitions to legalize irradiation for processed foods,

>which comprise 37 percent of the typical American's diet; molluscan

>shellfish, such as clams and oysters; crustacean shellfish, such as

>lobsters and shrimp; and meat products.

>

>A fifth petition seeks to double the maximum dose of radiation to which

>poultry can legally be exposed.

>

> " The risk that the FDA is taking with the health of the American people

>cannot be overstated, " said Wenonah Hauter, director of Public Citizen's

>Critical Mass Energy and Environment Program. " If government officials

>knowingly allow people to eat food that contains these chemicals, they are

>courting a major public health disaster. "

>

>Though federal regulations require the FDA to determine whether food

>additives proposed for human consumption are likely to cause cancer, birth

>defects or other health problems, the agency has not done so for

>cyclobutanones, nor have agency officials explained why they have failed

>to do so. Under federal law, irradiation is considered a food additive.

>

>Americans likely are unwittingly eating irradiated foods containing

>cyclobutanones.

>

>Though most irradiated food sold in stores must be labeled, there is no

>such requirement for restaurants, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and

>other institutional settings. And there is no labeling requirement for

>foods with irradiated ingredients, except those containing irradiated

>meat. Moreover, due to a lack of reporting requirements for food

>companies, it is unknown how much irradiated food is sold in the US, or where.

>

> " Children are likely to be especially vulnerable to the risks of these

>untested chemicals in their food, " said Peter T. Jenkins, policy analyst

>at the Center for Food Safety. " It is beyond me why the FDA would take a

>chance by exposing American children in this way. The science is against it. "

>

>Au, an environmental toxicology professor at the University of Texas

>Medical Branch in Galveston, is internationally recognized for his work on

>the toxicological mechanisms that induce human disease. For more than 20

>years he has taught, published peer-reviewed research and served on expert

>committees. He has received numerous awards, and has published or

>co-published more than 100 articles.

>

> " An emphasis should be placed on the products that are unique to the

>irradiation process and that are potentially mutagenic, e.g. 2-DCB

>[2-dodecylcyclobutanone], " Dr. Au wrote in the affidavit. " Without

>conclusive evidence regarding the safety of these products, the safety of

>irradiated food cannot be assured. " Au urged the FDA to " seriously and

>explicitly " consider " repeated observations " of genetic damage and

>reproductive toxicity in feeding experiments.

>

>Though cyclobutanones were first identified in irradiated food in 1971, it

>was not until 1998 that German government scientists discovered that one

>type of cyclobutanone, 2-DCB, caused genetic damage in rats, and genetic

>and cellular damage in human and rat cells.

>

>Subsequently, the scientists found that two other types of cyclobutanones

>-- 2-TCB and 2-TDCB -- caused genetic and cellular damage in human cells.

>Rat feeding studies of these two chemicals are expected to be completed soon.

>

>Despite these findings, the FDA not only has failed to publicly

>acknowledge the potential risks posed by cyclobutanones, but the agency

>proceeded to legalize irradiation for three classes of food even after the

>first two German studies were made public.

>

>Last year, the FDA legalized the irradiation of eggs, juice and sprouting

>seeds despite the fact that several high-ranking agency officials four

>months earlier had attended an international conference in Beijing at

>which the 2-DCB toxicity findings were presented and discussed.

>

>Ironically, cyclobutanones are so easily detectable and have been known to

>remain in food for such lengthy periods - more than a decade - that they

>are commonly used as " markers " to determine whether food has been exposed

>to ionizing radiation.

>

>The groups are calling on the FDA to take several steps:

>

>refrain from legalizing irradiation for any additional foods until

>comprehensive, published, peer-reviewed research is conducted on

>cyclobutanones;

>

>conduct a comprehensive analysis of the cyclobutanone levels in foods

>covered by irradiation petitions already approved by or pending before the

>FDA;

>

>convene public hearings to thoroughly explore the potential health effects

>of cyclobutanones.

>Hidden Harm can be viewed here. Au's affidavit is available here.

>

>----------

>DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:

>

>Folks, irradiated food is a real problem. If you value your health, you will

>avoid these foods like the plaque.

>

>Related Articles:

>

>Irradiated Food

>

>********************

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