FOOD IRRADIATION UPDATE
NOVEMBER 15, 2002
Food Irradiation Update is published by the Minnesota Beef Council
Neenah, WI
Supermarket Chain Sells Irradiated Beef-- The Post-Crescent, Appleton, WI—(Nov. 7, 2002) NEENAH,
Wis.--A supermarket chain is, according to this story, testing meat consumers'
appetite for irradiated ground beef. The Pick 'n Save Ultra Food Center, 647 S.
Green Bay Road, began offering a limited supply of one-pound packs of
irradiated fresh ground beef this week.
The 93 percent
lean beef is selling for about $2.95 per pound. Store customers will continue
to have a choice of traditionally certified ground beef in coolers besides.
Nine other Pick
'n Save stores are also participating in the test sale. Tim Wade, vice
president of perishables for the retail division of Roundy's Inc., Pick 'n
Save's Pewaukee-based parent, was quoted as saying, "We felt these markets
were a good cross section of Wisconsin."
There are two
basic types of irradiation for meat, including one that uses a radioactive
energy source.
The type employed by the Pick 'n Save stores is non-nuclear, using high-speed
electricity with equipment made by SureBeam Corp., based in San Diego.
The process is
the subject of misunderstandings, said Barbara Ingham, an extension food
scientist for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "The evidence is clear
that it definitely increases the safety. I think
consumers should be allowed a choice," she said.
The store is the
first in the Fox Valley to offer irradiated beef. Store director Dan Wentz said
corporate policy prohibited him from commenting about the plan. About two dozen
packages had been put out for
sale. By Pete Bach
Canadian
Government to Approve Irradiation of Beef: Prince George Citizen—(Nov. 7, 2002) MONTREAL (CP) --
Montreal La Presse was cited as reporting the federal government is on the
verge of authorizing the irradiation of beef and poultry products to prevent
such contamination as the deadly E. coli bacteria.
The story says
that the Health Department is preparing regulations on the matter, the
newspaper said. Processors would have the choice of irradiating their products
or not but would have to indicate what had been done on the meat's packaging.
Margot Geduld, a
Health Department spokeswoman, was cited as confirming that "scientific
tests" had been made on the irradiation process following a request from
the meat producers. She said proposed regulations would be submitted to a
special cabinet committee. Indications received by La Presse suggested that
regulations could be in place before Christmas.
Food Irradiation Facility to Open in Fort Worth, Texas: Institute of
Food Technologists' Weekly E-mail Newsletter—(November 6, 2002)--SureBeam
Corp., San Diego, Calif., announced that it has entered into an equipment
purchase agreement with Salubris Limited Partnership to sell a its irradiation
system for $8.9 million. The purchase of this system will allow Salubris to
build and operate a new service center in the Fort Worth, Texas area. While
SureBeam will have no ownership interest in the service center, it will receive
per pound processing royalties. By entering into this agreement, Fort Worth-San
Diego Investments, LLC, the general partner in Salubris, has a right of first
negotiation on certain future opportunities in the five-state area of Texas,
New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana to purchase SureBeam systems and to
provide SureBeam processing.
Maine-based Hannaford Bros. to Sell Irradiated Ground Beef in 117
Stores: Meatingplace.com—(November 7, 2002)--Scarborough, Maine-based
Hannaford and Shop'n Save supermarkets are now offering case-ready irradiated
fresh ground beef, according to a news release. SureBeam Corp. will provide the
irradiation treatment.
"We are underscoring our commitment to food safety by offering
[irradiated] fresh ground beef to our customers," said Karen Fernald,
Hannaford Bros. Co. vice president of perishable merchandising. "Consumers
deserve a choice in products they purchase and now they have one in fresh
ground beef."
Hannaford is
selling irradiated 93-percent and 85-percent lean fresh ground beef products in
one-pound case-ready packages.
"It's great
to have Hannaford joining the list of leading grocery retailers that are
offering a SureBeam choice to their customers," said Larry Oberkfell,
SureBeam chairman, president and CEO. Hannaford's decision brings the total
number of stores in the Midwest, Northeast and mid-Atlantic states offering
fresh ground beef treated with irradiation by SureBeam to more than 950.
Hannaford Bros.
operates 117 supermarkets and food and drug combination stores in Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Massachusetts, including both Shop'n Save and
Hannaford stores. Hannaford, which employs about 23,000 associates, is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Delhaize America
Inc., which is owned by Delhaize Group of Brussels, Belgium. By Dan Murphy
His answers: None and
yes.
Mankato's two Hy-Vee
supermarkets are the first locally to offer the option of fresh ground beef
that's been irradiated, a process that uses electron beams to eliminate
dangerous bacteria without changing the meat's taste, texture, appearance or
nutritional value. "In the next few years, everything will be
irradiated," Walker said. "It's completely safe."
For now, however,
consumers appear to be less than bullish on zapped beef. Why? "I think it's
the word that scares some people," downtown Hy-Vee manager Dan Schmedding
said.
Because some people
erroneously associate irradiation with radioactivity, food industry officials
say their task is to get the truth out.
Electron beams used in
irradiation are propelled from an apparatus similar to the device in a
television set that propels electrons into the TV screen to make it light up.
No radioactivity is involved.
"This product is
one in which consumer acceptance increases dramatically with consumer education.
Within a few years, irradiated beef will be as common as pasteurized
milk," said Ron Eustice, executive director of the Minnesota Beef Council.
The irradiation
process kills disease-causing micoorganisms such as E. coli, salmonella and
listeria. The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved irradiation for use on
wheat in 1963, on poultry in 1992 and on red meat in 1999.
Food consumed by
astronauts in space is irradiated to protect them from foodborne pathogens. Products
such as bandages, cosmetics, diapers and spices also are irradiated to kill
bacteria.
The Minnesota
Department of Health's endorsement of the process has made Minnesota the
national leader in the introduction of irradiated beef in commercial markets.
The Dairy Queen chain
began selling irradiated beef products in its stores earlier this year, and
Embers is expected to soon provide the specially treated beef in all its
restaurants.
"This is the wave
of the future. This is the way ground beef will be marketed," Eustice
said.
Fresh irradiated
ground beef locally sells for about 20 cents a pound more than the regular
variety, but that gap is expected to close as irradiated beef becomes the norm,
probably within this decade, Eustice said.
Meantime, consumer
reaction to it seems to be nonchalant. Supermarket shoppers randomly questioned
Monday were either unknowing or indifferent. By Brian Ojanpa
The Use of
Irradiated Ground Beef Grows:
WCCO Farm News (November 11, 2002)---Minneapolis, MN---The use of irradiation
is growing. "We have seen one major supermarket chain every week introduce
fresh irradiated ground beef," said Ron Eustice of the Minnesota Beef
Council. According to this pioneer promoter of irradiation technology, 99
percent of Minnesota grocery stores have access to fresh irradiated ground
beef. Minnesota was the first state to introduce frozen irradiated ground beef
patties. Fresh product is now being sold and that offers "the big market
opportunity."
Food
Irradiation Education Activities:
The Minnesota Beef Council, in cooperation with
SureBeam Corporation will be assisting with, conducting or participating in the
following irradiation education activities:
Fargo, ND; November 12, 2002: Sysco Foodservice Health Care Seminar
Kansas City, MO; November 14-15: National Association of Farm Broadcasters Annual Convention
Winnemucca, NV; November 16, 2002: Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention
Minneapolis, MN; December 3, 2002: Midwest Farm & Power Show
Billings, MT; December 13, 2002: Montana Stockgrower’s
Annual Convention
Madison, WI; January TBD, 2003: Wisconsin Beef Council Food Irradiation Seminar
Bloomington, MN; January 24, 2003: Minnesota Nutrition Council Inc.
Nashville, TN; January 27, 2003: Tennessee Beef Council Food Irradiation Seminar
Nashville, TN; January 29, 2003: American National CattleWomen Annual Convention
Texarkana, AR; April 5-6: American National CattleWomen Region IV Workshop
Harrisburg, PA; April 23-24, 2003: Central Atlantic States' Association of Food and Drug Officials
Monterey, CA: April 28-29: American National CattleWomen Region VI Workshop
St. Cloud, MN; May 1-2, 2003: Minnesota Dietetic Association Conference
Great Falls, MT; May 2-4: American National CattleWomen Region V Workshop
Chicago, IL; May 5-7, 2003: First World Conference on Food Irradiation
Pierre, SD; June 20-22: American National CattleWomen Region VII Workshop
Green Bay, WI; July 13-15, 2003: National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Jasper, IN; Sept. 23, 2003: Indiana Environmental Health Association Conference
The following is being sent as an update on food irradiation by the Minnesota Beef Council. If for any reason you do not want to receive these updates please hit Reply and ask us to delete you from the list of recipients.