FOOD IRRADIATION UPDATES
FOOD
IRRADIATION UPDATE
MARCH 28, 2003
Food Irradiation Update is published by
the Minnesota Beef Council
Marler Says Many Cases Still Pending in E. Coli Lawsuit
Calling Irradiation Supporters
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Has Covered Irradiation Story by Finding Every Crank They Can
We Must Do Everything Possible to Protect Our Children
How
Many Activists Have Ever Submitted
Their Arguments to Scrutiny in a
"Peer-Reviewed” Journal?
Irradiation:
The Single
Most-studied Food Safety Process in the History of Humankind
Producers Part of Solution
E. Coli Summit Shortchanged Public Health
Milk Fresh From the Farm
World
Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003 at Chicago
Updated
List of Restaurants and Retailers Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef
Food Irradiation Education Activities
Marler
Says Many Cases Still Pending in E. Coli Lawsuit;
By Dan Murphy, Meatingplace.com. (March 26, 2003): Food-safety attorney
William D. Marler said that 18 of 31 cases that his firm is handling related
to E. coli 0157:H7-contaminated ground beef from the former Greeley, Colo.,
ConAgra Foods (now Swift & Company) plant have been settled since
December. But the Seattle-based litigator and principal of Marler Clark in
Seattle, said there has been no settlement yet in the cases of six children
between the ages of two and 16 who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a
serious medical complication associated with E. coli 0157:1-17 outbreaks that
can severely affect kidney functioning.
The family of a suburban Columbus, Ohio, woman who died from consuming the suspect ground beef also has sued the company. Marler was quoted as saying that negotiations to settle the suits against ConAgra have gone "as amicably as things like this can go," and noted that ConAgra has paid all medical expenses - ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 - for the six children who were sickened.
Calling
Irradiation Supporters;
Meat Marketing & Technology; (February 2003):
Letter to the Editor by Michelle Marcotte, Marcotte Consulting, Ottawa,
Canada: Canada is way behind the United States in approving
irradiation. The recent proposed regulation is Health Canada's response to
petitions I drafted in 1992 and in one case, 15 years ago. But, unlike the
U.S., if the final regulation is not published within the 18 months, we go
back to square one! Activist organizations (in Canada) are already doing
their best to convince the government it shouldn't publish the final
regulation. So it is important that anyone who wants to encourage the
government should write the Chief of Regulatory Affairs at Health Canada with
their support.
(Comments can be sent by e-mail to: irradiation@hc-sc.gc.ca
or by fax at: 613-941-3537 or by traditional mail to: Ronald Burke, Director,
Bureau of Regulatory, International and Interagency Affairs, Health Canada,
Address Locator 0702C1, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0L2)
Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation, Has Decided to Cover the (Irradiation) Story by
Finding Every Crank They Can and Broadcasting Their Opinions;
Meat Marketing & Technology; (February 2003): Letter
to the Editor by Cindy McCreath, Communications Manager, Canadian Cattlemen's
Association:
Appreciated the commentary on irradiation. Health Canada is holding a series
of information sessions across Canada in preparation for introducing
regulations allowing irradiation of ground
beef, poultry, shrimp and mangos in Canada. Our good old tax-funded
broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, has decided to cover the
story by finding every crank they can and broadcasting their opinions, rather
than scientifically based research findings. Or if they do present a
scientist's viewpoint, they're careful to
discredit him.
We
must do everything possible to protect our children: Meat
Marketing & Technology; (February 2003): Letter to the Editor by Joseph Bickley,
consultant, San Antonio:
I want to register my support for irradiated foods in the school lunch
program. While traveling in Spain, I contracted a food-borne illness that
triggered a case of Guillain-Barre' syndrome. I was paralyzed and required
intensive care and rehabilitation for two years. We must do everything
possible to protect our children from this type of occurrence. Irradiating
food products can.
How
Many Activists Have Ever Submitted Their Arguments to Scrutiny in a
"Peer-Reviewed Journal? Meat Marketing & Technology; (February 2003):
Letter
to the Editor by Joseph Borsa, Ph.D., MDS Nordion, Kanata, Ontario.
Irradiation:
The Single
Most-studied Food Safety Process in the History of Humankind:
Western Livestock Journal; (March 10, 2003): Letter to the Editor by Ronald F.
Eustice, Executive Director, Minnesota Beef Council: The number of
supermarkets in the US that are offering their customers irradiated fresh or
frozen ground beef is now over 6,000. Hundreds more supermarkets are adding
irradiated ground beef to their shelves every week. This is in addition to the
thousands of customers who for nearly three years have been purchasing (fresh
or frozen) irradiated ground beef by home delivery, mail order or at the local
restaurant.
The January 2003 issue of Meat Marketing & Technology magazine says "In the last 12 months, irradiation of raw ground beef has moved from one of a constellation of anti-microbial treatment options to the technology of choice for controlling E. coli O157:H7.”
The scientific consensus in favor of irradiation is overwhelming. Irradiation is endorsed by the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control, the American Dietetic Association and hundreds more. In fact, Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director, Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy and an internationally respected expert on food safety describes irradiation as “the single most-studied food safety process in the history of humankind.”
H.
Clay Daulton of Madera, CA considers irradiation of human food a “grand
experiment” which (he) abhors and calls my opinion about irradiation
“lop-sided” and “scientifically shallow” (WLJ February 3, 2002). He
may be surprised to learn that the arguments he raises in opposition to
irradiation are almost identical to those voiced by the Sierra Club, an
environmental organization and Public Citizen, a political organization
started by Ralph Nader. These groups often have “hidden agendas” that are
counter to the interests of the beef industry and have attempted to dominate
the conversation about irradiation, leaving the public with a distorted
impression of its risks and benefits.
Minnesotans
are staunch supporters of food irradiation because we know that irradiation is one of the very, very few issues in the area of medicine
and public health that has unanimous agreement and support of every major
public health, medical, and scientific organization in the world. We prefer to
rely on medical doctors, scientists and dietitians for health information and
food safety advice. And we deeply distrust hearsay, half-truths and innuendo provided
by narrowly focused advocacy groups - which represent neither the public nor the prevailing scientific and public health consensus on
lifesaving technologies such as irradiation.
Unfortunately
for consumers, the year 2002 was the worst year in history for food product
recalls. There were 82 recalls
totaling 54.4 million pounds of meat and poultry for E. coli 0157:H7,
Listeria, or Salmonella contamination.
The
meat industry continues to struggle with the curse of E. coli 0157:H7 and
other foodborne pathogens which according to the Centers for Disease Control,
sicken an estimated 76 million Americans each year, and kill some 5,000
(mostly children and the elderly.) In Minnesota, during 2001, we had 219
confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 with 22 cases of serious kidney
disease and 4 deaths (ages 3,4, 6 and 73). The median age of these 22 cases
was 4 years of age. We had an additional 2,000 cases of food-related illness
in Minnesota during 2001. Clearly, many of these illnesses, hospitalizations
and deaths could have been prevented by food irradiation.
Irradiation
is not a “silver bullet” and we have never contended that it can or should
replace the other elements that make up an effective food safety strategy.
It’s not a replacement for appropriate food production and food handling
practices, both in the food industry and in the home. But we do know that
expanded use of irradiation could prevent dozens of deaths and thousands of
illnesses every year. Unfounded fears spread by apparently wellmeaning, but
misinformed individuals shouldn't stand in the way of giving consumers a
burger they can bite into with confidence.
Producers
Part of Solution; Meat
Marketing & Technology; (February 2003): Letter to the Editor by
Maxine R. Jones, cattle
rancher, Midland, S.D.:You wrote that meatpacking is the only segment to make
appreciable capital investments in food safety ("Reasoned response fries
activist's arguments against irradiation," Meatingplace.com, Dec. 6).
Ranchers and NCBA have both spent considerable money, and we are supporting
research and applying practices to improve the health of our animals. The
bottom line is that meat is not contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7 before the
critter leaves the ranch, and our beef checkoff has spent a bundle on research
to help packers keep it from contaminating the meat.
E.
Coli Summit Shortchanged Public Health; BEEF magazine (March
2003): Letter to the Editor; by Albert Koltveit,
Port
Ludlow WA: It
was heartening to see that, in your February editorial, Mr Roybal, you
are still beating the drums for irradiation of ground beef, despite the fact that
some recalcitrant, head-in-the-sand types at an "E. coli Summit"
in San Antonio chose to ignore irradiation as a legitimate topic for
discussion as they addressed their stated purpose, namely, to "ensure
that safe, wholesome U.S. beef becomes even safer."
In stark contrast, it was saddening to read that, according to an attendee, "...in at least two of the summit's discussion groups, irradiation was taken off the table." It was even more saddening to read the tired platitudes for dealing with the issue of E. coli-contaminated ground beef in the "five-point consensus for industry action" trotted out by the summit major domos.
It wasn't clear who sponsored this whitewash summit, but it is clear---to me, at least---that those who were the presumed stakeholders in organizing and leading the summit conference, i.e, those who presumably were purported to represent the best interests of the beef industry as well as public health, left their commitment behind them as they departed for San Antonio.
What other conclusion can a reasonable person draw? In a related news item in the same issue of Beef ("Three More Chains Go Irradiated," p 11), we read, "The Buffalo News reports the product [irradiated fresh ground beef]...is expected to cost 20 cents to 30 cents more per pound than regular ground beef." For goodness sake, is that modest extra outlay too much of a financial burden for the average consumer who is not at all interested in hiking to the emergency room in a hospital in the event he/she happens to ingest viable E. coli 0157:H7 along with cheaper ground beef?
Spare me the cost/effectiveness arguments that anyone might put forward on this issue! In the Seattle area, where I live, thousands of naive, gullible consumers pay a hefty premium for "organic" or "natural" meat cuts, and are quite happy to be able to do so, yet haven't the slightest understanding that "non-organic" or "non-natural" meat cuts are just as wholesome and organoleptically pleasing.
I
would like to know more about the San Antonio summit folks who ostensibly got
together to advance frontiers of knowledge on wholesomeness of ground beef,
yet managed to suppress credible information on the safety and efficacy of ground
beef irradiation. Reprinted
from BEEF Cow-Calf Weekly. For a free subscription to this weekly e-mail
newsletter, go to www.beef-mag.com. and
click on the signup box in the upper right hand
corner of the opening page.
Milk Fresh From the Farm: Washington Post (June 29, 2002): Letter to the Editor By Frank Pierce Young, Annapolis, MD; Cary Frye, a vice president for the International Dairy Foods Association, in reference to a June 5 Food article on raw milk, recited terrible harms.
She
said, "Raw milk is no more nutritious than pasteurized milk." I have
news: Like almost everyone else of the Depression era, I grew up on raw milk
-- we raised Golden Guernsey cows on our Pennsylvania farm. I am in
excellent health, no thanks to the IDFA.
Raw milk, like raw seafood, becomes loaded with nasty bacteria if not ingested
promptly or left unrefrigerated. But in any normal use, it was not dangerous
-- except to large dairy interests. To them, small independents
were a threat, and in state after state, the big interests promoted
legislation to get rid of the little guys.
In Pennsylvania, this first meant legislating refrigeration and mechanical milking systems small dairy farmers could not afford. Next came rules about bottling that wiped out most small creameries. Then came the squeeze on distributors, who found they could not afford to deal with small dairy farmers or creameries or buy the required trucks. With that came howls in the name of health -- until finally pasteurization became mandatory, wiping out raw milk at retail.
To this old farm kid, modern milk is little better than what we used to sell as skim milk. Just as nutritious? Only if you load it with chemicals and figure folks don't know any better.
World Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003
at Chicago: The World Irradiation Congress is scheduled
for May 5 to 7, 2003, at Chicago's McCormick Place. The international event
will provide a comprehensive technical and scientific forum to promote the
technology and benefits of food irradiation around the globe. The congress
will examine the future of food irradiation in a comprehensive program that
includes analysis of the: Global situation and outlook on the use of
irradiation as a sanitary and phytosanitary treatment; Major markets and
market trends; Technological developments, such as irradiation facilities and
quality assurance; Investment opportunities; A visit to a commercial food
irradiator; a buyer-seller business conference and technical sessions.
The keynote speaker on May 5 (Monday) will be Dr. Elsa Murano, USDA
Undersecretary for Food Safety, speaking on "Food safety from farm to
fork: the role of food irradiation."
Other top speakers include the CEOS of FMI and GMA; the presidents of IFT and
the International Union of Food Science and Technology; the director of
National Food Safety & Toxicology Center at Michigan State University; and
top officials from the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, the International Consultative Group on
Food Irradiation, the Minnesota Beef Council and such companies as Huisken
Meat Co., International Dairy Queen Inc., Food Technology Service Inc. and
Hawaii Pride Inc.
For
more information and to register, contact:
The National Food Safety &
Toxicology Center
Michigan State University
165 Food Safety & Toxicology
Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1302
517/432-3100
Website: www.foodsafe.msu.edu/Congress/congress.html
or www.foodsafe.msu.edu.
Updated List of
Restaurants and Retailers Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef
(Updated
March 21, 2003)
Shaw's
Supermarkets Inc. based in Massachusetts joined
the growing group of retailers selling irradiated ground beef, on March 16th.
Shaw’s has 185 Shaw's and Star Market stores in six New England states.
Shaw's began offering irradiated fresh and frozen ground beef in one-pound
packages of 80 percent lean ground chuck and 93 percent lean ground beef
produced by Swift & Company.
BI-LO supermarkets based in Mauldin, SC is offering two SureBeam
labeled irradiated ground beef products in the fresh beef counter, as well as
one selection of frozen ground beef patties in the freezer section.
BI-LO is selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef in one-pound case- ready
packages of 85-percent and 93-percent lean as well as SureBeam processed
frozen ground beef patties.
BI-LO
Supermarkets is one of six retail-operating companies under Ahold-USA, one of
the leading supermarket operations in the U.S. Based in Mauldin, South
Carolina, BI-LO currently operates 302 supermarkets and 142 Golden Gallon
convenience stores employing over 27,000 associates.
www.BI-LO.com
Bruno's
Supermarkets, with
over 170 supermarkets, is the first retailer in the South to offer fresh
ground beef products processed with SureBeam Corporation's electron beam
technology. All retailers
operated by Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc., including Bruno's, Food World, FoodMax,
Food Fair and Fresh Value began offering fresh irradiated ground beef on March
11, 2003. Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc. is one of six retail-operating companies
under Ahold-USA, one of the leading supermarket operations in the U.S. Bruno's
currently operates over 170 supermarkets in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and
Mississippi.
Big
Y Supermarkets,
based in Springfield, Massachusetts, began selling fresh irradiated ground
beef on March 12, 2003. Big Y is one of the fastest growing retail supermarket
chains in the United States, and holds a market share in its primary market
throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts of 23%.
Marsh
Supermarkets Inc.
began selling SureBeam® processed fresh ground beef at 67 Marsh Supermarkets
throughout Indiana and Western Ohio. Marsh began offering case-ready fresh
ground beef processed with SureBeam electron beam technology on Wednesday,
March 12, 2003. Marsh
Supermarkets, one of the largest regional grocery chains in the United states,
operates 67 Marsh Supermarkets, 35 LoBill Food Stores, 3 Savin*$, 8 O’Malia
Food Markets and 167 Village Pantryâ convenience stores in central Indiana
and western Ohio,
Fitz,
Vogt & Associates,
an institutional foodservice management company based in the Northeast,
announced that it will begin using irradiated ground beef throughout its
facilities. The rollout makes the $35 million, Walpole, N.H.-based company the
first noncommercial operator to offer irradiated beef. Most of FVA's 140
accounts are in assisted living facilities and schools throughout New England
and the Mid-Atlantic. To date, 30 FVA accounts, primarily assisted living
facilities, are using the irradiated ground beef product and the rollout will
expand to other accounts including summer camp cafeterias.
Chronological
List of Restaurants and Retailers Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef:
Huisken
Meat Company of Sauk Rapids,
MN began marketing frozen irradiated patties in May 2000. From an initial
distribution of 84 stores in the Twin Cities, distribution has grown to
thousands of stores in 30+ states. Huisken reported sales growth of 35 percent
in 2001 compared to 2000 and a 25 percent increase through June 2002. Huisken
Meat Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of JNR Holding Company, which also
owns Rochester Meat Company in Rochester, MN and Whiteford Food Products, Inc.
at Versailles, OH. Huiskens may be contacted at (320) 259-0305.
SuperValu
based in Eden Prairie, MN was one of the first supermarket chains in the US to
offer irradiated ground beef when they introduced Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in the Twin Cities on May 16, 2000. SuperValu is one of the largest
companies in the United States grocery channel. With annual revenues in excess
of $20 billion, Supervalu holds leading market share positions with its 1,260
retail grocery locations, including licensed Save-A-Lot locations. In
addition, the company provides distribution and related logistics support
services to approximately 4,280 grocery retail outlets.
Rainbow
Foods, a
Fleming Company based in Minneapolis, with 42 stores in Minnesota and 2 in
Wisconsin, shared the honor of being first to offer Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in the Twin Cities area. Rainbow has offered Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties (90/10 and regular ground beef) since May 16, 2000. Rainbow also
markets SureBeam processed papaya.
Cub
Foods based
in Stillwater, MN, was one of the first retailers in the US to offer
irradiated ground beef when they introduced Huisken BeSure irradiated patties
in the Twin Cities on May 16, 2000. Cub Foods has stores in Minnesota,
Wisconsin, Illinois and Colorado.
Schwan's
based in Marshall, MN, began to sell irradiated frozen patties nationwide
through home delivery in late May 2000. All fresh/frozen ground beef at
Schwan’s is irradiated. Schwan’s markets irradiated ground chuck and
quarter pound patties in 3 pound packages. For delivery of Schwan’s
irradiated burgers to your doorstep phone; 1.888. Schwans or log on to http://www.schwans.com/.
Nash
Finch based
in Minneapolis, MN began marketing Huisken BeSure irradiated beef patties
during the summer of 2000. Nash Finch Company is one of the leading food
retail and distribution companies in the United States, with over $4.1 billion
in annual revenues. Nash Finch owns and operates a base of 112 retail stores,
principally supermarkets under the AVANZA,
Buy·n·Save, Econofoods and Sun Mart trade names. In addition to its
retail operations, Nash Finch Company's food distribution business serves
independent retailers and military commissaries in 28 states, the District of
Columbia and Europe.
Omaha
Steaks has
marketed irradiated frozen patties since the summer of 2000. All ground beef
from Omaha Steaks is SureBeam processed. To place an order for Omaha Steaks’
irradiated burgers phone 1.800.228.9872 or by logging on at www.omahasteaks.com.
W.W.
Johnson, a
Minneapolis-based private label foodservice company established in 1946, began
to offer SureBeam
processed fresh
irradiated ground beef in patties and 10 pound rolls in May 2001. W.W. Johnson
private labels fresh ground beef for national and regional foodservice
distributors and chains including Sysco, US Foodservice, Rhinehart, Upper
Lakes Foods and Fraboni's. Sales of irradiated product through W.W. Johnson
are coast to coast and expanding steadily. About 10 percent of W.W.
Johnson’s production is irradiated. Contact W.W. Johnson at 1.612.721.6792.
Sysco:
Currently 28 Sysco Foodservice Distribution Centers are offering SureBeam
processed ground beef to various foodservice establishments. Some
of the areas with irradiated ground beef are Portland, ME; Kent, WA; Billings,
MT; Milwaukee, WI, Cleveland and Cincinnati, OH.
Winn
Dixie
based in Jacksonville, Florida operates 1060 stores in the Southeast and began
marketing Huisken BeSure irradiated patties in late 2001 and early 2002.
Kroger
began marketing Excel’s “Fairfield Farms” fresh ground beef at about a
dozen stores in February 2002 in the Peoria, Illinois area.
Schnuck's
stores in Illinois and Missouri began marketing Excel’s “Fairfield
Farms” fresh ground beef in February 2002 and in February 2003 expanded the
offering of irradiated ground beef to include fresh ground beef chubs
("chub" refers to the plastic packaging, similar to that of pork
sausage) supplied by Excel, a of Wichita, Kan subsidiary of Minnesota-based
Cargill.
International
Dairy Queen
based in Edina, MN began a test at two stores (Hutchinson and Spicer, MN) in
February 2002, and is now offering SureBeam processed irradiated
patties at nearly 100 Minnesota and South Dakota stores following a very
successful expansion in Central Minnesota (May) and the Twin Cities area
(July/August). The number of Dairy Queens offering SureBeam processed ground
beef from Birchwood Foods (Kenosha Beef) is steadily expanding. Dairy
Queen’s impressive point of sale materials including tray liners, table
tents and signage are a model for all restaurants to follow.
Wegmans
Food Markets,
based in Rochester, N.Y. in May 2002, became the first supermarket chain in
the nation to introduce irradiated fresh ground beef under its own
private-label brand—Wegmans Brand Irradiated Fresh Ground Beef. The new
line, produced at Excel Corp.'s Dodge City, Kan. plant, is available in 90/10
(90 percent lean/10 percent fat) and 80/20 packages, and is selling for 10 to
30 cents more a pound than ordinary fresh ground beef. Wegmans currently
operates 64 stores in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and irradiated
product is now being sold at all of its stores, Wegmans is no newcomer in
offering irradiated products. In May 2001, it introduced Fairview Farms
irradiated frozen ground beef patties, and its also carries a few irradiated
produce items in select stores. Wegmans reports that 15% of their ground beef
sales are irradiated with individual stores reporting that sales of irradiated
product are 45% of ground beef sales.
Lowes
Foods,
based in Winston-Salem, N.C. began offering SureBeam processed irradiated
fresh, ground beef to consumers at 48 of its 105 stores in early September
2002. Products are being offered in 1-pound packages of 93-percent lean ground
beef and in 93-percent lean ground-beef patties.
D'Agostino
Supermarkets
in September, began offering SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef
in several case-ready product formats. This chain operates 23 stores in New
York City and suburban Westchester County.
Pathmark
Supermarkets, one of the top 15 supermarket retailers in the countries with
stores in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, announced it would sell
SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef in several case-ready
offerings early in October.
Farm
Fresh Supermarkets
of Hampton Roads, Virginia in October became the first food retailer in that
area to offer case-ready fresh ground beef processed with SureBeam Corp.'s
electron-beam food irradiation technology. A SuperValu Company, Farm Fresh has
37 stores located throughout Hampton Roads. Farm Fresh is selling its
irradiated, fresh ground beef in five packages--1 and 3-pound packages in
80-percent and 93-percent lean, as well as 1-pound packages in 85-percent
lean.
Champps: Two Milwaukee area Champps began serving SureBeam processed
irradiated ground beef in September 2002.
L
& L Packing Company
based in Chicago markets Quintessence Foods SureBeam processed frozen patties
known as “Grandma Burgers.”
Price
Chopper based
in Schenectady, N.Y. began selling irradiated fresh-ground beef in four
varieties that includes 1- and 3-pound packages of 80-percent and 93-percent
lean during October 2002. Price Chopper operates 102 stores system-wide and is
a leading food retailer in a six state region including New York, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Pennsylvania.
Hy-Vee Supermarkets began selling SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef from IBP on October 14, 2002 in five packages: 85- and 90-percent lean tray packs, 85- and 90-percent lean rolls and 93-percent lean patties. Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee is one of the nation's top 15 supermarket retailers and operates 188 stores in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Clemens
Family Markets
of Philadelphia, with 19 stores in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware
Counties in Pennsylvania, began to offer SureBeam-processed case-ready fresh
ground beef in late October. Clemens
is selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef in one-pound case-ready
packages in 85-percent, 90-percent and 93-percent lean. Their case-ready
packages provide the customer a complete view of the product through a clear
cellophane covering. Clemens is a family-owned, regional supermarket business
currently celebrating their 63rd
year in business.
Giant
Foods
of Landover, MD became the first food retailer in the Baltimore-Washington,
D.C., to offer irradiated fresh ground beef on November 5, 2002. Giant stores
are selling two SureBeam-labeled irradiated ground beef products: 93 percent
lean and 85 percent lean. Giant Foods, a member of the Ahold USA group,
operates 189 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and the
District of Columbia and employs more than 27,000 associates.
Fresh
Brands, Inc.
a supermarket retailer and grocery wholesaler based in Wisconsin, in December 2002,
began offering fresh irradiated ground beef through
corporate-owned retail, franchised and independent supermarkets. Stores are
located throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois under the Piggly Wiggly
and Dick's Supermarkets brands. Fresh Brands currently has 74
franchised Piggly Wiggly supermarkets, 27 corporate-owned Piggly Wiggly and
Dick's Supermarkets and two distribution centers. The company controls
nearly $1 billion in retail grocery sales.
Embers America Inc.,
a St. Paul, MN-based chain of full-service, family-style restaurants, has
introduced a line of irradiated hamburgers.
The famous Ember Burger is now irradiated. The
family-owned company, has 65 restaurants that are mostly franchisee operated,
and has branches throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa.
Embers America is the first full-service restaurant chain to offer irradiated
meat.
Lunds/Byerly’s based in Edina, MN recently introduced 93 percent lean
fresh ground beef produced by Excel. This is in addition to Huisken BeSure
irradiated frozen ground beef that they have been offering since 2000.
Byerly’s operates 12 stores in the Twin Cities and one in St. Cloud.
Lund’s has 8 stores in the Twin Cities area.
Jewel-Osco,
a 191-store unit of Boise, Idaho-based Albertson's Inc., started selling
irradiated ground beef at Chicago stores and some other locations on November
13th.
Hannaford
and
Shop'n Save Supermarkets based in Scarborough, Maine began offering
case-ready irradiated fresh ground beef in 117 stores in Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, New York and Massachusetts in early November. The irradiated product
is offered in 93% and 85% lean fresh ground beef products in 1-lb., case-ready
packages.
Pick
'n Save, the
retail division of Roundy's Inc., based in Pewaukee, WI, began offering a
limited supply of one-pound packs of irradiated fresh ground beef in November
2003. Nine other Pick 'n Save stores are also participating in the test sale.
Tim Wade, vice president of perishables for Pick 'n Save's parent, was quoted
as saying, "We felt these markets were a good cross section of
Wisconsin."
Tops
Markets based
in Amherst, NY, began
selling fresh irradiated ground beef in mid January. Tops is selling both 85
percent lean and 90 percent lean irradiated fresh ground beef. The irradiated
meat will make up about 5 percent of the ground beef offered at Tops,
according to the Amherst-based company. Tops
Markets, LLC is one of six retail operating companies under Ahold USA, one of
the leading supermarket operations in the U.S. Tops currently operates
156 Tops Friendly Markets in New York, Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio.
Giant
Eagle Inc.
began offering irradiated ground beef on Jan. 12th. Giant Eagle, Inc., ranked
22 on Forbes magazine's largest private corporations list and recently named
Progressive Grocer's Retailer of the Year, is one of the nation's largest food
retailers and food distributors with over $4.4 billion in annual sales.
Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle, Inc. has grown to be the number one supermarket
retailer in the region with 124 corporate and 89 independently owned and
operated stores throughout western Pennsylvania, Ohio, north central West
Virginia, and Maryland. Giant Eagle is the first in that region to offer
irradiated meat products in the form of 80 percent lean/20 percent fat and 93
percent lean/7 percent fat ground beef. Educational point-of-purchase
brochures and signs introduced meat department customers to the concept and
safety benefits of irradiated ground beef, nattily packaged in opaque,
one-pound tubes similar to ready-to-bake cookie dough.
Schnuck
Markets Inc.
became the first supermarket chain in the St. Louis area on January 13th to
sell irradiated fresh ground beef and frozen beef patties. Schnucks is selling
fresh ground beef chubs ("chub" refers to the plastic packaging,
similar to that of pork sausage) supplied by Excel, a subsidiary of Cargill of
Wichita, KS and frozen beef patties which come from Huiskens of Sauk Rapids,
Minn. The SureBeam Corporation of San Diego, Calif. will irradiate the ground
beef and beef patties in their Sioux City, Iowa facility. Schnucks first offered SureBeam irradiated ground beef in its
Peoria and Pekin, Ill. stores last winter. While sales of the product met
Schnucks expectations, a company spokesman says education is the key to
greater acceptance Schnuck Markets, Inc. currently operates 102 stores and 93
pharmacies in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Tennessee and
Mississippi. This includes five stores that operate as Logli Supermarkets and
a stand-alone Sentry drug store. Schnuck Markets, Inc. is currently ranked 83rd
in the Forbes Magazine listing of the nation's "Top 500 Private
Companies."
Publix
supermarkets began selling New Generation brand irradiated frozen ground beef
patties, boneless chicken breasts and chicken tenders from Colorado Boxed Beef
Company on January 13th. The Lakeland, Fla.-based chain will also consider
offering fresh irradiated products in the future. New Generation-brand
products are processed by Food Technology Service Inc., a Mulberry,
Fla.-based, gamma-source irradiation facility. Publix, with 711 stores in
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and in Tennessee later this year, is
owned by its more than 119,000 employees and posted 2001 sales of $15.3
billion. www.publix.com.
Safeway
Eastern Division
began offering fresh irradiated ground beef on January 27th at all
136 supermarkets in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, D.C. Safeway's
Eastern Division employs approximately 11,000 people and operates 136 stores,
including 16 in the District of Columbia, 75 in Maryland, 44 in Virginia and
one in Delaware.
Dierbergs
Markets of
St. Louis, MO added two new electronically irradiated fresh ground beef items
to its meat department on February 1, 2003. Dierbergs new items, a fresh
93-percent lean ground beef and an 85- one-pound packages of 85-percent and
93-percent lean. percent lean ground round, which are supplied by Excel,
from its processing plant in Dodge City, Kan. Dierbergs operate 19
stores in the St. Louis area.
Weis
Markets, Inc.
became
the first retailer in Central Pennsylvania to market irradiated ground beef in
the Central Pennsylvania area on February 2nd. The
irradiated fresh ground beef will be provided by SureBeam Corp., packaged in 1
pound trays - 85 percent lean and 1 pound packages - 93 percent lean patties. Founded
in 1912, Weis Markets currently operates 160 stores in six states:
Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia.
Giant
Food Stores,
based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on February 3, 2003, joined the rapidly
growing list of retailers offering SureBeam processed fresh ground beef. Giant
is offering irradiated fresh ground beef
in one-pound packages of 85-percent and 93-percent lean. The
chain operates a total of 113 stores in four states, under the name GIANT Food
Stores in Pennsylvania, and under the name MARTIN'S Food Markets in
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. GIANT Food
Stores is a part of Royal Ahold, a Netherlands based company. Ahold is a
leading food provider in the United States and elsewhere with total sales of
approximately USD 52 billion. Over 60% of its worldwide sales are
currently generated in the United States. GIANT Food Stores, LLC employs over
20,000.
ShopRite
supermarkets of Edison, NJ, the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the
United States began selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef products in
one-pound case-ready packages of 85-percent and 93-percent lean, as well as
one- and three-pound chub packages in 85-percent and 93-percent lean on
February 5, 2003. From a small, struggling cooperative with seven members –
all owners of their own grocery stores – Wakefern has grown into the largest
retailer-owned cooperative in the United States and one of the largest
employers in New Jersey. The cooperative is comprised of 38 members who
individually own and operate supermarkets under the ShopRite banner. Today, Wakefern
Food Corporation, the merchandising and distribution arm of the company,
and the 200 ShopRite stores located throughout New Jersey, New York,
Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware, employs more than 40,000 people. In
1999, America’s Second Harvest recognized ShopRite as the Grocery
Distributor of the year.
Associated
Wholesalers, Inc.,
based in Robesonia, Pennsylvania, began offering SureBeam processed fresh
ground beef products in one-pound case-ready packages of 85-percent and
93-percent lean, and 93-percent lean patties on February 12, 2003. Currently,
52 central Pennsylvania stores offer case-ready fresh ground beef processed
with electron beam technology. Associated Wholesalers, Inc. operates as a
cooperative food distributor and related products provider. The company also
operates facilities in York, Pennsylvania and Scranton, Pennsylvania with
customers located in seven states including Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, West Virginia, New York, and New Jersey. Member/shareholders operate
supermarkets, superettes, convenience stores, mass discounters and other
retail formats.
Foodtown
located in New Jersey and New York introduced irradiated fresh ground beef at
all stores in January. Foodtown operates stores in eastern New Jersey, Long
Island, the Bronx and the Westchester and Yonkers area.
Stop
& Shop, Inc. operates 326 supermarkets
in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. Stop &
Shop is a multibillion-dollar corporation and the largest food retailer in New
England and employs 41,000 associates in its network of stores, distribution
centers, manufacturing plants and offices, which stretch across more than 180
communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Rhode
Island.
Copps Food Markets of Wisconsin has begun to market irradiated ground
beef at all 21 Wisconsin stores.
Lombardi
Brothers Meats of Minneapolis foodservice provider is marketing
two irradiated ground beef products. Lombardi markets a 2:1 (1/2 pound) and a
3:1 (1/3 pound) ground beef products.
Performance
Food Group (PFG), Richmond,
Virginia has become the nation’s first foodservice provider to market their
own private-label line of irradiated frozen ground beef products. PFG will
offer 10 skus at the onset. The new products will be packed under PFG’s West
Creek label by Rochester Meats and boasts a new trademarked “Smart Shield”
food safety logo. Product launch is scheduled for mid-February.
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:
Texarkana, AR; April 5-6: American National CattleWomen Region IV Workshop
Harrisburg, PA; April 24, 2003: Central Atlantic States' Association of Food
and Drug Officials
Monterey, CA: April 28-29: American National CattleWomen Region VI Workshop
Bismarck, ND: April 30, 2003: North Dakota Long Term Care Association
Convention
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
Jackson, MS; June 12, 2003: Mississippi Beef Council/Cattlemen’s Irradiation
Workshop
Starkville,
MS; June 13, 2003: American National CattleWomen Regional Workshop
Ft.
Pierre, SD; June 20-22: American National CattleWomen Region VII Workshop
New Ulm, MN; June 27, 2003: Hub Club Farm/City Celebration
St.
Paul, MN; July 9, 2003: Minnesota Food & Nutrition Network Meeting
Green
Bay, WI; July 13-15, 2003: National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Jasper, IN; Sept. 23, 2003: Indiana Environmental Health Association
Conference
Ronald F. Eustice
Executive Director
Minnesota Beef Council
2850 Metro Drive # 426
Bloomington, MN 55425
USA
Phone: 952/854-6980
Fax: 952/854-6906
Website:
www.mnbeef.org
FOOD
IRRADIATION UPDATE
MARCH 21, 2003
Food Irradiation Update is published by the
Minnesota Beef Council
Shaw's
Supermarkets to Sell Irradiated Ground Beef
BI-LO
Supermarkets Add Irradiated Ground Beef Option
Irradiation Gains Distribution, Momentum... and Respect
Not Just For Retail: Irradiated Ground Beef is Also Growing at Foodservice
Critic
says; “Food Irradiation Not the Answer
World
Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003 at Chicago
Updated
List of Restaurants and Retailers Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef
Food Irradiation Education Activities
Shaw's
Supermarkets to Sell Irradiated Ground Beef: by Daniel
Yovich for www.meatingplace
(March 19, 2003): Shaw's Supermarkets Inc. is joining the
growing group of retailers selling irradiated ground beef, according to a news
release.
The Massachusetts-based company manages 185 Shaw's and Star Market stores in
six New England states. On March 16, Shaw's began offering irradiated fresh
and frozen ground beef in one-pound packages of 80 percent lean ground chuck
and 93 percent lean ground beef produced by Swift & Company.
"We are pleased to be able to offer our customers another choice in
ground beef products," said Terry Donilon, Shaw's spokesperson.
"Irradiation helps remove the worry of E. coli and other harmful
bacteria."
As part of the launch, Shaw's encourages customers to go the extra mile to
keep irradiated fresh and frozen ground beef safe by following the same safe
food handling steps, including:
Shaw's
serves more than four million customers a week and has about 30,000 employees.
During the company's most recent fiscal year, sales totaled $4.4 billion.
BI-LO
Supermarkets Add Irradiated Ground Beef Option:
(March 17, 2003) from a press release
MAULDIN, S.C. -- Beginning March 19, BI-LO supermarket customers will have a
new option in the meat department: irradiated, fresh ground beef. Irradiated
ground beef has been proven to reduce the risk of food-borne illness.
BI-LO
will offer two SureBeam labeled irradiated ground beef products in the fresh
beef counter, as well as one selection of frozen ground beef patties in the
freezer section. "Food safety has always been a priority at BI-LO.
Now we can offer a new choice in fresh ground beef for further food safety
assurance," said Joyce Smart, BI-LO director of consumer relations.
"The world's most prominent public health and medical organizations
support food irradiation." Those groups include the American
Medical Association, the American Dietetics Association, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, and the US Department of Agriculture.
According
to Clemson University professor and Extension Food Safety Specialist Dr. Libby
Hoyle, "New types of harmful bacteria or evolving forms of older ones
that can cause serious illness have led scientists to develop technologies
that can help safeguard the nation's food supply. Irradiation can be an
effective way to help reduce foodborne hazards and ensure that harmful
organisms are not in the foods we buy." Irradiation of food has been
around for many years. The technique was used as early as the 1970's on
foods for the American astronauts to eat in space.
The
process causes about the same nutrition changes in food as cooking or
freezing. Safe food handling practices are still very important and
cooking ground beef to 160 degrees is recommended by the USDA and FDA, even
for irradiated ground beef. There is no difference in taste or appearance of
irradiated ground beef. At the meat counter, packages of irradiated ground
beef will be clearly labeled and BI-LO is encouraging customers to pick up an
informational brochure, or visit the following websites:
Irradiation
Gains Distribution, Momentum... and Respect: (February 2003) The National PROVISIONER:
By Bryan Salvage, Senior Editor: More processors, retailers, foodservice
operators, and wholesalers are responding to increasing consumer demand for
safer food by offering irradiated meat and poultry.
An
intensifying food-safety movement is being led by some of the nation's leading
supermarket chains that is building momentum and speed — and spreading from
the east coast to the west. In the wake of 9/11 and following years of
food-contamination outbreaks and continuing meat and poultry-product recalls
on pathogen-contamination fears, 2002 was a banner year for moving food
irradiation forward.
Not
only is irradiation an effective intervention strategy against harmful
microbes with a kill ratio from 99 to 99.999 percent, it also extends the
shelf-life of treated products —adding value for the processor, retailer,
foodservice operator, wholesaler, and the consumer.
A
retail frenzy
Retailers
introducing variations of irradiated fresh or frozen ground-beef products
last year or early this year include Clemens Family Markets, D'Agostino
Supermarkets, Dick's Supermarkets and Piggly Wiggly (Farm Fresh Supermarkets),
Giant Eagle Inc., Giant Food, Hannaford Bros. Co., Hy-Vee Supermarkets,
Jewel-Osco, Lowes Foods, Pathmark Stores, Price Chopper, Safeway eastern
division, Schnuck Markets Inc., and Wegman's Food Markets, just to mention a
few. These products, which are being offered by a variety of meat processors
including the IBP Fresh Meats unit of Tyson Foods and Cargills Excel Corp.,
are treated by SureBeam Corp.'s electron beam process.
tron-beam
process.
Other
meat processors either using or testing the SureBeam e-beam process include
food-irradiation pioneer Huisken Meat Co. of Sauk Rapids Inc., Qmaha Steaks,
Tyson Foods, WW Johnson Meat Co., among others.
Publix
Supermarkets, Lakeland, FL, began selling the New Generation brand of
irradiated, frozen, ground-beef patties, boneless chicken breasts, and chicken
tenders in January. Processed by Colorado Boxed Beef Co., Auburndale, FL,
these products are gamma- treated by Food Technology Service of Mulberry, FL,
using MDS Nordion irradiation technology.
"The
growth at retail shows consumers are buying irradiated products,"
says one insider. "They bought these products more than 30 weeks ago, and
they're still buying them now."
Irradiated
meat and poultry are also making a mark in foodservice. One technology
provider says his firm irradiates chicken for several fairly large restaurant
chains, and some wholesalers using his facility are also irradiating products
for a variety of foodservice clients.
Meanwhile
Minneapolis, MN-based American Dairy Queen Corp. continues to expand its test
of irradiated hamburgers at Dairy Queen system restaurants. "We
currently have over 100 stores on test in Minnesota," says Dean Peters,
director of communications. "Several days ago, five stores in the Sioux
Falls, SD area joined the test...our first out-of- state stores.
"Although we're still in a test phase, we're looking to expand into
eastern North Dakota, and this spring we'll look at additional markets
—one in the northeastern United States, the other in the southwest,"
Peters says.
And
the Embers America restaurant chain, which operates 60 full-service
restaurants throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa,
introduced its irradiated-beef Embergers in mid-December to all of its
full-service restaurants.
Proponents
applaud the gains made in food irradiation last year, and they say to expect
bigger and better things this year.
Not
Just For Retail:
Irradiated ground beef is also growing at foodservice as more distributors
recognize the benefits of this food safety option. (February 2003) National
PROVISIONER:
Distribution
of irradiated ground beef continues to rapidly expand at the supermarket
level, but it is also quietly and steadily growing at foodservice.
Minneapolis, MN-based WW Johnson Meat Co., which services schools, restaurants,
and foodservice distributors, is experiencing steady growth of its irradiated
meat offerings.
This
family-owned business primarily sells fresh ground beef in bulk and patty
form, plus a small amount of frozen J ground beef. It is a private-label
manufacturer for major IR players in food distribution including Sysco Foods
and U.S. Foods. Much of its product is USDA Choice cut from steers. Grinding
to specifications, the company's main blends are 80, 81-, 85-, and
90-percent lean.
Introduced
in April 2001, the company's fresh, irradiated ground beef totaled just 2
percent of overall tonnage one year later. Today, about 10 per-.cent of its
total annual ground beef production of 30 million pounds is irradiated — and
this volume is expected to continue growing. Within the next several months,
the company expects that its irradiated products will be distributed in all 48
states in the continental United States.
"We
have about 40 distributors now offering our irradiated products, and we're
continually adding new ones," explains Bruce Elford, sales manager.
"We believe irradiated fresh ground beef has the potential to eventually
amount to one-hundred percent of our tonnage."
Enhances
food safety, expands shelf-life
When
asked why the company began offering irradiated fresh ground beef, Elford says
primarily to enhance food safety. "We felt that with premium-quality
products and the added safety aspects of food irradiation, the SureBeam
electron-beam process was a perfect fit for us," Elford adds. But
there's another plus in incorporating the e-beam process. "To the great
satisfaction of our customers, SureBeam-processed products not only enhance
safety but they also afford our clients another extraordinary benefit: the
ability to choose better-tasting, longer-lasting, fresh ground beef rather
than having to resort to frozen product to achieve extended
shelf-life," said Thomas M. Racciatti, company president, in February
2002.
Normal
shelf-life for Johnson's fresh patties ranges from 14 to 18 days, Elford says.
"Now we're seeing 35 to 40 days [for irradiated patties],"
he adds.
The
company's partnership with SureBeam is the result of a chance meeting between
Elford and one SureBeam executive on a flight. "We had heard of SureBeam
and about other technology providers offering gamma ray and x-ray
irradiation services," Elford says. "SureBeam was very aggressive in
moving into retail and foodservice. We did a lot of testing with e-beam
technology, and we felt electron-beam was the best type of irradiation since
it uses ordinary electricity as its energy source. We also felt there was a
nice fit between SureBeam and us."
SureBeam's
Glendale Heights, IL, facility treats company products heading east and its
Sioux City, IA, facility irradiates products distributed in the Midwest and
west. "There is an added insurance cost, so to speak, for irradiating
product, but the foodservice trade is rapidly recognizing the benefits,"
Elford says. "One by one, they are coming aboard."
Critic
says; “Food Irradiation Not the Answer”:
(March 14, 2003) The Review (Niagara Falls, Ontario) Via FSNET: Suzanne
Elston writes that the legacy of the Walkerton tragedy has extended far beyond
our concerns for water safety and that there is a growing paranoia among
Canadian consumers about food safety in general, resulting in a whole new line
of consumers products on store shelves.
Elston
says that items such as single-use disposable chopping boards and facecloths,
along with various forms of hand sanitizers and anti-bacterial sprays are
becoming popular retail items. But rather than promote proper food safety and
handling techniques, these unnecessary and costly products are doing little
more than fanning the fires of paranoia, while increasing corporate profits.
This
increasing public concern has also given new life to an old technology that is
rapidly gaining support within the Canadian scientific and medical
communities. Food irradiation has been around since the early 20th century.
It
was first used in 1908 when a farmer used X-rays to kill tobacco pests. Food
irradiation, says Elston, is hardly a replacement for proper food handling.
More importantly, irradiating food does not completely eliminate hardier
bacteria, such as the one that causes botulism. The danger to consumers
doesn't stop there. Irradiation doesn't prevent bacteria from re-contaminating
food once it has been irradiated.
World Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003
at Chicago: The World Irradiation Congress is scheduled
for May 5 to 7, 2003, at Chicago's McCormick Place. The international event
will provide a comprehensive technical and scientific forum to promote the
technology and benefits of food irradiation around the globe. The congress
will examine the future of food irradiation in a comprehensive program that
includes analysis of the: Global situation and outlook on the use of
irradiation as a sanitary and phytosanitary treatment; Major markets and
market trends; Technological developments, such as irradiation facilities and
quality assurance; Investment opportunities; A visit to a commercial food
irradiator; a buyer-seller business conference and technical sessions.
The keynote speaker on May 5 (Monday) will be Dr. Elsa Murano, USDA
Undersecretary for Food Safety, speaking on "Food safety from farm to
fork: the role of food irradiation."
Other top speakers include the CEOS of FMI and GMA; the presidents of IFT and
the International Union of Food Science and Technology; the director of
National Food Safety & Toxicology Center at Michigan State University; and
top officials from the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, the International Consultative Group on
Food Irradiation, the Minnesota Beef Council and such companies as Huisken
Meat Co., International Dairy Queen Inc., Food Technology Service Inc. and
Hawaii Pride Inc.
For
more information and to register, contact:
The National Food Safety &
Toxicology Center
Michigan State University
165 Food Safety & Toxicology
Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1302
517/432-3100
Website: www.foodsafe.msu.edu/Congress/congress.html
or www.foodsafe.msu.edu.
Updated List of
Restaurants and Retailers Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef
(Updated
March 21, 2003)
Shaw's
Supermarkets Inc. based in Massachusetts joined
the growing group of retailers selling irradiated ground beef, on March 16th.
Shaw’s has 185 Shaw's and Star Market stores in six New England states.
Shaw's began offering irradiated fresh and frozen ground beef in one-pound
packages of 80 percent lean ground chuck and 93 percent lean ground beef
produced by Swift & Company.
BI-LO supermarkets based in Mauldin, SC is offering two SureBeam
labeled irradiated ground beef products in the fresh beef counter, as well as
one selection of frozen ground beef patties in the freezer section.
BI-LO is selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef in one-pound case- ready
packages of 85-percent and 93-percent lean as well as SureBeam processed
frozen ground beef patties.
BI-LO
Supermarkets is one of six retail-operating companies under Ahold-USA, one of
the leading supermarket operations in the U.S. Based in Mauldin, South
Carolina, BI-LO currently operates 302 supermarkets and 142 Golden Gallon
convenience stores employing over 27,000 associates.
www.BI-LO.com
Bruno's
Supermarkets, with
over 170 supermarkets, is the first retailer in the South to offer fresh
ground beef products processed with SureBeam Corporation's electron beam
technology. All retailers
operated by Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc., including Bruno's, Food World, FoodMax,
Food Fair and Fresh Value began offering fresh irradiated ground beef on March
11, 2003. Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc. is one of six retail-operating companies
under Ahold-USA, one of the leading supermarket operations in the U.S. Bruno's
currently operates over 170 supermarkets in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and
Mississippi.
Big
Y Supermarkets,
based in Springfield, Massachusetts, began selling fresh irradiated ground
beef on March 12, 2003. Big Y is one of the fastest growing retail supermarket
chains in the United States, and holds a market share in its primary market
throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts of 23%.
Marsh
Supermarkets Inc.
began selling SureBeam® processed fresh ground beef at 67 Marsh Supermarkets
throughout Indiana and Western Ohio. Marsh began offering case-ready fresh
ground beef processed with SureBeam electron beam technology on Wednesday,
March 12, 2003. Marsh
Supermarkets, one of the largest regional grocery chains in the United states,
operates 67 Marsh Supermarkets, 35 LoBill Food Stores, 3 Savin*$, 8 O’Malia
Food Markets and 167 Village Pantryâ convenience stores in central Indiana
and western Ohio,
Fitz,
Vogt & Associates,
an institutional foodservice management company based in the Northeast,
announced that it will begin using irradiated ground beef throughout its
facilities. The rollout makes the $35 million, Walpole, N.H.-based company the
first noncommercial operator to offer irradiated beef. Most of FVA's 140
accounts are in assisted living facilities and schools throughout New England
and the Mid-Atlantic. To date, 30 FVA accounts, primarily assisted living
facilities, are using the irradiated ground beef product and the rollout will
expand to other accounts including summer camp cafeterias.
Chronological
List of Restaurants and Retailers Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef:
Huisken
Meat Company of Sauk Rapids,
MN began marketing frozen irradiated patties in May 2000. From an initial
distribution of 84 stores in the Twin Cities, distribution has grown to
thousands of stores in 30+ states. Huisken reported sales growth of 35 percent
in 2001 compared to 2000 and a 25 percent increase through June 2002. Huisken
Meat Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of JNR Holding Company, which also
owns Rochester Meat Company in Rochester, MN and Whiteford Food Products, Inc.
at Versailles, OH. Huiskens may be contacted at (320) 259-0305.
SuperValu
based in Eden Prairie, MN was one of the first supermarket chains in the US to
offer irradiated ground beef when they introduced Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in the Twin Cities on May 16, 2000. SuperValu is one of the largest
companies in the United States grocery channel. With annual revenues in excess
of $20 billion, Supervalu holds leading market share positions with its 1,260
retail grocery locations, including licensed Save-A-Lot locations. In
addition, the company provides distribution and related logistics support
services to approximately 4,280 grocery retail outlets.
Rainbow
Foods, a
Fleming Company based in Minneapolis, with 42 stores in Minnesota and 2 in
Wisconsin, shared the honor of being first to offer Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in the Twin Cities area. Rainbow has offered Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties (90/10 and regular ground beef) since May 16, 2000. Rainbow also
markets SureBeam processed papaya.
Cub
Foods based
in Stillwater, MN, was one of the first retailers in the US to offer
irradiated ground beef when they introduced Huisken BeSure irradiated patties
in the Twin Cities on May 16, 2000. Cub Foods has stores in Minnesota,
Wisconsin, Illinois and Colorado.
Schwan's
based in Marshall, MN, began to sell irradiated frozen patties nationwide
through home delivery in late May 2000. All fresh/frozen ground beef at
Schwan’s is irradiated. Schwan’s markets irradiated ground chuck and
quarter pound patties in 3 pound packages. For delivery of Schwan’s
irradiated burgers to your doorstep phone; 1.888. Schwans or log on to http://www.schwans.com/.
Nash
Finch based
in Minneapolis, MN began marketing Huisken BeSure irradiated beef patties
during the summer of 2000. Nash Finch Company is one of the leading food
retail and distribution companies in the United States, with over $4.1 billion
in annual revenues. Nash Finch owns and operates a base of 112 retail stores,
principally supermarkets under the AVANZA,
Buy·n·Save, Econofoods and Sun Mart trade names. In addition to its
retail operations, Nash Finch Company's food distribution business serves
independent retailers and military commissaries in 28 states, the District of
Columbia and Europe.
Omaha
Steaks has
marketed irradiated frozen patties since the summer of 2000. All ground beef
from Omaha Steaks is SureBeam processed. To place an order for Omaha Steaks’
irradiated burgers phone 1.800.228.9872 or by logging on at www.omahasteaks.com.
W.W.
Johnson, a
Minneapolis-based private label foodservice company established in 1946, began
to offer SureBeam
processed fresh
irradiated ground beef in patties and 10 pound rolls in May 2001. W.W. Johnson
private labels fresh ground beef for national and regional foodservice
distributors and chains including Sysco, US Foodservice, Rhinehart, Upper
Lakes Foods and Fraboni's. Sales of irradiated product through W.W. Johnson
are coast to coast and expanding steadily. About 10 percent of W.W.
Johnson’s production is irradiated. Contact W.W. Johnson at 1.612.721.6792.
Sysco:
Currently 28 Sysco Foodservice Distribution Centers are offering SureBeam
processed ground beef to various foodservice establishments. Some
of the areas with irradiated ground beef are Portland, ME; Kent, WA; Billings,
MT; Milwaukee, WI, Cleveland and Cincinnati, OH.
Winn
Dixie
based in Jacksonville, Florida operates 1060 stores in the Southeast and began
marketing Huisken BeSure irradiated patties in late 2001 and early 2002.
Kroger
began marketing Excel’s “Fairfield Farms” fresh ground beef at about a
dozen stores in February 2002 in the Peoria, Illinois area.
Schnuck's
stores in Illinois and Missouri began marketing Excel’s “Fairfield
Farms” fresh ground beef in February 2002 and in February 2003 expanded the
offering of irradiated ground beef to include fresh ground beef chubs
("chub" refers to the plastic packaging, similar to that of pork
sausage) supplied by Excel, a of Wichita, Kan subsidiary of Minnesota-based
Cargill.
International
Dairy Queen
based in Edina, MN began a test at two stores (Hutchinson and Spicer, MN) in
February 2002, and is now offering SureBeam processed irradiated
patties at nearly 100 Minnesota and South Dakota stores following a very
successful expansion in Central Minnesota (May) and the Twin Cities area
(July/August). The number of Dairy Queens offering SureBeam processed ground
beef from Birchwood Foods (Kenosha Beef) is steadily expanding. Dairy
Queen’s impressive point of sale materials including tray liners, table
tents and signage are a model for all restaurants to follow.
Wegmans
Food Markets,
based in Rochester, N.Y. in May 2002, became the first supermarket chain in
the nation to introduce irradiated fresh ground beef under its own
private-label brand—Wegmans Brand Irradiated Fresh Ground Beef. The new
line, produced at Excel Corp.'s Dodge City, Kan. plant, is available in 90/10
(90 percent lean/10 percent fat) and 80/20 packages, and is selling for 10 to
30 cents more a pound than ordinary fresh ground beef. Wegmans currently
operates 64 stores in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and irradiated
product is now being sold at all of its stores, Wegmans is no newcomer in
offering irradiated products. In May 2001, it introduced Fairview Farms
irradiated frozen ground beef patties, and its also carries a few irradiated
produce items in select stores. Wegmans reports that 15% of their ground beef
sales are irradiated with individual stores reporting that sales of irradiated
product are 45% of ground beef sales.
Lowes
Foods,
based in Winston-Salem, N.C. began offering SureBeam processed irradiated
fresh, ground beef to consumers at 48 of its 105 stores in early September
2002. Products are being offered in 1-pound packages of 93-percent lean ground
beef and in 93-percent lean ground-beef patties.
D'Agostino
Supermarkets
in September, began offering SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef
in several case-ready product formats. This chain operates 23 stores in New
York City and suburban Westchester County.
Pathmark
Supermarkets, one of the top 15 supermarket retailers in the countries with
stores in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, announced it would sell
SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef in several case-ready
offerings early in October.
Farm
Fresh Supermarkets
of Hampton Roads, Virginia in October became the first food retailer in that
area to offer case-ready fresh ground beef processed with SureBeam Corp.'s
electron-beam food irradiation technology. A SuperValu Company, Farm Fresh has
37 stores located throughout Hampton Roads. Farm Fresh is selling its
irradiated, fresh ground beef in five packages--1 and 3-pound packages in
80-percent and 93-percent lean, as well as 1-pound packages in 85-percent
lean.
Champps: Two Milwaukee area Champps began serving SureBeam processed
irradiated ground beef in September 2002.
L
& L Packing Company
based in Chicago markets Quintessence Foods SureBeam processed frozen patties
known as “Grandma Burgers.”
Price
Chopper based
in Schenectady, N.Y. began selling irradiated fresh-ground beef in four
varieties that includes 1- and 3-pound packages of 80-percent and 93-percent
lean during October 2002. Price Chopper operates 102 stores system-wide and is
a leading food retailer in a six state region including New York, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Pennsylvania.
Hy-Vee
Supermarkets
began selling SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef from IBP on
October 14, 2002 in five packages: 85- and 90-percent lean tray packs, 85- and
90-percent lean rolls and 93-percent lean patties. Des Moines, Iowa-based
Hy-Vee is one of the nation's top 15 supermarket retailers and operates 188
stores in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and
Minnesota.
Clemens
Family Markets
of Philadelphia, with 19 stores in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware
Counties in Pennsylvania, began to offer SureBeam-processed case-ready fresh
ground beef in late October. Clemens
is selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef in one-pound case-ready
packages in 85-percent, 90-percent and 93-percent lean. Their case-ready
packages provide the customer a complete view of the product through a clear
cellophane covering. Clemens is a family-owned, regional supermarket business
currently celebrating their 63rd
year in business.
Giant
Foods
of Landover, MD became the first food retailer in the Baltimore-Washington,
D.C., to offer irradiated fresh ground beef on November 5, 2002. Giant stores
are selling two SureBeam-labeled irradiated ground beef products: 93 percent
lean and 85 percent lean. Giant Foods, a member of the Ahold USA group,
operates 189 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and the
District of Columbia and employs more than 27,000 associates.
Fresh
Brands, Inc.
a supermarket retailer and grocery wholesaler based in Wisconsin, in December 2002,
began offering fresh irradiated ground beef through
corporate-owned retail, franchised and independent supermarkets. Stores are
located throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois under the Piggly Wiggly
and Dick's Supermarkets brands. Fresh Brands currently has 74
franchised Piggly Wiggly supermarkets, 27 corporate-owned Piggly Wiggly and
Dick's Supermarkets and two distribution centers. The company controls
nearly $1 billion in retail grocery sales.
Embers America Inc.,
a St. Paul, MN-based chain of full-service, family-style restaurants, has
introduced a line of irradiated hamburgers.
The famous Ember Burger is now irradiated. The
family-owned company, has 65 restaurants that are mostly franchisee operated,
and has branches throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa.
Embers America is the first full-service restaurant chain to offer irradiated
meat.
Lunds/Byerly’s based in Edina, MN introduced Fairfield Farms brand
fresh irradiated ground chuck at all locations in early November 2002. Lunds/Byerly’s
was one of the first supermarket chains to sell Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in May 2000. Byerly’s operates 11 stores in the Twin Cities and one
in St. Cloud. Lund’s has 8 stores in the Twin Cities area.
Jewel-Osco,
a 191-store unit of Boise, Idaho-based Albertson's Inc., started selling
irradiated ground beef at Chicago stores and some other locations on November
13th.
Hannaford
and
Shop'n Save Supermarkets based in Scarborough, Maine began offering
case-ready irradiated fresh ground beef in 117 stores in Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, New York and Massachusetts in early November. The irradiated product
is offered in 93% and 85% lean fresh ground beef products in 1-lb., case-ready
packages.
Pick
'n Save, the
retail division of Roundy's Inc., based in Pewaukee, WI, began offering a
limited supply of one-pound packs of irradiated fresh ground beef in November
2003. Nine other Pick 'n Save stores are also participating in the test sale.
Tim Wade, vice president of perishables for Pick 'n Save's parent, was quoted
as saying, "We felt these markets were a good cross section of
Wisconsin."
Tops
Markets based
in Amherst, NY, began
selling fresh irradiated ground beef in mid January. Tops is selling both 85
percent lean and 90 percent lean irradiated fresh ground beef. The irradiated
meat will make up about 5 percent of the ground beef offered at Tops,
according to the Amherst-based company. Tops
Markets, LLC is one of six retail operating companies under Ahold USA, one of
the leading supermarket operations in the U.S. Tops currently operates
156 Tops Friendly Markets in New York, Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio.
Giant
Eagle Inc.
began offering irradiated ground beef on Jan. 12th. Giant Eagle, Inc., ranked
22 on Forbes magazine's largest private corporations list and recently named
Progressive Grocer's Retailer of the Year, is one of the nation's largest food
retailers and food distributors with over $4.4 billion in annual sales.
Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle, Inc. has grown to be the number one supermarket
retailer in the region with 124 corporate and 89 independently owned and
operated stores throughout western Pennsylvania, Ohio, north central West
Virginia, and Maryland. Giant Eagle is the first in that region to offer
irradiated meat products in the form of 80 percent lean/20 percent fat and 93
percent lean/7 percent fat ground beef. Educational point-of-purchase
brochures and signs introduced meat department customers to the concept and
safety benefits of irradiated ground beef, nattily packaged in opaque,
one-pound tubes similar to ready-to-bake cookie dough.
Schnuck
Markets Inc.
became the first supermarket chain in the St. Louis area on January 13th to
sell irradiated fresh ground beef and frozen beef patties. Schnucks is selling
fresh ground beef chubs ("chub" refers to the plastic packaging,
similar to that of pork sausage) supplied by Excel, a subsidiary of Cargill of
Wichita, KS and frozen beef patties which come from Huiskens of Sauk Rapids,
Minn. The SureBeam Corporation of San Diego, Calif. will irradiate the ground
beef and beef patties in their Sioux City, Iowa facility. Schnucks first offered SureBeam irradiated ground beef in its
Peoria and Pekin, Ill. stores last winter. While sales of the product met
Schnucks expectations, a company spokesman says education is the key to
greater acceptance Schnuck Markets, Inc. currently operates 102 stores and 93
pharmacies in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Tennessee and
Mississippi. This includes five stores that operate as Logli Supermarkets and
a stand-alone Sentry drug store. Schnuck Markets, Inc. is currently ranked 83rd
in the Forbes Magazine listing of the nation's "Top 500 Private
Companies."
Publix
supermarkets began selling New Generation brand irradiated frozen ground beef
patties, boneless chicken breasts and chicken tenders from Colorado Boxed Beef
Company on January 13th. The Lakeland, Fla.-based chain will also consider
offering fresh irradiated products in the future. New Generation-brand
products are processed by Food Technology Service Inc., a Mulberry,
Fla.-based, gamma-source irradiation facility. Publix, with 711 stores in
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and in Tennessee later this year, is
owned by its more than 119,000 employees and posted 2001 sales of $15.3
billion. www.publix.com.
Safeway
Eastern Division
began offering fresh irradiated ground beef on January 27th at all
136 supermarkets in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, D.C. Safeway's
Eastern Division employs approximately 11,000 people and operates 136 stores,
including 16 in the District of Columbia, 75 in Maryland, 44 in Virginia and
one in Delaware.
Dierbergs
Markets of
St. Louis, MO added two new electronically irradiated fresh ground beef items
to its meat department on February 1, 2003. Dierbergs new items, a fresh
93-percent lean ground beef and an 85- one-pound packages of 85-percent and
93-percent lean. percent lean ground round, which are supplied by Excel,
from its processing plant in Dodge City, Kan. Dierbergs operate 19
stores in the St. Louis area.
Weis
Markets, Inc.
became
the first retailer in Central Pennsylvania to market irradiated ground beef in
the Central Pennsylvania area on February 2nd. The
irradiated fresh ground beef will be provided by SureBeam Corp., packaged in 1
pound trays - 85 percent lean and 1 pound packages - 93 percent lean patties. Founded
in 1912, Weis Markets currently operates 160 stores in six states:
Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia.
Giant
Food Stores,
based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on February 3, 2003, joined the rapidly
growing list of retailers offering SureBeam processed fresh ground beef. Giant
is offering irradiated fresh ground beef
in one-pound packages of 85-percent and 93-percent lean. The
chain operates a total of 113 stores in four states, under the name GIANT Food
Stores in Pennsylvania, and under the name MARTIN'S Food Markets in
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. GIANT Food
Stores is a part of Royal Ahold, a Netherlands based company. Ahold is a
leading food provider in the United States and elsewhere with total sales of
approximately USD 52 billion. Over 60% of its worldwide sales are
currently generated in the United States. GIANT Food Stores, LLC employs over
20,000.
ShopRite
supermarkets of Edison, NJ, the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the
United States began selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef products in
one-pound case-ready packages of 85-percent and 93-percent lean, as well as
one- and three-pound chub packages in 85-percent and 93-percent lean on
February 5, 2003. From a small, struggling cooperative with seven members –
all owners of their own grocery stores – Wakefern has grown into the largest
retailer-owned cooperative in the United States and one of the largest
employers in New Jersey. The cooperative is comprised of 38 members who
individually own and operate supermarkets under the ShopRite banner. Today, Wakefern
Food Corporation, the merchandising and distribution arm of the company,
and the 200 ShopRite stores located throughout New Jersey, New York,
Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware, employs more than 40,000 people. In
1999, America’s Second Harvest recognized ShopRite as the Grocery
Distributor of the year.
Associated
Wholesalers, Inc.,
based in Robesonia, Pennsylvania, began offering SureBeam processed fresh
ground beef products in one-pound case-ready packages of 85-percent and
93-percent lean, and 93-percent lean patties on February 12, 2003. Currently,
52 central Pennsylvania stores offer case-ready fresh ground beef processed
with electron beam technology. Associated Wholesalers, Inc. operates as a
cooperative food distributor and related products provider. The company also
operates facilities in York, Pennsylvania and Scranton, Pennsylvania with
customers located in seven states including Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, West Virginia, New York, and New Jersey. Member/shareholders operate
supermarkets, superettes, convenience stores, mass discounters and other
retail formats.
Foodtown
located in New Jersey and New York introduced irradiated fresh ground beef at
all stores in January. Foodtown operates stores in eastern New Jersey, Long
Island, the Bronx and the Westchester and Yonkers area.
Stop
& Shop, Inc. operates 326 supermarkets
in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. Stop &
Shop is a multibillion-dollar corporation and the largest food retailer in New
England and employs 41,000 associates in its network of stores, distribution
centers, manufacturing plants and offices, which stretch across more than 180
communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Rhode
Island.
Copps Food Markets of Wisconsin has begun to market irradiated ground
beef at all 21 Wisconsin stores.
Lombardi
Brothers Meats of Minneapolis foodservice provider is marketing
two irradiated ground beef products. Lombardi markets a 2:1 (1/2 pound) and a
3:1 (1/3 pound) ground beef products.
Performance
Food Group (PFG), Richmond,
Virginia has become the nation’s first foodservice provider to market their
own private-label line of irradiated frozen ground beef products. PFG will
offer 10 skus at the onset. The new products will be packed under PFG’s West
Creek label by Rochester Meats and boasts a new trademarked “Smart Shield”
food safety logo. Product launch is scheduled for mid-February.
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:
Texarkana, AR; April 5-6: American National CattleWomen Region IV Workshop
Harrisburg, PA; April 24, 2003: Central Atlantic States' Association of Food
and Drug Officials
Monterey, CA: April 28-29: American National CattleWomen Region VI Workshop
Bismarck, ND: April 30, 2003: North Dakota Long Term Care Association
Convention
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
Jackson, MS; June 12, 2003: Mississippi Beef Council/Cattlemen’s Irradiation
Workshop
Starkville,
MS; June 13, 2003: American National CattleWomen Regional Workshop
Ft.
Pierre, SD; June 20-22: American National CattleWomen Region VII Workshop
New Ulm, MN; June 27, 2003: Hub Club Farm/City Celebration
St.
Paul, MN; July 9, 2003: Minnesota Food & Nutrition Network Meeting
Green
Bay, WI; July 13-15, 2003: National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Jasper, IN; Sept. 23, 2003: Indiana Environmental Health Association
Conference
Ronald F. Eustice
Executive Director
Minnesota Beef Council
2850 Metro Drive # 426
Bloomington, MN 55425
USA
Phone: 952/854-6980
Fax: 952/854-6906
Website:
www.mnbeef.org
FOOD
IRRADIATION UPDATE
MARCH 14, 2003
Food
Irradiation Update is published by the Minnesota Beef Council
Bruno's
Supermarkets First to Offer Irradiated Fresh Ground Beef in South
Marsh to Begin Selling Irradiated Ground Beef
Big Y Offers
Surebeam(R) Processed Fresh Ground Beef
Food Technology Service Completes Facility Upgrades
USDA
Nears Decision on School Irradiated Meat Plan
Upcoming
Irradiation Workshop in Raleigh, North Carolina
European Commission Debunks Public Citizen's Latest Fear Campaign
World
Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003 at Chicago
Updated List of Restaurants and Retailers Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef
Food Irradiation Education Activities
Bruno's
Supermarkets First to Offer Surebeam(r) Processed Fresh ground Beef in South
(March 11, 2003) VIA FSNET: Bruno's Supermarkets, with over 170 supermarkets, is
the first retailer in the South to offer fresh ground beef products processed
with SureBeam Corporation's electron beam technology.
All
retailers operated by Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc., including Bruno's, Food World,
FoodMax, Food Fair and Fresh Value began offering fresh irradiated ground beef
on March 11, 2003. Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc. is one of six retail-operating
companies under Ahold-USA, one of the leading supermarket operations in the U.S.
Bruno's currently operates
over 170 supermarkets in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. It should be
noted that Winn Dixie became the first supermarket chain to in the South to
offer irradiated ground beef when Huisken BeSure frozen patties were introduced
in early 2002.
Marsh
to Begin Selling Irradiated Ground Beef:
Indianapolis Star (March 11, 2003) By Dana Knight
For a
beefed-up price, Indianapolis consumers on Wednesday can begin buying meat
that's guaranteed 99.9 percent free of deadly bacteria such as E. coli, Listeria
and Salmonella. Marsh Supermarkets Inc. said Monday it will sell SureBeam
processed fresh ground beef, better known as irradiated meat, at its 67 stores.
Marsh
is the first grocer in central Indiana to sell the meat, which will be offered
in one-pound, case-ready packages of 81 percent lean ground chuck and 93 percent
lean ground beef. The price will average 50 cents to 80 cents more per pound.
"The
higher (price) will be worth it to a lot of consumers because they can rest
assured that it's safe," said Scott Gilliam, director of the Indiana State
Department of Health's Food Protection Program. "I don't think they say
it's zero chance of being contaminated, but it's 99.9999 percent effective in
removing those organisms."
The
process by which SureBeam works is much like thermal pasteurization of milk. An
electron beam emits high doses of radiation to the beef, destroying the cell DNA
of the bacterial organisms. That prevents those organisms from reproducing, and
the cells die. The radiation isn't a high enough dosage to affect the quality of
the beef and it doesn't alter the taste, said Gilliam.
"Consumers
are taking an increasingly active interest in the safety of their food,"
said Larry Oberkfell, president, chairman and chief executive officer of
SureBeam.
Marsh
stores are among more than 2,800 using the technology. "Our main reason was
for the customer, to give them another choice," said Marsh spokeswoman Jodi
Marsh. "They love ground beef and the taste and the quality. They would
prefer to have a brand like SureBeam on the package."
Marsh's
biggest competitor, The Kroger Co., began testing the SureBeam process in 2001
in Peoria, Ill.
"Although
Marsh is trying it now, we've kind of been there," said Jeff Golc,
spokesman for the company.
Now
Kroger is evaluating results of the trials as well as consumer demand to
determine whether it will begin offering the meat at other stores, including
Indianapolis locations, Golc said.
Big
Y Offers Surebeam(R) Processed Fresh Ground Beef (March 12, 2003) From a press release
SAN DIEGO -- SureBeam Corporation (Nasdaq: SURE) announced today that consumers
can now buy SureBeam(R) processed fresh ground beef at 48 Big Y Supermarkets
throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts. Big Y is selling fresh ground
beef products processed with SureBeam Corporation's
revolutionary electron beam technology, a process that uses ordinary electricity
to safely eliminate the threat of dangerous bacteria from food products.
Big Y
is selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef in one-pound case-ready packages
of 85-percent and 90-percent lean. These two products add to the existing
SureBeam treated frozen ground beef patties Big Y has been offering since last
year.
Big
Y's entry into the market brings to over 3,775 the total number of stores in the
Midwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southern states offering SureBeam processed
fresh ground beef. This is in addition to the thousands of supermarkets
providing SureBeam processed frozen hamburger patties, which are also provided
through home delivery, direct mail and food service. Based in Springfield,
Massachusetts, Big Y is one of the fastest growing retail supermarket chains in
the United States, and holds a market share in its primary market of Connecticut
and Massachusetts of 23%..
Food
Technology Service Completes Facility Upgrades;
(March 13, 2003)
by Dan Murphy for www.meatingplace.com
Technology
Service has completed the first of two phases of planned improvements to the
company's irradiation facility at its headquarters in Mulberry, Fla., according
to a news release.
The first phase improvements include the installation of additional cobalt 60
energy source to increase the processing capacity of the plant by about 75
percent.
The improvements also enhance the ability of the plant to store frozen and
refrigerated products. The second phase will be completed in the next few months
and involves the installation of additional cobalt 60 energy source.
"When both phases are completed we will have nearly doubled our processing
capacity," said Dr. Richard Hunter, CEO of Food Technology Service, Inc.
"These improvements allow us to satisfy a growing demand for irradiated
fresh and frozen meat products," said Hunter.
Food Technology Service board chairman Tom Daw said that the company obtained
short-term financing and commitments from customers that "provide the
revenues needed to satisfy those loans.
USDA
Nears Decision on School Irradiated Meat Plan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) said on Thursday consumer advocates and industry groups must submit by
April 11 their comments on how to introduce irradiated meat into the national
school lunch program.
Irradiation, which has been endorsed by the World Health
Organization, exposes food to low doses of electrons or gamma rays to destroy
potentially deadly microorganisms such as E. coli O157:H7 and salmonella. It
causes chemical changes but does not leave food radioactive. Congress last year
required the USDA to allow government-approved food safety technologies such as
irradiation to be used in commodities purchased by the federal school lunch
program.
Some 27 million school children receive free or low-cost
meals daily in the program, which currently prohibits irradiated meat.
USDA officials had hoped to implement the measure by the end
of last year, but it has since been delayed.
Since the USDA invited public input in November, thousands
of parents have submitted comments criticizing the proposal to allow irradiated
meat. They claim their children will be used as "guinea pigs," saying
not enough research has been conducted on irradiation to assure its safety.
Meat industry officials have dismissed the letters, saying they were organized by the Washington-based consumer advocacy group Public Citizen and do not represent overall public opinion. Seeking a compromise, some industry groups have recommended that the USDA implement pilot programs to introduce irradiated meat gradually to school cafeterias.
Upcoming Irradiation Workshop in North Carolina
—The North Carolina Cattlemen’s Beef Council is hosting an Irradiation
Workshop on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm at the Wake County
Office Park - Commons Building - Room 100-B, 4011 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC
27610. Speakers and presentations will include: Dr. Pamela
Jenkins, North Carolina Department of Health, Dr. Dana Hanson, Assistant
Professor – Extension Specialist Food Science, North Carolina State
University,
Michelle
Torno, R.D. MN Beef Council, Ron Eustice, Exec. Dir., MN Beef Council and Dr.
Steve Wells, North Carolina Director, Meat and Poultry Inspection Services.
Space is limited, only those with reservations will be able to attend.
Please call North Carolina Cattlemen’s Beef Council office at (919) 552-9111
to reserve your spot. Contact Sharon Rogers at ncbeef@nccattle.com
or Ron Eustice at reustice@mnbeef.orbis.net
European
Commission Debunks Public Citizen's Latest Fear Campaign (March 3, 2003): by
Daniel Yovich on for www.meatingplace.com
—European Commission says it is
wrong to conclude humans could be at risk from the consumption of irradiated
foods -- effectively debunking Public Citizen's latest campaign to ban the sale
and use of irradiated beef.
Last Thursday (Feb. 27) Public Citizen filed comments public with the FDA,
asking it deny five pending requests to irradiate packaged deli meats, frozen
meals and snacks. Public Citizen bolstered its arguments by citing a study by
French and German scientists. Funded by the European Union, Public Citizen
claimed the study concluded irradiation supposedly cause concentrations of
chemicals called 2-alkylcyclobutanones, or 2-ACBs, which French and German
scientists said causes colon cancer in rats.
The EC funded the study, and an EC review of the of the study and its scientific
methods concluded "it is not appropriate, on the basis of these results, to
make a risk assessment for human health associated with the consumption of
2-ACBs present in irradiated fat-containing foods." The review further
noted the "genotoxicity of 2-ACB's has not been established" by
generally accepted scientific methods.
In a news release forwarded to the media after the activist group registered its
comments with the FDA, Wenonah Hauter, director of Public Citizen's Critical
Mass Energy and Environment Program, called the FDA's review of the issue
"a moment of truth" and "the FDA can either preserve or gamble
with the health of the American people."
The EC said there is adequate reassurance the consumption of irradiated foods is
safe, based upon "the results of the large number of feeding studies
carried out with irradiated foods which formed the basis for the wholesomeness
assessments of irradiated foods published hitherto by the World Health
Organization, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Association, and the
International Atomic Energy Commission.
World Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003
at Chicago: The World Irradiation Congress is scheduled
for May 5 to 7, 2003, at Chicago's McCormick Place. The international event will
provide a comprehensive technical and scientific forum to promote the technology
and benefits of food irradiation around the globe. The congress will examine the
future of food irradiation in a comprehensive program that includes analysis of
the: Global situation and outlook on the use of irradiation as a sanitary and
phytosanitary treatment; Major markets and market trends; Technological
developments, such as irradiation facilities and quality assurance; Investment
opportunities; A visit to a commercial food irradiator; a buyer-seller business
conference and technical sessions.
The keynote speaker on May 5 (Monday) will be Dr. Elsa Murano, USDA
Undersecretary for Food Safety, speaking on "Food safety from farm to fork:
the role of food irradiation."
Other top speakers include the CEOS of FMI and GMA; the presidents of IFT and
the International Union of Food Science and Technology; the director of National
Food Safety & Toxicology Center at Michigan State University; and top
officials from the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, the International Consultative Group on Food
Irradiation, the Minnesota Beef Council and such companies as Huisken Meat Co.,
International Dairy Queen Inc., Food Technology Service Inc. and Hawaii Pride
Inc.
For
more information and to register, contact:
The
National Food Safety & Toxicology Center
Michigan
State University
165
Food Safety & Toxicology Building
Michigan
State University
East
Lansing, MI 48824-1302
517/432-3100
Website: www.foodsafe.msu.edu/Congress/congress.html
or www.foodsafe.msu.edu.
Updated List of
Restaurants and Retailers Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef
(Updated
March 14, 2003)
Bruno's
Supermarkets, with over 170 supermarkets, is the
first retailer in the South to offer fresh ground beef products processed with
SureBeam Corporation's electron beam technology. All retailers operated by Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc.,
including Bruno's, Food World, FoodMax, Food Fair and Fresh Value began offering
fresh irradiated ground beef on March 11, 2003. Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc. is
one of six retail-operating companies under Ahold-USA, one of the leading
supermarket operations in the U.S. Bruno's currently operates over 170
supermarkets in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi.
Big
Y Supermarkets,
based in Springfield, Massachusetts, began selling fresh irradiated ground beef
on March 12, 2003. Big Y is one of the fastest growing retail supermarket chains
in the United States, and holds a market share in its primary market throughout
Connecticut and Massachusetts of 23%.
Marsh
Supermarkets Inc.
began selling SureBeam® processed fresh ground beef at 67 Marsh Supermarkets
throughout Indiana and Western Ohio. Marsh began offering case-ready fresh
ground beef processed with SureBeam electron beam technology on Wednesday, March
12, 2003. Marsh
Supermarkets, one of the largest regional grocery chains in the United states,
operates 67 Marsh Supermarkets, 35 LoBill Food Stores, 3 Savin*$, 8 O’Malia
Food Markets and 167 Village Pantryâ convenience stores in central Indiana and
western Ohio,
Fitz,
Vogt & Associates,
an institutional foodservice management company based in the Northeast,
announced that it will begin using irradiated ground beef throughout its
facilities. The rollout makes the $35 million, Walpole, N.H.-based company the
first noncommercial operator to offer irradiated beef. Most of FVA's 140
accounts are in assisted living facilities and schools throughout New England
and the Mid-Atlantic. To date, 30 FVA accounts, primarily assisted living
facilities, are using the irradiated ground beef product and the rollout will
expand to other accounts including summer camp cafeterias.
Chronological
List of Restaurants and Retailers Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef:
Huisken
Meat Company of
Sauk Rapids, MN began marketing frozen irradiated patties in May 2000. From an
initial distribution of 84 stores in the Twin Cities, distribution has grown to
thousands of stores in 30+ states. Huisken reported sales growth of 35 percent
in 2001 compared to 2000 and a 25 percent increase through June 2002. Huisken
Meat Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of JNR Holding Company, which also
owns Rochester Meat Company in Rochester, MN and Whiteford Food Products, Inc.
at Versailles, OH. Huiskens may be contacted at (320) 259-0305.
SuperValu
based in Eden Prairie, MN was one of the first supermarket chains in the US to
offer irradiated ground beef when they introduced Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in the Twin Cities on May 16, 2000. SuperValu is one of the largest
companies in the United States grocery channel. With annual revenues in excess
of $20 billion, Supervalu holds leading market share positions with its 1,260
retail grocery locations, including licensed Save-A-Lot locations. In addition,
the company provides distribution and related logistics support services to
approximately 4,280 grocery retail outlets.
Rainbow
Foods, a
Fleming Company based in Minneapolis, with 42 stores in Minnesota and 2 in
Wisconsin, shared the honor of being first to offer Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in the Twin Cities area. Rainbow has offered Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties (90/10 and regular ground beef) since May 16, 2000. Rainbow also markets
SureBeam processed papaya.
Cub
Foods based in
Stillwater, MN, was one of the first retailers in the US to offer irradiated
ground beef when they introduced Huisken BeSure irradiated patties in the Twin
Cities on May 16, 2000. Cub Foods has stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois
and Colorado.
Schwan's
based in Marshall, MN, began to sell irradiated frozen patties nationwide
through home delivery in late May 2000. All fresh/frozen ground beef at
Schwan’s is irradiated. Schwan’s markets irradiated ground chuck and quarter
pound patties in 3 pound packages. For delivery of Schwan’s irradiated burgers
to your doorstep phone; 1.888. Schwans or log on to www.schwans.com.
Nash Finch based
in Minneapolis, MN began marketing Huisken BeSure irradiated beef patties during
the summer of 2000. Nash Finch Company is one of the leading food retail
and distribution companies in the United States, with over $4.1 billion in
annual revenues. Nash Finch owns and operates a base of 112 retail stores,
principally supermarkets under the AVANZA,
Buy·n·Save, Econofoods and Sun Mart trade names. In addition to its
retail operations, Nash Finch Company's food distribution business serves
independent retailers and military commissaries in 28 states, the District of
Columbia and Europe.
Omaha Steaks
has marketed irradiated frozen patties since the summer of 2000. All ground beef
from Omaha Steaks is SureBeam processed. To place an order for Omaha Steaks’
irradiated burgers phone 1.800.228.9872 or by logging on at www.omahasteaks.com.
W.W.
Johnson, a
Minneapolis-based private label foodservice company established in 1946, began
to offer SureBeam
processed fresh
irradiated ground beef in patties and 10 pound rolls in May 2001. W.W. Johnson
private labels fresh ground beef for national and regional foodservice
distributors and chains including Sysco, US Foodservice, Rhinehart, Upper Lakes
Foods and Fraboni's. Sales of irradiated product through W.W. Johnson are coast
to coast and expanding steadily. About 10 percent of W.W. Johnson’s production
is irradiated. Contact W.W. Johnson at 1.612.721.6792.
Sysco: Currently 28 Sysco Foodservice Distribution
Centers are offering SureBeam processed ground beef to various foodservice
establishments. Some
of the areas with irradiated ground beef are Portland, ME; Kent, WA; Billings,
MT; Milwaukee, WI, Cleveland and Cincinnati, OH.
Winn Dixie based in Jacksonville, Florida operates
1060 stores in the Southeast and began marketing Huisken BeSure
irradiated patties in late 2001 and early 2002.
Kroger
began marketing Excel’s “Fairfield Farms” fresh ground beef at about a
dozen stores in February 2002 in the Peoria, Illinois area.
Schnuck's
stores in Illinois and Missouri began marketing Excel’s “Fairfield Farms”
fresh ground beef in February 2002 and in February 2003 expanded the offering of
irradiated ground beef to include fresh ground beef chubs ("chub"
refers to the plastic packaging, similar to that of pork sausage) supplied by
Excel, a of Wichita, Kan subsidiary of Minnesota-based Cargill.
Dairy Queen
based in Edina, MN began a test at two stores (Hutchinson and Spicer, MN) in
February 2002, and is now offering SureBeam processed irradiated
patties at nearly 100 Minnesota and South Dakota stores following a very
successful expansion in Central Minnesota (May) and the Twin Cities area
(July/August). The number of Dairy Queens offering SureBeam processed ground
beef from Birchwood Foods (Kenosha Beef) is steadily expanding. Dairy Queen’s
impressive point of sale materials including tray liners, table tents and
signage are a model for all restaurants to follow.
Wegmans Food Markets, based in Rochester, N.Y. in May 2002,
became the first supermarket chain in the nation to introduce irradiated fresh
ground beef under its own private-label brand—Wegmans Brand Irradiated Fresh
Ground Beef. The new line, produced at Excel Corp.'s Dodge City, Kan. plant, is
available in 90/10 (90 percent lean/10 percent fat) and 80/20 packages, and is
selling for 10 to 30 cents more a pound than ordinary fresh ground beef. Wegmans
currently operates 64 stores in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and
irradiated product is now being sold at all of its stores, Wegmans is no
newcomer in offering irradiated products. In May 2001, it introduced Fairview
Farms irradiated frozen ground beef patties, and its also carries a few
irradiated produce items in select stores. Wegmans reports that 15% of their
ground beef sales are irradiated with individual stores reporting that sales of
irradiated product are 45% of ground beef sales.
Lowes
Foods,
based in Winston-Salem, N.C. began offering SureBeam processed irradiated fresh,
ground beef to consumers at 48 of its 105 stores in early September 2002.
Products are being offered in 1-pound packages of 93-percent lean ground beef
and in 93-percent lean ground-beef patties.
D'Agostino Supermarkets in September, began offering
SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef in several case-ready product
formats. This chain operates 23 stores in New York City and suburban Westchester
County.
Pathmark Supermarkets, one of the top 15 supermarket
retailers in the countries with stores in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
announced it would sell SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef in
several case-ready offerings early in October.
Farm
Fresh Supermarkets
of Hampton Roads, Virginia in October became the first food retailer in that
area to offer case-ready fresh ground beef processed with SureBeam Corp.'s
electron-beam food irradiation technology. A SuperValu Company, Farm
Fresh has 37 stores located throughout Hampton Roads.
Farm Fresh is selling its irradiated, fresh ground beef in five packages--1 and
3-pound packages in 80-percent and 93-percent lean, as well as 1-pound packages
in 85-percent lean.
Champps: Two Milwaukee area Champps began serving SureBeam processed
irradiated ground beef in September 2002.
L
& L Packing Company
based in Chicago markets Quintessence Foods SureBeam processed frozen patties
known as “Grandma Burgers.”
Price Chopper based in Schenectady, N.Y. began selling irradiated fresh-ground beef in four varieties that includes 1- and 3-pound packages of 80-percent and 93-percent lean during October 2002. Price Chopper operates 102 stores system-wide and is a leading food retailer in a six state region including New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Pennsylvania.
Hy-Vee
Supermarkets began
selling SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef from IBP on October 14,
2002 in five packages: 85- and 90-percent lean tray packs, 85- and 90-percent
lean rolls and 93-percent lean patties. Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee is one of
the nation's top 15 supermarket retailers and operates 188 stores in Iowa,
Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Clemens
Family Markets
of Philadelphia, with 19 stores in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware
Counties in Pennsylvania, began to offer SureBeam-processed case-ready fresh
ground beef in late October. Clemens
is selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef in one-pound case-ready packages
in 85-percent, 90-percent and 93-percent lean. Their case-ready packages
provide the customer a complete view of the product through a clear cellophane
covering. Clemens is a family-owned, regional supermarket business currently
celebrating their 63rd year
in business.
Giant
Foods of Landover, MD became the first food retailer in the
Baltimore-Washington, D.C., to offer irradiated fresh ground beef on November 5,
2002. Giant stores are selling two SureBeam-labeled irradiated ground beef
products: 93 percent lean and 85 percent lean.
Giant Food, a member of the Ahold USA group, operates
189 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and the District of
Columbia and employs more than 27,000 associates.
Fresh
Brands, Inc. a
supermarket retailer and grocery wholesaler based in Wisconsin, in December 2002,
began offering fresh irradiated ground beef through
corporate-owned retail, franchised and independent supermarkets. Stores are
located throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois under the Piggly Wiggly and
Dick's Supermarkets brands. Fresh Brands currently has 74 franchised
Piggly Wiggly supermarkets, 27 corporate-owned Piggly Wiggly and Dick's
Supermarkets and two distribution centers. The company controls nearly $1
billion in retail grocery sales.
Embers America Inc.,
a St. Paul, MN-based chain of full-service, family-style restaurants, has
introduced a line of irradiated hamburgers.
The famous Ember Burger is now irradiated. The
family-owned company, has 65 restaurants that are mostly franchisee operated,
and has branches throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Embers
America is the first full-service restaurant chain to offer irradiated meat.
Lunds/Byerly’s based in Edina, MN introduced Fairfield Farms brand
fresh irradiated ground chuck at all locations in early November 2002. Lunds/Byerly’s
was one of the first supermarket chains to sell Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in May 2000. Byerly’s operates 11 stores in the Twin Cities and one in
St. Cloud. Lund’s has 8 stores in the Twin Cities area.
Jewel-Osco,
a 191-store unit of Boise, Idaho-based Albertson's Inc., started selling
irradiated ground beef at Chicago stores and some other locations on November
13th.
Hannaford
and Shop'n Save Supermarkets based in Scarborough, Maine began
offering case-ready irradiated fresh ground beef in 117 stores in Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Massachusetts in early November. The irradiated
product is offered in 93% and 85% lean fresh ground beef products in 1-lb.,
case-ready packages.
Pick
'n Save, the
retail division of Roundy's Inc., based in Pewaukee, WI, began offering a
limited supply of one-pound packs of irradiated fresh ground beef in November
2003. Nine other Pick 'n Save stores are also participating in the test sale.
Tim Wade, vice president of perishables for Pick 'n Save's parent, was quoted as
saying, "We felt these markets were a good cross section of
Wisconsin."
Tops
Markets based in Amherst, NY, began
selling fresh irradiated ground beef in mid January. Tops is selling both 85
percent lean and 90 percent lean irradiated fresh ground beef. The irradiated
meat will make up about 5 percent of the ground beef offered at Tops, according
to the Amherst-based company. Tops Markets, LLC is one of six
retail operating companies under Ahold USA, one of the leading supermarket
operations in the U.S. Tops currently operates 156 Tops Friendly Markets
in New York, Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio.
Giant
Eagle Inc. began offering irradiated ground beef
on Jan. 12th. Giant Eagle, Inc., ranked 22 on Forbes magazine's largest private
corporations list and recently named Progressive Grocer's Retailer of the Year,
is one of the nation's largest food retailers and food distributors with over
$4.4 billion in annual sales. Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle, Inc. has grown
to be the number one supermarket retailer in the region with 124 corporate and
89 independently owned and operated stores throughout western
Pennsylvania, Ohio, north central West Virginia, and Maryland. Giant Eagle is
the first in that region to offer irradiated meat products in the form of 80
percent lean/20 percent fat and 93 percent lean/7 percent fat ground beef.
Educational point-of-purchase brochures and signs introduced meat department
customers to the concept and safety benefits of irradiated ground beef, nattily
packaged in opaque, one-pound tubes similar to ready-to-bake cookie dough.
Schnuck
Markets Inc. became the first supermarket chain in
the St. Louis area on January 13th to sell irradiated fresh ground beef and
frozen beef patties. Schnucks is selling fresh ground beef chubs
("chub" refers to the plastic packaging, similar to that of pork
sausage) supplied by Excel, a subsidiary of Cargill of Wichita, KS and frozen
beef patties which come from Huiskens of Sauk Rapids, Minn. The SureBeam
Corporation of San Diego, Calif. will irradiate the ground beef and beef patties
in their Sioux City, Iowa facility. Schnucks
first offered SureBeam irradiated
ground beef in its Peoria and Pekin, Ill. stores last winter. While sales of the
product met Schnucks expectations, a company spokesman says education is the key
to greater acceptance Schnuck Markets, Inc. currently operates 102 stores and 93
pharmacies in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Mississippi.
This includes five stores that operate as Logli Supermarkets and a stand-alone
Sentry drug store. Schnuck Markets, Inc. is currently ranked 83rd in
the Forbes Magazine listing of the nation's "Top 500 Private
Companies."
Publix
supermarkets
began selling New Generation brand irradiated frozen ground beef patties,
boneless chicken breasts and chicken tenders from Colorado Boxed Beef Company on
January 13th. The Lakeland, Fla.-based chain will also consider offering fresh
irradiated products in the future. New Generation-brand products are processed
by Food Technology Service Inc., a Mulberry, Fla.-based, gamma-source
irradiation facility. Publix, with 711 stores in Florida, Georgia, South
Carolina, Alabama and in Tennessee later this year, is owned by its more than
119,000 employees and posted 2001 sales of $15.3 billion. www.publix.com.
Safeway
Eastern Division
began offering fresh irradiated ground beef on January 27th at all
136 supermarkets in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, D.C. Safeway's
Eastern Division employs approximately 11,000 people and operates 136 stores,
including 16 in the District of Columbia, 75 in Maryland, 44 in Virginia and one
in Delaware.
Dierbergs Markets of St. Louis, MO added two new electronically irradiated fresh ground beef items to its meat department on February 1, 2003. Dierbergs new items, a fresh 93-percent lean ground beef and an 85- one-pound packages of 85-percent and 93-percent lean. percent lean ground round, which are supplied by Excel, from its processing plant in Dodge City, Kan. Dierbergs operate 19 stores in the St. Louis area.
Weis
Markets, Inc.
became
the first retailer in Central Pennsylvania to market irradiated ground beef in
the Central Pennsylvania area on February 2nd. The
irradiated fresh ground beef will be provided by SureBeam Corp., packaged in 1
pound trays - 85 percent lean and 1 pound packages - 93 percent lean patties. Founded
in 1912, Weis Markets currently operates 160 stores in six states: Pennsylvania,
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia.
Giant
Food Stores, based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on
February 3, 2003, joined the rapidly growing list of retailers offering SureBeam
processed fresh ground beef. Giant is offering irradiated fresh ground beef
in one-pound packages of 85-percent and 93-percent lean. The chain
operates a total of 113 stores in four states, under the name GIANT Food Stores
in Pennsylvania, and under the name MARTIN'S Food Markets in Maryland, Virginia,
West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. GIANT Food Stores is a part of
Royal Ahold, a Netherlands based company. Ahold is a leading food provider in
the United States and elsewhere with total sales of approximately USD 52
billion. Over 60% of its worldwide sales are currently generated in the
United States. GIANT Food Stores, LLC employs over 20,000.
ShopRite
supermarkets of Edison, NJ, the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United
States began selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef products in one-pound
case-ready packages of 85-percent and 93-percent lean, as well as one- and
three-pound chub packages in 85-percent and 93-percent lean on February 5, 2003.
From a small, struggling cooperative with seven members – all owners of their
own grocery stores – Wakefern has grown into the largest retailer-owned
cooperative in the United States and one of the largest employers in New Jersey.
The cooperative is comprised of 38 members who individually own and operate
supermarkets under the ShopRite banner. Today, Wakefern Food Corporation, the
merchandising and distribution arm of the company, and the 200 ShopRite stores
located throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware,
employs more than 40,000 people. In 1999, America’s Second Harvest recognized
ShopRite as the Grocery Distributor of the year.
Associated
Wholesalers, Inc.,
based in Robesonia, Pennsylvania, began offering SureBeam processed fresh ground
beef products in one-pound case-ready packages of 85-percent and 93-percent
lean, and 93-percent lean patties on February 12, 2003. Currently, 52 central
Pennsylvania stores offer case-ready fresh ground beef processed with electron
beam technology.
Associated Wholesalers, Inc. operates as a cooperative food distributor and related products provider. The company also operates facilities in York, Pennsylvania and Scranton, Pennsylvania with customers located in seven states including Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, and New Jersey. Member/shareholders operate supermarkets, superettes, convenience stores, mass discounters and other retail formats.
Foodtown
located
in New Jersey and New York introduced irradiated fresh ground beef at all stores
in January. Foodtown operates stores in eastern New Jersey, Long Island,
the Bronx and the Westchester and Yonkers area.
Stop
& Shop, Inc. operates 326 supermarkets
in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. Stop &
Shop is a multibillion-dollar corporation and the largest food retailer in New
England and employs 41,000 associates in its network of stores, distribution
centers, manufacturing plants and offices, which stretch across more than 180
communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Rhode
Island.
Copps Food Markets of Wisconsin has begun to market
irradiated ground beef at all 21 Wisconsin stores.
Lombardi
Brothers Meats of Minneapolis foodservice provider is marketing
two irradiated ground beef products. Lombardi markets a 2:1 (1/2 pound) and a
3:1 (1/3 pound) ground beef products.
Performance
Food Group (PFG),
Richmond, Virginia has become the nation’s first foodservice provider to
market their own private-label line of irradiated frozen ground beef products.
PFG will offer 10 skus at the onset. The new products will be packed under
PFG’s West Creek label by Rochester Meats and boasts a new trademarked
“Smart Shield” food safety logo. Product launch is scheduled for
mid-February.
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:
Raleigh, NC; March 19, 2003: North Carolina Beef Council Irradiation Workshop
Texarkana, AR; April 5-6: American National CattleWomen Region IV Workshop
Harrisburg, PA; April 24, 2003: Central Atlantic States' Association of Food and
Drug Officials
Monterey, CA: April 28-29: American National CattleWomen Region VI Workshop
Bismarck, ND: April 30, 2003: North Dakota Long Term Care Association Convention
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
Jackson, MS; June 12, 2003: Mississippi Beef Council/Cattlemen’s Irradiation
Workshop
Jackson, MS; June 13, 2003: American National CattleWomen Regional Workshop
Ft.
Pierre, SD; June 20-22: American National CattleWomen Region VII Workshop
New Ulm, MN; June 27, 2003: Hub Club Farm/City Celebration
St.
Paul, MN; July 9, 2003: Minnesota Food & Nutrition Network Meeting
Green
Bay, WI; July 13-15, 2003: National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Jasper, IN; Sept. 23, 2003: Indiana Environmental Health Association Conference
Ronald
F. Eustice
Executive Director
Minnesota Beef Council
2850 Metro Drive # 426
Bloomington, MN 55425
USA
Phone: 952/854-6980
Fax: 952/854-6906
Website:
www.mnbeef.org
FOOD
IRRADIATION UPDATE
MARCH 7, 2003
Food
Irradiation Update is published by the Minnesota Beef Council
Upcoming
Irradiation Workshop in Raleigh, North Carolina
European Commission Debunks Public Citizen's Latest Fear Campaign
Comments: Do You
Really Need to Know?
School Nursing Home
Contractor Adds Irradiated Beef to Menu
SureBeam
CEO Larry Oberkfell to Accept a Position With the Schwan Food Company
Soft-Electron (low-energy electron beam) Comparison for Soybean
Decontamination versus Gamma-Rays
World
Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003 at Chicago
Updated List of Restaurants and Retailers
Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef
Food Irradiation Education Activities
Upcoming Irradiation Workshop in North Carolina
—The North Carolina Cattlemen’s Beef Council is hosting an Irradiation
Workshop on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm at the Wake County
Office Park - Commons Building - Room 100-B, 4011 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC
27610. Speakers and presentations will include: Dr. Pamela
Jenkins, North Carolina Department of Health, Dr. Dana Hanson, Assistant
Professor – Extension Specialist Food Science, North Carolina State
University,
Michelle
Torno, R.D. MN Beef Council, Ron Eustice, Exec. Dir., MN Beef Council and Dr.
Steve Wells, North Carolina Director, Meat and Poultry Inspection Services.
Space is limited, only those with reservations will be able to attend.
Please call North Carolina Cattlemen’s Beef Council office at (919) 552-9111
to reserve your spot. Contact Sharon Rogers at ncbeef@nccattle.com
or Ron Eustice at reustice@mnbeef.orbis.net
European
Commission Debunks Public Citizen's Latest Fear Campaign (March 3, 2003): by
Daniel Yovich on for www.meatingplace.com
—European Commission says it is
wrong to conclude humans could be at risk from the consumption of irradiated
foods -- effectively debunking Public Citizen's latest campaign to ban the sale
and use of irradiated beef.
Last Thursday (Feb. 27) Public Citizen filed comments public with the FDA,
asking it deny five pending requests to irradiate packaged deli meats, frozen
meals and snacks. Public Citizen bolstered its arguments by citing a study by
French and German scientists. Funded by the European Union, Public Citizen
claimed the study concluded irradiation supposedly cause concentrations of
chemicals called 2-alkylcyclobutanones, or 2-ACBs, which French and German
scientists said causes colon cancer in rats.
The EC funded the study, and an EC review of the of the study and its scientific
methods concluded "it is not appropriate, on the basis of these results, to
make a risk assessment for human health associated with the consumption of
2-ACBs present in irradiated fat-containing foods." The review further
noted the "genotoxicity of 2-ACB's has not been established" by
generally accepted scientific methods.
In a news release forwarded to the media after the activist group registered its
comments with the FDA, Wenonah Hauter, director of Public Citizen's Critical
Mass Energy and Environment Program, called the FDA's review of the issue
"a moment of truth" and "the FDA can either preserve or gamble
with the health of the American people."
The EC said there is adequate reassurance the consumption of irradiated foods is
safe, based upon "the results of the large number of feeding studies
carried out with irradiated foods which formed the basis for the wholesomeness
assessments of irradiated foods published hitherto by the World Health
Organization, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Association, and the
International Atomic Energy Commission.
Comments:
Do you really need to know?
Western Livestock Journal (March 3, 2003) An editorial By Steven
Vetter—Despite irradiation being proven effective in enhancing ground
beef’s safety, there are many opponents who say irradiation
ruins the integrity of the product and compromises the pleasurable
aspect of a beef-eating experience.
However,
I have to wonder if critics would still be as adamant in defending their
position if they actually knew the extent to which the process is being
utilized.
There's
been a lot of press about irradiating ground beef products at the retail level.
Much of that has to do with laws requiring retailers to label those products
as "cold pasteurized" or "irradiated," and accompanied by
the "radura" symbol. As of last week, over 6,000 supermarkets across
the country were offering irradiated beef products. That figure grows by about
200 a week.
However,
there are no requirements for food-service establishments to label such products
as "irradiated" or "cold pasteurized." But that doesn't
mean it isn't being utilized heavily in foodservice throughout the country.
Much
has been written about the pilot program in Minnesota Dairy Queen stores
selling irradiated hamburgers, and the program has jumped to 100 stores. Also,
there's a 65-store chain of sitdown restaurants, under the name Embers America,
that's proud to be offering irradiated beef products exclusively.
But,
it might surprise people to know there are approximately another 2,500-3,000
restaurants reportedly serving irradiated beef.
Processing
and wholesale sources have said 45-60 loads of irradiated beef is shipped to
food distributors across the country weekly, and that's above and beyond the
amount of irradiated product delivered directly to retailers.
One
of the largest foodservice distributors in the country told me they ship out
around 20 orders of irradiated beef a week, which they suspect finds its way
into 1,000-1,500 restaurants— both small "mom-and-pop" operations
and the "heavy-hitters."
It's
easy to see why a lot of popular restaurants would be going through the
trouble of having their product irradiated, but "zipping their lips"
when it comes to notifying the public of that decision.
Sources
with a couple of mid-level restaurant chains, on the condition of anonymity,
said the decision to serve irradiated beef was not entered into lightly. They
said there were three to five sets of blind taste tests conducted when
contemplating moving in the direction of irradiated beef.
On
top of that, independent labs were hired to compare irradiated and
non-irradiated beef for nutritional content, fatty acid composition and several
other factors important to the eating quality of beef. They found little
difference between the two types of products.
These
sources also said the fact pathogen contamination is nearly eliminated with
irradiation and could eliminate their legal responsibility in the case of
illness made the decision an easy one. After all, have you seen what plaintiffs
are being awarded in cases of pathogen-related food illness lawsuits? Damages
can be in the millions.
As
far as consumer notification is concerned, who can blame these companies for
keeping their secret when they see the firestorm being generated since
irradiation came about?
With
that said, is it right they keep that a secret? Probably not.
However,
restaurants would much rather continue to operate profitably and err on the
side of caution. That means, in this case, preventing food pathogen disasters
instead of risking it all on announcing a controversial program when they aren't
mandated to do so. I can't say I blame them.
I
understand the original fears of consumers— and even beef producers —
regarding irradiation. However, it definitely appears the health and safety
benefits of such technology outweigh any pitfalls, and have been shown to
improve the safety of the U.S. beef supply. With that said, if the system is
being fixed, don't break it again.
School Nursing Home Contractor Adds Irradiated Beef to Menu
(March
6, 2003) by
Bill McDowell for www.meatingplace.com
Fitz,
Vogt & Associates, an institutional foodservice management company based in
the Northeast, announced Wednesday that it will begin using irradiated ground
beef throughout its facilities.
The
rollout makes the $35 million, Walpole, N.H.-based company the first
noncommercial operator to offer irradiated beef. Most of FVA's 140 accounts are
in assisted living facilities and schools throughout New England and the
Mid-Atlantic. To date, 30 FVA accounts, primarily assisted living facilities,
are using the product and the rollout will expand to other accounts including
summer camp cafeterias.
"We wanted to reduce the risk of foodborne illness in our client population
and provide them with a superior quality product," stated Bob Long, vice
president. Fitz, Vogt & Associates purchases its meat through
Minneapolis-based processor W.W. Johnson, which is using SureBeam as its
irradiation technology provider.
SureBeam
CEO Larry Oberkfell to Accept a Position With the Schwan Food Company
San Diego, March 5, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall
via COMTEX/ -- SureBeam Corporation (SURE)
announced today that Larry Oberkfell, Chairman, President and CEO, will resign
effective March 31. Oberkfell is leaving to accept a position with the Schwan
Food Company as President and COO of their Food Service Group.
"My
goal of moving SureBeam from an excellent idea to building a business foundation
for its continued growth has been realized," said Larry Oberkfell. "I
am excited by the success we've had -- going from ground zero to having over
5,000 retail supermarkets offering SureBeam processed ground beef in less than
two years and trending upward. I leave knowing that a solid leadership team is
in place that will take it to the next phase. SureBeam's future is far brighter
today than when I joined the company and I am proud to have played a role in
achieving that. This opportunity at Schwan's, one of the world's largest
privately-owned food companies, is a natural progression for me."
"Larry
has done an outstanding job as President and CEO, leading the company through
the challenging process of its initial public offering and through the spinoff
from its former parent company," said William Hale, SureBeam Board Director
and Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee. "In addition,
SureBeam has in place a top-notch management team operating its day-to-day
activities and now we have begun the search process for a new president. The
future is excellent for SureBeam."
Larry
Oberkfell joined SureBeam Corporation in November 1999 and has overseen the
development of the company into the leading provider of electron beam food
safety systems and services for the food industry in the United States. SureBeam
has been a public company since March 2001.
The
Schwan Food Company ( www.schwansfoodservice.com ) is a privately held manufacturer
and marketer of fine frozen foods through home delivery, retail grocery and
foodservice channels. Headquartered in Marshall, Minnesota, Schwan's production
and distribution activities across the United States and in Europe employ 25,000
people.
Headquartered
in San Diego, California, SureBeam Corporation is a leading provider of electron
beam food safety systems and services for the food industry. SureBeam's
technology significantly improves food quality, extends product freshness, and
provides disinfestation that helps to protect the environment. The SureBeam
patented system is based on proven electron beam and x-ray technology that
destroys harmful food-borne bacteria much like thermal pasteurization does to
milk. This technology can also eliminate the need for toxic chemical fumigants
used in pest control that may be harmful to the earth's ozone layer. For its
"great step" into food safety, SureBeam's revolutionary technology is
the winner of Food Processing Magazine's "Innovation Award" for 2001.
SureBeam is also ranked by Deloitte & Touche as the 37th fastest growing
technology company in the Orange County/San Diego region for 2001.
Efficacy of Soft-Electron (low-energy electron beam) for Soybean Decontamination in Comparison with Gamma-Rays (March 2003) Journal of Food Science, Volume 68(2) O.K. Kikuchi, S. Todoriki, M. Saito, and T. Hayashi http://www.confex2.com/store/indexs/ift/TOC-68-2.htm Via FSNET ABSTRACT
Soft-electron
is a term referring to electrons with energies of 300 kV or lower. Enrei and
Vinton soybeans were irradiated with gamma-rays and soft-electrons at 60 keV to
compare the effectiveness of the treatments for decontamination purpose. The
doses of 20 kGy of gamma-rays and 26 kGy of
soft-electrons were effective to decontaminate the soybeans. The gamma radiation
changed some properties of the grains: inhibited the germination capacity,
increased the lipid oxidation and decreased the lipoxygenase activity, radical
scavenging activity and carotenoid content. Soft-electron treatment caused less
or none change in soybean quality, being considered a more appropriate procedure
for decontamination.
World Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003
at Chicago: The World Irradiation Congress is scheduled
for May 5 to 7, 2003, at Chicago's McCormick Place. The international event will
provide a comprehensive technical and scientific forum to promote the technology
and benefits of food irradiation around the globe. The congress will examine the
future of food irradiation in a comprehensive program that includes analysis of
the: Global situation and outlook on the use of irradiation as a sanitary and
phytosanitary treatment; Major markets and market trends; Technological
developments, such as irradiation facilities and quality assurance; Investment
opportunities; A visit to a commercial food irradiator; a buyer-seller business
conference and technical sessions.
The keynote speaker on May 5 (Monday) will be Dr. Elsa Murano, USDA
Undersecretary for Food Safety, speaking on "Food safety from farm to fork:
the role of food irradiation."
Other top speakers include the CEOS of FMI and GMA; the presidents of IFT and
the International Union of Food Science and Technology; the director of National
Food Safety & Toxicology Center at Michigan State University; and top
officials from the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, the International Consultative Group on Food
Irradiation, the Minnesota Beef Council and such companies as Huisken Meat Co.,
International Dairy Queen Inc., Food Technology Service Inc. and Hawaii Pride
Inc.
For
more information and to register, contact:
The
National Food Safety & Toxicology Center
Michigan
State University
165
Food Safety & Toxicology Building
Michigan
State University
East
Lansing, MI 48824-1302
517/432-3100
Website: www.foodsafe.msu.edu/Congress/congress.html
or www.foodsafe.msu.edu.
Updated List of
Restaurants and Retailers Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef
(Supermarkets
and Restaurants added since November 28, 2002---Updated
March 6, 2003)
Fitz,
Vogt & Associates,
an institutional foodservice management company based in the Northeast,
announced that it will begin using irradiated ground beef throughout its
facilities. The
rollout makes the $35 million, Walpole, N.H.-based company the first
noncommercial operator to offer irradiated beef. Most of FVA's 140 accounts are
in assisted living facilities and schools throughout New England and the
Mid-Atlantic. To date, 30 FVA accounts, primarily assisted living facilities,
are using the irradiated ground beef product and the rollout will expand to
other accounts including summer camp cafeterias.
Tops
Markets based in Amherst, NY, began
selling fresh irradiated ground beef in mid January. Tops is selling both 85
percent lean and 90 percent lean irradiated fresh ground beef. The irradiated
meat will make up about 5 percent of the ground beef offered at Tops, according
to the Amherst-based company. Tops Markets, LLC is one of six
retail operating companies under Ahold USA, one of the leading supermarket
operations in the U.S. Tops currently operates 156 Tops Friendly Markets
in New York, Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio.
Giant
Eagle Inc. began offering irradiated ground beef
on Jan. 12th. Giant Eagle, Inc., ranked 22 on Forbes magazine's largest private
corporations list and recently named Progressive Grocer's Retailer of the
Year, is one of the nation's largest food retailers and food distributors with
over $4.4 billion in annual sales. Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle, Inc. has
grown to be the number one supermarket retailer in the region with 124 corporate
and 89 independently owned and operated stores throughout western
Pennsylvania, Ohio, north central West Virginia, and Maryland. Giant Eagle is
the first in that region to offer irradiated meat products in the form of 80
percent lean/20 percent fat and 93 percent lean/7 percent fat ground beef.
Educational point-of-purchase brochures and signs introduced meat department
customers to the concept and safety benefits of irradiated ground beef, nattily
packaged in opaque, one-pound tubes similar to ready-to-bake cookie dough.
Schnuck
Markets Inc. became the first supermarket chain in
the St. Louis area on January 13th to sell irradiated fresh ground beef and
frozen beef patties. Schnucks is selling fresh ground beef chubs
("chub" refers to the plastic packaging, similar to that of pork
sausage) supplied by Excel, a subsidiary of Cargill of Wichita, KS and frozen
beef patties which come from Huiskens of Sauk Rapids, Minn. The SureBeam
Corporation of San Diego, Calif. will irradiate the ground beef and beef patties
in their Sioux City, Iowa facility. Schnucks
first offered SureBeam irradiated
ground beef in its Peoria and Pekin, Ill. stores last winter. While sales of the
product met Schnucks expectations, a company spokesman says education is the key
to greater acceptance.
Schnuck
Markets, Inc. currently operates 102 stores and 93 pharmacies in Missouri,
Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Mississippi. This includes five
stores that operate as Logli Supermarkets and a stand-alone Sentry drug store.
Schnuck Markets, Inc. is currently ranked 83rd in the Forbes Magazine
listing of the nation's "Top 500 Private Companies."
Publix
supermarkets
began selling New Generation brand irradiated frozen ground beef patties,
boneless chicken breasts and chicken tenders from Colorado Boxed Beef Company on
January 13th. The Lakeland, Fla.-based chain will also consider offering fresh
irradiated products in the future. New Generation-brand products are processed
by Food Technology Service Inc., a Mulberry, Fla.-based, gamma-source
irradiation facility. Publix, with 711 stores in Florida, Georgia, South
Carolina, Alabama and in Tennessee later this year, is owned by its more than
119,000 employees and posted 2001 sales of $15.3 billion. www.publix.com.
Safeway
Eastern Division
began offering fresh irradiated ground beef on January 27th at all
136 supermarkets in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, D.C. Safeway's
Eastern Division employs approximately 11,000 people and operates 136 stores,
including 16 in the District of Columbia, 75 in Maryland, 44 in Virginia and one
in Delaware.
Dierbergs
Markets
of St. Louis, MO added two new electronically irradiated fresh ground beef items
to its meat department on February 1, 2003. Dierbergs new items, a fresh
93-percent lean ground beef and an 85-percent lean ground round, which are
supplied by Excel, from its processing plant in Dodge City, Kan. Dierbergs
operate 19 stores in the St. Louis area.
Weis
Markets, Inc.
became
the first retailer in Central Pennsylvania to market irradiated ground beef in
the Central Pennsylvania area on February 2nd. The
irradiated fresh ground beef will be provided by SureBeam Corp., packaged in 1
pound trays - 85 percent lean and 1 pound packages - 93 percent lean patties. Founded
in 1912, Weis Markets currently operates 160 stores in six states: Pennsylvania,
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia.
Giant
Food Stores, based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on
February 3, 2003, joined the rapidly growing list of retailers offering SureBeam
processed fresh ground beef. Giant is offering irradiated fresh ground beef
in one-pound packages of 85-percent and 93-percent lean. The chain
operates a total of 113 stores in four states, under the name GIANT Food Stores
in Pennsylvania, and under the name MARTIN'S Food Markets in Maryland, Virginia,
West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. GIANT Food Stores is a part of
Royal Ahold, a Netherlands based company. Ahold is a leading food provider in
the United States and elsewhere with total sales of approximately USD 52
billion. Over 60% of its worldwide sales are currently generated in the
United States. GIANT Food Stores, LLC employs over 20,000.
ShopRite
supermarkets of Edison, NJ, the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United
States began selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef products in one-pound
case-ready packages of 85-percent and 93-percent lean, as well as one- and
three-pound chub packages in 85-percent and 93-percent lean on February 5, 2003.
From
a small, struggling cooperative with seven members – all owners of their own
grocery stores – Wakefern has grown into the largest retailer-owned
cooperative in the United States and one of the largest employers in New Jersey.
The cooperative is comprised of 38 members who individually own and operate
supermarkets under the ShopRite banner. Today, Wakefern Food Corporation, the
merchandising and distribution arm of the company, and the 200 ShopRite stores
located throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware,
employs more than 40,000 people. In 1999, America’s Second Harvest recognized
ShopRite as the Grocery Distributor of the year.
Associated
Wholesalers, Inc.,
based in Robesonia, Pennsylvania, began offering SureBeam processed fresh ground
beef products in one-pound case-ready packages of 85-percent and 93-percent
lean, and 93-percent lean patties on February 12, 2003. Currently, 52 central
Pennsylvania stores offer case-ready fresh ground beef processed with electron
beam technology.
Associated Wholesalers, Inc. operates as a cooperative food distributor and related products provider. The company also operates facilities in York, Pennsylvania and Scranton, Pennsylvania with customers located in seven states including Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, and New Jersey. Member/shareholders operate supermarkets, superettes, convenience stores, mass discounters and other retail formats.
Foodtown
located
in New Jersey and New York introduced irradiated fresh ground beef at all stores
in January. Foodtown operates stores in eastern New Jersey, Long Island,
the Bronx and the Westchester/Yonkers area.
Stop
& Shop, Inc. operates 326 supermarkets
in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. Stop &
Shop is a multibillion-dollar corporation and the largest food retailer in New
England and employs 41,000 associates in its network of stores, distribution
centers, manufacturing plants and offices, which stretch across more than 180
communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Rhode
Island.
Copps Food Markets of Wisconsin has begun to market
irradiated ground beef at all 21 stores.
Lombardi
Brothers Meats of Minneapolis foodservice provider is marketing
two irradiated ground beef products. Lombardi markets a 2:1 (1/2 pound) and a
3:1 (1/3 pound) ground beef products.
Performance
Food Group
(PFG), Richmond, Virginia has become the nation’s first foodservice provider
to market their own private-label line of irradiated frozen ground beef
products. PFG will offer 10 skus at the onset. The new products will be packed
under PFG’s West Creek label by Rochester Meats and boasts a new trademarked
“Smart Shield” food safety logo. Product launch is scheduled for
mid-February.
Chronological
List of Restaurants and Retailers Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef:
Huisken
Meat Company of
Sauk Rapids, MN began marketing frozen irradiated patties in May 2000. From an
initial distribution of 84 stores in the Twin Cities, distribution has grown to
thousands of stores in 30+ states. Huisken reported sales growth of 35 percent
in 2001 compared to 2000 and a 25 percent increase through June 2002. Huisken
Meat Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of JNR Holding Company, which also
owns Rochester Meat Company in Rochester, MN and Whiteford Food Products, Inc.
at Versailles, OH. Huiskens may be contacted at (320) 259-0305.
SuperValu
based in Eden Prairie, MN was one of the first supermarket chains in the US to
offer irradiated ground beef when they introduced Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in the Twin Cities on May 16, 2000. SuperValu is one of the largest
companies in the United States grocery channel. With annual revenues in excess
of $20 billion, Supervalu holds leading market share positions with its 1,260
retail grocery locations, including licensed Save-A-Lot locations. In addition,
the company provides distribution and related logistics support services to
approximately 4,280 grocery retail outlets.
Rainbow
Foods, a
Fleming Company based in Minneapolis, with 42 stores in Minnesota and 2 in
Wisconsin, shared the honor of being first to offer Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in the Twin Cities area. Rainbow has offered Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties (90/10 and regular ground beef) since May 16, 2000. Rainbow also markets
SureBeam processed papaya.
Cub
Foods based in
Stillwater, MN, was one of the first retailers in the US to offer irradiated
ground beef when they introduced Huisken BeSure irradiated patties in the Twin
Cities on May 16, 2000. Cub Foods has stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois
and Colorado.
Schwan's
based in Marshall, MN, began to sell irradiated frozen patties nationwide
through home delivery in late May 2000. All fresh/frozen ground beef at
Schwan’s is irradiated. Schwan’s markets irradiated ground chuck and quarter
pound patties in 3 pound packages. For delivery of Schwan’s irradiated burgers
to your doorstep phone; 1.888. Schwans or log on to www.schwans.com.
Nash Finch based
in Minneapolis, MN began marketing Huisken BeSure irradiated beef patties during
the summer of 2000. Nash Finch Company is one of the leading food retail
and distribution companies in the United States, with over $4.1 billion in
annual revenues. Nash Finch owns and operates a base of 112 retail stores,
principally supermarkets under the AVANZA,
Buy·n·Save, Econofoods and Sun Mart trade names. In addition to its
retail operations, Nash Finch Company's food distribution business serves
independent retailers and military commissaries in 28 states, the District of
Columbia and Europe.
Omaha Steaks
has marketed irradiated frozen patties since the summer of 2000. All ground beef
from Omaha Steaks is SureBeam processed. To place an order for Omaha Steaks’
irradiated burgers phone 1.800.228.9872 or by logging on at www.omahasteaks.com.
W.W.
Johnson, a
Minneapolis-based private label foodservice company established in 1946, began
to offer SureBeam
processed fresh
irradiated ground beef in patties and 10 pound rolls in May 2001. W.W. Johnson
private labels fresh ground beef for national and regional foodservice
distributors and chains including Sysco, US Foodservice, Rhinehart, Upper Lakes
Foods and Fraboni's. Sales of irradiated product through W.W. Johnson are coast
to coast and expanding steadily. About 10 percent of W.W. Johnson’s production
is irradiated. Contact W.W. Johnson at 1.612.721.6792.
Sysco: Currently 28 Sysco Foodservice Distribution
Centers are offering SureBeam processed ground beef to various foodservice
establishments. Some
of the areas with irradiated ground beef are Portland, ME; Kent, WA; Billings,
MT; Milwaukee, WI, Cleveland and Cincinnati, OH.
Winn Dixie based in Jacksonville, Florida operates
1060 stores in the Southeast and began marketing Huisken BeSure
irradiated patties in late 2001 and early 2002.
Kroger
began marketing Excel’s “Fairfield Farms” fresh ground beef at about a
dozen stores in February 2002 in the Peoria, Illinois area.
Schnuck's
stores in Illinois and Missouri began marketing Excel’s “Fairfield Farms”
fresh ground beef in February 2002 and in February 2003 expanded the offering of
irradiated ground beef to include fresh ground beef chubs ("chub"
refers to the plastic packaging, similar to that of pork sausage) supplied by
Excel, a of Wichita, Kan subsidiary of Minnesota-based Cargill.
Dairy Queen
based in Edina, MN began a test at two stores (Hutchinson and Spicer, MN) in
February 2002, and is now offering SureBeam processed irradiated
patties at nearly 100 Minnesota and South Dakota stores following a very
successful expansion in Central Minnesota (May) and the Twin Cities area
(July/August). The number of Dairy Queens offering SureBeam processed ground
beef from Birchwood Foods (Kenosha Beef) is steadily expanding. Dairy Queen’s
impressive point of sale materials including tray liners, table tents and
signage are a model for all restaurants to follow.
Wegmans Food Markets, based in Rochester, N.Y. in May 2002,
became the first supermarket chain in the nation to introduce irradiated fresh
ground beef under its own private-label brand—Wegmans Brand Irradiated Fresh
Ground Beef. The new line, produced at Excel Corp.'s Dodge City, Kan. plant, is
available in 90/10 (90 percent lean/10 percent fat) and 80/20 packages, and is
selling for 10 to 30 cents more a pound than ordinary fresh ground beef. Wegmans
currently operates 64 stores in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and
irradiated product is now being sold at all of its stores, Wegmans is no
newcomer in offering irradiated products. In May 2001, it introduced Fairview
Farms irradiated frozen ground beef patties, and its also carries a few
irradiated produce items in select stores. Wegmans reports that 15% of their
ground beef sales are irradiated with individual stores reporting that sales of
irradiated product are 45% of ground beef sales.
Lowes
Foods,
based in Winston-Salem, N.C. began offering SureBeam processed irradiated fresh,
ground beef to consumers at 48 of its 105 stores in early September 2002.
Products are being offered in 1-pound packages of 93-percent lean ground beef
and in 93-percent lean ground-beef patties.
D'Agostino Supermarkets in September, began offering
SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef in several case-ready product
formats. This chain operates 23 stores in New York City and suburban Westchester
County.
Pathmark Supermarkets, one of the top 15 supermarket
retailers in the countries with stores in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
announced it would sell SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef in
several case-ready offerings early in October.
Farm
Fresh Supermarkets
of Hampton Roads, Virginia in October became the first food retailer in that
area to offer case-ready fresh ground beef processed with SureBeam Corp.'s
electron-beam food irradiation technology. A SuperValu Company, Farm
Fresh has 37 stores located throughout Hampton Roads.
Farm Fresh is selling its irradiated, fresh ground beef in five packages--1 and
3-pound packages in 80-percent and 93-percent lean, as well as 1-pound packages
in 85-percent lean.
Champps: Two Milwaukee area Champps began serving SureBeam processed
irradiated ground beef in September 2002.
L
& L Packing Company
based in Chicago markets Quintessence Foods SureBeam processed frozen patties
known as “Grandma Burgers.”
Price Chopper based in Schenectady, N.Y. began selling irradiated fresh-ground beef in four varieties that includes 1- and 3-pound packages of 80-percent and 93-percent lean during October 2002. Price Chopper operates 102 stores system-wide and is a leading food retailer in a six state region including New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Pennsylvania.
Hy-Vee
Supermarkets began
selling SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef from IBP on October 14,
2002 in five packages: 85- and 90-percent lean tray packs, 85- and 90-percent
lean rolls and 93-percent lean patties. Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee is one of
the nation's top 15 supermarket retailers and operates 188 stores in Iowa,
Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Clemens
Family Markets
of Philadelphia, with 19 stores in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware
Counties in Pennsylvania, began to offer SureBeam-processed case-ready fresh
ground beef in late October. Clemens
is selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef in one-pound case-ready packages
in 85-percent, 90-percent and 93-percent lean. Their case-ready packages
provide the customer a complete view of the product through a clear cellophane
covering. Clemens is a family-owned, regional supermarket business currently
celebrating their 63rd year
in business.
Giant
Foods of Landover, MD became the first food retailer in the
Baltimore-Washington, D.C., to offer irradiated fresh ground beef on November 5,
2002. Giant stores are selling two SureBeam-labeled irradiated ground beef
products: 93 percent lean and 85 percent lean.
Giant Food, a member of the Ahold USA group, operates
189 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and the District of
Columbia and employs more than 27,000 associates.
Fresh
Brands, Inc. a
supermarket retailer and grocery wholesaler based in Wisconsin, in December 2002,
began offering fresh irradiated ground beef through
corporate-owned retail, franchised and independent supermarkets. Stores are
located throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois under the Piggly Wiggly and
Dick's Supermarkets brands. Fresh Brands currently has 74 franchised
Piggly Wiggly supermarkets, 27 corporate-owned Piggly Wiggly and Dick's
Supermarkets and two distribution centers. The company controls nearly $1
billion in retail grocery sales.
Embers America Inc.,
a St. Paul, MN-based chain of full-service, family-style restaurants, has
introduced a line of irradiated hamburgers.
The famous Ember Burger is now irradiated. The
family-owned company, has 65 restaurants that are mostly franchisee operated,
and has branches throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Embers
America is the first full-service restaurant chain to offer irradiated meat.
Lunds/Byerly’s based in Edina, MN introduced Fairfield Farms brand fresh
irradiated ground chuck at all locations in early November 2002. Lunds/Byerly’s
was one of the first supermarket chains to sell Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in May 2000. Byerly’s operates 11 stores in the Twin Cities and one in
St. Cloud. Lund’s has 8 stores in the Twin Cities area.
Jewel-Osco,
a 191-store unit of Boise, Idaho-based Albertson's Inc., started selling
irradiated ground beef at Chicago stores and some other locations on November
13th.
Hannaford
and Shop'n Save Supermarkets based in Scarborough, Maine began
offering case-ready irradiated fresh ground beef in 117 stores in Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Massachusetts in early November. The irradiated
product is offered in 93% and 85% lean fresh ground beef products in 1-lb.,
case-ready packages.
Pick
'n Save, the
retail division of Roundy's Inc., based in Pewaukee, WI, began offering a
limited supply of one-pound packs of irradiated fresh ground beef in November
2003. Nine other Pick 'n Save stores are also participating in the test sale.
Tim Wade, vice president of perishables for Pick 'n Save's parent, was quoted as
saying, "We felt these markets were a good cross section of
Wisconsin."
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:
Raleigh, NC; March 19, 2003: North Carolina Beef Council Irradiation Workshop
Texarkana, AR; April 5-6: American National CattleWomen Region IV Workshop
Harrisburg, PA; April 24, 2003: Central Atlantic States' Association of Food and
Drug Officials
Monterey, CA: April 28-29: American National CattleWomen Region VI Workshop
Bismarck, ND: April 30, 2003: North Dakota Long Term Care Association Convention
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
Jackson, MS; June 13, 2003: American National CattleWomen Regional Workshop
Ft.
Pierre, SD; June 20-22: American National CattleWomen Region VII Workshop
New Ulm (MN); June 27, 2003: Hub Club Farm/City Celebration
St.
Paul, MN; July 9, 2003: Minnesota Food & Nutrition Network Meeting
Green
Bay, WI; July 13-15, 2003: National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Jasper, IN; Sept. 23, 2003: Indiana Environmental Health Association Conference
Ronald
F. Eustice
Executive Director
Minnesota Beef Council
2850 Metro Drive # 426
Bloomington, MN 55425
USA
Phone: 952/854-6980
Fax: 952/854-6906
Website:
www.mnbeef.org
FOOD
IRRADIATION UPDATE
FEBRUARY 28, 2003
Food
Irradiation Update is published by the Minnesota Beef Council
U.S. Army Renews
Irradiation Deal With Food Technology Service
Before
Pasteurization of Milk, Bovine TB Used to Kill Humans
Public
Citizen Renews Push for Irradiation Moratorium
Upcoming
Irradiation Workshop in Portland, Oregon
The Dirt on
Dirt:
Getting Down to the Nitty-gritty: Just how clean is our
food?
World
Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003 at Chicago
U.S.
Army Renews Irradiation Deal With Food Technology Service:
www.meatingplace.com
by Dan Murphy (February 24, 2003) Mulberry,
Fla.-based Food Technology Service Inc. and the U.S. Army Soldier and Biological
Chemical Command have renewed an on-going Cooperative Research and Development
Agreement through 2008, according to a news release.
Under the agreement, Food Technology Service irradiates packaged and unpackaged
food products for testing by the Army's Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Mass.
As part of the agreement, the company irradiates a variety of entrees eaten by
the space shuttle astronauts.
Before
Pasteurization of Milk, Bovine TB Used to Kill Humans
(February 28, 2003) The Northwest Evening Mail via FSNET http://www.nwemail.co.uk/A2hrhe.HTM
In the 1930s bovine tuberculosis was a significant human disease in Great
Britain, with 50,000 cases and 2,500 deaths per year. When milk pasteurization was introduced in the 1950s and 60s this dropped
dramatically.
There
are now around 50 cases seen in Britain each year - with the majority affecting
people aged over 55. These people are thought to have been infected before pasteurization
was introduced. Government milk hygiene regulations require that
all herds selling raw milk for drinking be officially TB-free. Milk from herds
under bovine TB restrictions must be pasteurized, which deactivates the M
Bovis organism.
The
United Kingdom Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says carcasses
are inspected at slaughter and those with signs of generalized infection be
fully condemned and declared unfit for human consumption.
Public
Citizen Renews Push for Irradiation Moratoriam:
(February 28, 2003): by daniel
yovich for www.meatingplace.com
Citing a European scientific study, Public Citizen on Thursday (Feb. 27) renewed
its campaign to get the Food and Drug Administration to rescind its approval for
irradiation treatment of Beef, pork, poultry, eggs and vegetables.
In public comments filed with the FDA, the activist group also asked the FDA to
deny five pending requests to irradiate packaged deli meats, frozen meals and
snacks. Public Citizen bolstered its arguments by citing a study by French and
German scientists. Funded by the European Union, the study reportedly concluded
irradiation supposedly cause concentrations of chemicals called
2-alkylcyclobutanones, or 2-ACBs, which the scientists say causes colon cancer
in rats.
"This is a moment of truth, the FDA can either preserve or gamble with the
health of the American people," said Wenonah Hauter, director of Public
Citizen's Critical Mass Energy and Environment Program. "The wrong choice
could have serious, unintended consequences, particularly for children and other
vulnerable populations."
An FDA study published in June of 1998 says the agency finds the process safe
and effective. Before approving red meat irradiation, the agency reviewed
numerous scientific studies conducted worldwide. These included research on the
chemical effects of radiation on meat, the impact the process has on nutrient
content, and potential toxicity concerns.
The study notes irradiation's acceptance among a wide-variety or national and
international organizations, including the World Health Organization, the
International Atomic Energy Agency, the American Medical Association, and the
American Dietetic Association.
Trade groups such as the National Meat Association, the Grocery Manufacturers of
America, and the National Food Processors Association also support irradiation.
FDA spokespersons declined to comment on Public Citizen's filings. Industry
trade organizations contacted by Meatingplace.com said they were unaware of the
development.
"Having just learned of this EU study, and the action taken by the European
Parliament, NMA awaits impartial scientific evaluation of the study, as well as
the response of the FDA in this matter," said Kiran Kernellu, spokesperson
for the NMA.
Late last year, Public Citizen ran a five-week campaign against the use of
irradiated meat in public schools targeting the Agriculture Department's plan to
include irradiated beef in its School Lunch Program. The organization flooded
USDA with comments against the inclusion of irradiated meat in school lunches,
but the Agriculture Department ignored the campaign.
Upcoming Irradiation Workshop in Oregon
–The Oregon Beef Council is hosting an Irradiation Workshop Tuesday March 4
from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm at the Food Innovation Center located at 1207 NW Naito
Parkway in Portland. Speakers and
presentations will include: Dr. Emilio DeBess, Oregon Department of Health,
Michelle Torno, R.D. MN Beef Council and Ron Eustice, Exec. Dir., MN Beef
Council. Space is limited, only those with reservations will be able to attend.
Please call Oregon Beef Council office at 503/274-2333 to reserve your spot. Contact
Dianne Byrne Johnston at Dianne@orbeef.org or Ron Eustice at reustice@mnbeef.orbis.net
The
Dirt on Dirt:
Getting
Down to the Nitty-gritty: Just how clean is our food? (February 23, 2003) Pioneer
Press
by Kay Harvey
You'll
eat a pound of dirt in your lifetime Most of us have heard that bit of folk
wisdom. But should we believe it?
Nope.
Now, the gritty truth: A pound is just the appetizer. 'We actually eat more than
a pound of dirt in our lifetime,' says Susan Moores, a St. Paul dietitian and
spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. 'Probably several pounds,
depending on how long an individual lives.'
It's
a tough thing to swallow. But the good news is dirt probably won't hurt you —
depending on what you call dirt. Put it this way: Typical Minnesota soil won't
hurt you, soil and food experts say. Unless it's contaminated by things you
really don't want to read about over your morning coffee.
Dirt
is hardly the lone substance invading our culinary turf. It's virtually
impossible to get all the foreign objects out of food on its way to processing,
according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. So, the FDA has settled on
monitoring what it considers acceptable levels of unappetizing offenders.
Here's
your official warning: Do not continue reading this story if you're eating.
In
processed cornmeal, for example, FDA guidelines allow one or more whole insects,
50 or more insect fragments, two or more rodent hairs and one or more rodent
excreta per 50 grams. In a can of peaches, 3 percent of the fruit can be moldy
or wormy. And canned mushrooms will pass inspection if they have no more than an
average 20 or more maggots per 100 grams.
Surprised?
So was Jay Bell, now a faculty member in the University of Minnesota's College
of Agriculture, when he once worked at a job counting tomatoes before they were
shipped.
"It
was my job to count the maggots, too," he says. "It was pretty amazing
how high they'd let the number go."
But
bugs and worms won't hurt you, either, he says. In many cultures, people eat
insects. And in many packaged products, they are exposed to heat — which kills
disease-producing organisms — during processing. As a professor of soil
science, Bell has the dirt on dirt, too. For those who don't make a distinction,
he likes to establish the difference between soil and dirt.
"Soil
is a living body that occurs on the surface of the Earth," he explains.
"It has to be able to support plant material, and it usually has something
growing in it. Once you remove it from the surface of the Earth, it's dirt. Dirt
is what you have under your fingernail."
And
on some of your vegetables when you pick them out at the supermarket produce
counter.
Unlike
soil, which is full of nutrients, dirt no longer supports organic matter so has
lost most of its nutritional value. That indicates it's low in calories, if that
helps anyone to better accept it as part of the standard American diet. Some
mothers have been known to tell their children not to complain about a little
dirt on their veggies because dirt has minerals in it. But Bell doubts there's
much nutritional value in dirt.
"Whether
it's got minerals in it or not, it probably just passes through the human
body," he says. "I doubt the minerals are available in a way that's
going to do you much good."
Dirt
is most likely to cross one's palate when eating root vegetables, especially
those with crevices in them, such as potatoes and carrots, food experts say.
It's also common in leafy greens, such as lettuce and spinach, which tend to
collect blowing soil and retain it when they are pulled out of the ground.
"Almost
any fresh fruit or vegetable is going to catch some dirt," says Moores, the
dietitian. "I made a tuna salad the other day, and the celery was just
stuffed with mud." She did her best to wash the mud off, a practice she
advocates.
Soil
and dirt aren't the only substances that get on food. "Dirt" on food
is to most people "anything we're not planning on," says Donald Vesley
of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. He agrees that inert
particles of dirt carrying nothing dangerous are probably irrelevant.
"What's
of most concern would be pathogenic organisms, bacteria or viruses," he
says.
Pathogens
— microorganisms able to cause disease — are the real bad guys. They can be
present in raw food or make their way onto food during processing and handling.
Publicized
cases of food contamination in the manufacturing, restaurant and cruise-ship
industries have brought the topic of food safety to the dinner table, says
Vesley, a professor in the division of environmental and occupational health.
He
emphasizes the importance of hand washing before eating or preparing food;
keeping kitchen tools sanitized; cooking hamburger, poultry, pork, fish and eggs
thoroughly; and storing perishable foods properly.
"Keep
it hot, keep it cold, or don't keep it," he advises. But there are two
schools of thought on the subject of the zealous washing of fresh fruits and
vegetables. One is that ingesting normal nonfood substances can help the body
build up immunities to some diseases. The other is that dirt on food can hurt
you and you'd better scrub those potatoes with a vengeance.
Bell,
the soil science professor, says he doesn't wash his fresh produce particularly
ambitiously. "My wife does," he says. "She likes to have it as
clean as possible. But I don't. I don't see a problem with it."
World Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003
at Chicago: The World Irradiation Congress is scheduled
for May 5 to 7, 2003, at Chicago's McCormick Place. The international event will
provide a comprehensive technical and scientific forum to promote the technology
and benefits of food irradiation around the globe. The congress will examine the
future of food irradiation in a comprehensive program that includes analysis of
the: Global situation and outlook on the use of irradiation as a sanitary and
phytosanitary treatment; Major markets and market trends; Technological
developments, such as irradiation facilities and quality assurance; Investment
opportunities; A visit to a commercial food irradiator; a buyer-seller business
conference and technical sessions.
The keynote speaker on May 5 (Monday) will be Dr. Elsa Murano, USDA
Undersecretary for Food Safety, speaking on "Food safety from farm to fork:
the role of food irradiation."
Other top speakers include the CEOS of FMI and GMA; the presidents of IFT and
the International Union of Food Science and Technology; the director of National
Food Safety & Toxicology Center at Michigan State University; and top
officials from the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, the International Consultative Group on Food
Irradiation, the Minnesota Beef Council and such companies as Huisken Meat Co.,
International Dairy Queen Inc., Food Technology Service Inc. and Hawaii Pride
Inc.
For
more information and to register, contact:
The
National Food Safety & Toxicology Center
Michigan
State University
165
Food Safety & Toxicology Building
Michigan
State University
East
Lansing, MI 48824-1302
517/432-3100
Website: www.foodsafe.msu.edu/Congress/congress.html
or www.foodsafe.msu.edu.
Updated List of
Restaurants and Retailers Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef
(Supermarkets
and Restaurants added since November 28, 2002---Updated
February28, 2003)
Tops
Markets based in Amherst, NY, began
selling fresh irradiated ground beef in mid January. Tops is selling both 85
percent lean and 90 percent lean irradiated fresh ground beef. The irradiated
meat will make up about 5 percent of the ground beef offered at Tops, according
to the Amherst-based company. Tops Markets, LLC is one of six
retail operating companies under Ahold USA, one of the leading supermarket
operations in the U.S. Tops currently operates 156 Tops Friendly Markets
in New York, Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio.
Giant
Eagle Inc. began offering irradiated ground beef
on Jan. 12th. Giant Eagle, Inc., ranked 22 on Forbes magazine's largest private
corporations list and recently named Progressive Grocer's Retailer of the
Year, is one of the nation's largest food retailers and food distributors with
over $4.4 billion in annual sales. Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle, Inc. has
grown to be the number one supermarket retailer in the region with 124 corporate
and 89 independently owned and operated stores throughout western
Pennsylvania, Ohio, north central West Virginia, and Maryland. Giant Eagle is
the first in that region to offer irradiated meat products in the form of 80
percent lean/20 percent fat and 93 percent lean/7 percent fat ground beef.
Educational point-of-purchase brochures and signs introduced meat department
customers to the concept and safety benefits of irradiated ground beef, nattily
packaged in opaque, one-pound tubes similar to ready-to-bake cookie dough.
Schnuck
Markets Inc. became the first supermarket chain in
the St. Louis area on January 13th to sell irradiated fresh ground beef and
frozen beef patties. Schnucks is selling fresh ground beef chubs
("chub" refers to the plastic packaging, similar to that of pork
sausage) supplied by Excel, a subsidiary of Cargill of Wichita, KS and frozen
beef patties which come from Huiskens of Sauk Rapids, Minn. The SureBeam
Corporation of San Diego, Calif. will irradiate the ground beef and beef patties
in their Sioux City, Iowa facility. Schnucks
first offered SureBeam irradiated
ground beef in its Peoria and Pekin, Ill. stores last winter. While sales of the
product met Schnucks expectations, a company spokesman says education is the key
to greater acceptance.
Schnuck
Markets, Inc. currently operates 102 stores and 93 pharmacies in Missouri,
Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Mississippi. This includes five
stores that operate as Logli Supermarkets and a stand-alone Sentry drug store.
Schnuck Markets, Inc. is currently ranked 83rd in the Forbes Magazine
listing of the nation's "Top 500 Private Companies."
Publix
supermarkets
began selling New Generation brand irradiated frozen ground beef patties,
boneless chicken breasts and chicken tenders from Colorado Boxed Beef Company on
January 13th. The Lakeland, Fla.-based chain will also consider offering fresh
irradiated products in the future. New Generation-brand products are processed
by Food Technology Service Inc., a Mulberry, Fla.-based, gamma-source
irradiation facility. Publix, with 711 stores in Florida, Georgia, South
Carolina, Alabama and in Tennessee later this year, is owned by its more than
119,000 employees and posted 2001 sales of $15.3 billion. www.publix.com.
Safeway
Eastern Division
began offering fresh irradiated ground beef on January 27th at all
136 supermarkets in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington, D.C. Safeway's
Eastern Division employs approximately 11,000 people and operates 136 stores,
including 16 in the District of Columbia, 75 in Maryland, 44 in Virginia and one
in Delaware.
Dierbergs
Markets
of St. Louis, MO added two new electronically irradiated fresh ground beef items
to its meat department on February 1, 2003. Dierbergs new items, a fresh
93-percent lean ground beef and an 85-percent lean ground round, which are
supplied by Excel, from its processing plant in Dodge City, Kan. Dierbergs
operate 19 stores in the St. Louis area.
Weis
Markets, Inc.
became
the first retailer in Central Pennsylvania to market irradiated ground beef in
the Central Pennsylvania area on February 2nd. The
irradiated fresh ground beef will be provided by SureBeam Corp., packaged in 1
pound trays - 85 percent lean and 1 pound packages - 93 percent lean patties. Founded
in 1912, Weis Markets currently operates 160 stores in six states: Pennsylvania,
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia.
Giant
Food Stores, based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on
February 3, 2003, joined the rapidly growing list of retailers offering SureBeam
processed fresh ground beef. Giant is offering irradiated fresh ground beef
in one-pound packages of 85-percent and 93-percent lean. The chain
operates a total of 113 stores in four states, under the name GIANT Food Stores
in Pennsylvania, and under the name MARTIN'S Food Markets in Maryland, Virginia,
West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. GIANT Food Stores is a part of
Royal Ahold, a Netherlands based company. Ahold is a leading food provider in
the United States and elsewhere with total sales of approximately USD 52
billion. Over 60% of its worldwide sales are currently generated in the
United States. GIANT Food Stores, LLC employs over 20,000.
ShopRite
supermarkets of Edison, NJ, the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United
States began selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef products in one-pound
case-ready packages of 85-percent and 93-percent lean, as well as one- and
three-pound chub packages in 85-percent and 93-percent lean on February 5, 2003.
From
a small, struggling cooperative with seven members – all owners of their own
grocery stores – Wakefern has grown into the largest retailer-owned
cooperative in the United States and one of the largest employers in New Jersey.
The cooperative is comprised of 38 members who individually own and operate
supermarkets under the ShopRite banner. Today, Wakefern Food Corporation, the
merchandising and distribution arm of the company, and the 200 ShopRite stores
located throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware,
employs more than 40,000 people. In 1999, America’s Second Harvest recognized
ShopRite as the Grocery Distributor of the year.
Associated
Wholesalers, Inc.,
based in Robesonia, Pennsylvania, began offering SureBeam processed fresh ground
beef products in one-pound case-ready packages of 85-percent and 93-percent
lean, and 93-percent lean patties on February 12, 2003. Currently, 52 central
Pennsylvania stores offer case-ready fresh ground beef processed with electron
beam technology.
Associated Wholesalers, Inc. operates as a cooperative food distributor and related products provider. The company also operates facilities in York, Pennsylvania and Scranton, Pennsylvania with customers located in seven states including Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, and New Jersey. Member/shareholders operate supermarkets, superettes, convenience stores, mass discounters and other retail formats.
Foodtown
located
in New Jersey and New York introduced irradiated fresh ground beef at all stores
in January. Foodtown operates stores in eastern New Jersey, Long Island,
the Bronx and the Westchester/Yonkers area.
Stop
& Shop, Inc. operates 326 supermarkets
in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. Stop &
Shop is a multibillion-dollar corporation and the largest food retailer in New
England and employs 41,000 associates in its network of stores, distribution
centers, manufacturing plants and offices, which stretch across more than 180
communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Rhode
Island.
Copps Food Markets of Wisconsin has begun to market
irradiated ground beef at all 21 stores.
Lombardi
Brothers Meats of Minneapolis foodservice provider is marketing
two irradiated ground beef products. Lombardi markets a 2:1 (1/2 pound) and a
3:1 (1/3 pound) ground beef products.
Performance
Food Group
(PFG), Richmond, Virginia has become the nation’s first foodservice provider
to market their own private-label line of irradiated frozen ground beef
products. PFG will offer 10 skus at the onset. The new products will be packed
under PFG’s West Creek label by Rochester Meats and boasts a new trademarked
“Smart Shield” food safety logo. Product launch is scheduled for
mid-February.
Chronological
List of Restaurants and Retailers Marketing Irradiated Ground Beef:
Huisken
Meat Company of
Sauk Rapids, MN began marketing frozen irradiated patties in May 2000. From an
initial distribution of 84 stores in the Twin Cities, distribution has grown to
thousands of stores in 30+ states. Huisken reported sales growth of 35 percent
in 2001 compared to 2000 and a 25 percent increase through June 2002. Huisken
Meat Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of JNR Holding Company, which also
owns Rochester Meat Company in Rochester, MN and Whiteford Food Products, Inc.
at Versailles, OH. Huiskens may be contacted at (320) 259-0305.
SuperValu
based in Eden Prairie, MN was one of the first supermarket chains in the US to
offer irradiated ground beef when they introduced Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in the Twin Cities on May 16, 2000. SuperValu is one of the largest
companies in the United States grocery channel. With annual revenues in excess
of $20 billion, Supervalu holds leading market share positions with its 1,260
retail grocery locations, including licensed Save-A-Lot locations. In addition,
the company provides distribution and related logistics support services to
approximately 4,280 grocery retail outlets.
Rainbow
Foods, a
Fleming Company based in Minneapolis, with 42 stores in Minnesota and 2 in
Wisconsin, shared the honor of being first to offer Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in the Twin Cities area. Rainbow has offered Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties (90/10 and regular ground beef) since May 16, 2000. Rainbow also markets
SureBeam processed papaya.
Cub
Foods based in
Stillwater, MN, was one of the first retailers in the US to offer irradiated
ground beef when they introduced Huisken BeSure irradiated patties in the Twin
Cities on May 16, 2000. Cub Foods has stores in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois
and Colorado.
Schwan's
based in Marshall, MN, began to sell irradiated frozen patties nationwide
through home delivery in late May 2000. All fresh/frozen ground beef at
Schwan’s is irradiated. Schwan’s markets irradiated ground chuck and quarter
pound patties in 3 pound packages. For delivery of Schwan’s irradiated burgers
to your doorstep phone; 1.888. Schwans or log on to www.schwans.com.
Nash Finch based
in Minneapolis, MN began marketing Huisken BeSure irradiated beef patties during
the summer of 2000. Nash Finch Company is one of the leading food retail
and distribution companies in the United States, with over $4.1 billion in
annual revenues. Nash Finch owns and operates a base of 112 retail stores,
principally supermarkets under the AVANZA,
Buy·n·Save, Econofoods and Sun Mart trade names. In addition to its
retail operations, Nash Finch Company's food distribution business serves
independent retailers and military commissaries in 28 states, the District of
Columbia and Europe.
Omaha Steaks
has marketed irradiated frozen patties since the summer of 2000. All ground beef
from Omaha Steaks is SureBeam processed. To place an order for Omaha Steaks’
irradiated burgers phone 1.800.228.9872 or by logging on at www.omahasteaks.com.
W.W.
Johnson, a
Minneapolis-based private label foodservice company established in 1946, began
to offer SureBeam
processed fresh
irradiated ground beef in patties and 10 pound rolls in May 2001. W.W. Johnson
private labels fresh ground beef for national and regional foodservice
distributors and chains including Sysco, US Foodservice, Rhinehart, Upper Lakes
Foods and Fraboni's. Sales of irradiated product through W.W. Johnson are coast
to coast and expanding steadily. About 10 percent of W.W. Johnson’s production
is irradiated. Contact W.W. Johnson at 1.612.721.6792.
Sysco: Currently 28 Sysco Foodservice Distribution
Centers are offering SureBeam processed ground beef to various foodservice
establishments. Some
of the areas with irradiated ground beef are Portland, ME; Kent, WA; Billings,
MT; Milwaukee, WI, Cleveland and Cincinnati, OH.
Winn Dixie based in Jacksonville, Florida operates
1060 stores in the Southeast and began marketing Huisken BeSure
irradiated patties in late 2001 and early 2002.
Kroger
began marketing Excel’s “Fairfield Farms” fresh ground beef at about a
dozen stores in February 2002 in the Peoria, Illinois area.
Schnuck's
stores in Illinois and Missouri began marketing Excel’s “Fairfield Farms”
fresh ground beef in February 2002 and in February 2003 expanded the offering of
irradiated ground beef to include fresh ground beef chubs ("chub"
refers to the plastic packaging, similar to that of pork sausage) supplied by
Excel, a of Wichita, Kan subsidiary of Minnesota-based Cargill.
Dairy Queen
based in Edina, MN began a test at two stores (Hutchinson and Spicer, MN) in
February 2002, and is now offering SureBeam processed irradiated
patties at nearly 100 Minnesota and South Dakota stores following a very
successful expansion in Central Minnesota (May) and the Twin Cities area
(July/August). The number of Dairy Queens offering SureBeam processed ground
beef from Birchwood Foods (Kenosha Beef) is steadily expanding. Dairy Queen’s
impressive point of sale materials including tray liners, table tents and
signage are a model for all restaurants to follow.
Wegmans Food Markets, based in Rochester, N.Y. in May 2002,
became the first supermarket chain in the nation to introduce irradiated fresh
ground beef under its own private-label brand—Wegmans Brand Irradiated Fresh
Ground Beef. The new line, produced at Excel Corp.'s Dodge City, Kan. plant, is
available in 90/10 (90 percent lean/10 percent fat) and 80/20 packages, and is
selling for 10 to 30 cents more a pound than ordinary fresh ground beef. Wegmans
currently operates 64 stores in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and
irradiated product is now being sold at all of its stores, Wegmans is no
newcomer in offering irradiated products. In May 2001, it introduced Fairview
Farms irradiated frozen ground beef patties, and its also carries a few
irradiated produce items in select stores. Wegmans reports that 15% of their
ground beef sales are irradiated with individual stores reporting that sales of
irradiated product are 45% of ground beef sales.
Lowes
Foods,
based in Winston-Salem, N.C. began offering SureBeam processed irradiated fresh,
ground beef to consumers at 48 of its 105 stores in early September 2002.
Products are being offered in 1-pound packages of 93-percent lean ground beef
and in 93-percent lean ground-beef patties.
D'Agostino Supermarkets in September, began offering
SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef in several case-ready product
formats. This chain operates 23 stores in New York City and suburban Westchester
County.
Pathmark Supermarkets, one of the top 15 supermarket
retailers in the countries with stores in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
announced it would sell SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef in
several case-ready offerings early in October.
Farm
Fresh Supermarkets
of Hampton Roads, Virginia in October became the first food retailer in that
area to offer case-ready fresh ground beef processed with SureBeam Corp.'s
electron-beam food irradiation technology. A SuperValu Company, Farm
Fresh has 37 stores located throughout Hampton Roads.
Farm Fresh is selling its irradiated, fresh ground beef in five packages--1 and
3-pound packages in 80-percent and 93-percent lean, as well as 1-pound packages
in 85-percent lean.
Champps: Two Milwaukee area Champps began serving SureBeam processed
irradiated ground beef in September 2002.
L
& L Packing Company
based in Chicago markets Quintessence Foods SureBeam processed frozen patties
known as “Grandma Burgers.”
Price Chopper based in Schenectady, N.Y. began selling irradiated fresh-ground beef in four varieties that includes 1- and 3-pound packages of 80-percent and 93-percent lean during October 2002. Price Chopper operates 102 stores system-wide and is a leading food retailer in a six state region including New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Pennsylvania.
Hy-Vee
Supermarkets began
selling SureBeam processed irradiated fresh ground beef from IBP on October 14,
2002 in five packages: 85- and 90-percent lean tray packs, 85- and 90-percent
lean rolls and 93-percent lean patties. Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee is one of
the nation's top 15 supermarket retailers and operates 188 stores in Iowa,
Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Clemens
Family Markets
of Philadelphia, with 19 stores in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware
Counties in Pennsylvania, began to offer SureBeam-processed case-ready fresh
ground beef in late October. Clemens
is selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef in one-pound case-ready packages
in 85-percent, 90-percent and 93-percent lean. Their case-ready packages
provide the customer a complete view of the product through a clear cellophane
covering. Clemens is a family-owned, regional supermarket business currently
celebrating their 63rd year
in business.
Giant
Foods of Landover, MD became the first food retailer in the
Baltimore-Washington, D.C., to offer irradiated fresh ground beef on November 5,
2002. Giant stores are selling two SureBeam-labeled irradiated ground beef
products: 93 percent lean and 85 percent lean.
Giant Food, a member of the Ahold USA group, operates
189 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and the District of
Columbia and employs more than 27,000 associates.
Fresh
Brands, Inc. a
supermarket retailer and grocery wholesaler based in Wisconsin, in December 2002,
began offering fresh irradiated ground beef through
corporate-owned retail, franchised and independent supermarkets. Stores are
located throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois under the Piggly Wiggly and
Dick's Supermarkets brands. Fresh Brands currently has 74 franchised
Piggly Wiggly supermarkets, 27 corporate-owned Piggly Wiggly and Dick's
Supermarkets and two distribution centers. The company controls nearly $1
billion in retail grocery sales.
Embers America Inc.,
a St. Paul, MN-based chain of full-service, family-style restaurants, has
introduced a line of irradiated hamburgers.
The famous Ember Burger is now irradiated. The
family-owned company, has 65 restaurants that are mostly franchisee operated,
and has branches throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Embers
America is the first full-service restaurant chain to offer irradiated meat.
Lunds/Byerly’s based in Edina, MN introduced Fairfield Farms brand fresh
irradiated ground chuck at all locations in early November 2002. Lunds/Byerly’s
was one of the first supermarket chains to sell Huisken BeSure irradiated
patties in May 2000. Byerly’s operates 11 stores in the Twin Cities and one in
St. Cloud. Lund’s has 8 stores in the Twin Cities area.
Jewel-Osco,
a 191-store unit of Boise, Idaho-based Albertson's Inc., started selling
irradiated ground beef at Chicago stores and some other locations on November
13th.
Hannaford
and Shop'n Save Supermarkets based in Scarborough, Maine began
offering case-ready irradiated fresh ground beef in 117 stores in Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Massachusetts in early November. The irradiated
product is offered in 93% and 85% lean fresh ground beef products in 1-lb.,
case-ready packages.
Pick
'n Save, the
retail division of Roundy's Inc., based in Pewaukee, WI, began offering a
limited supply of one-pound packs of irradiated fresh ground beef in November
2003. Nine other Pick 'n Save stores are also participating in the test sale.
Tim Wade, vice president of perishables for Pick 'n Save's parent, was quoted as
saying, "We felt these markets were a good cross section of
Wisconsin."
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:
Minneapolis, MN; February 23-25, UP Show (Upper Midwest Hospitality Show)
Portland, OR; March 4, 2003: Oregon Beef Council Irradiation Workshop
Raleigh, NC; March 19, 2003: North Carolina Beef Council Irradiation Workshop
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
Bismarck, ND: April 30, 2003: North Dakota Long Term Care Association Convention
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
Ft. 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
Ronald
F. Eustice
Executive Director
Minnesota Beef Council
2850 Metro Drive # 426
Bloomington, MN 55425
USA
Phone: 952/854-6980
Fax: 952/854-6906
Website:
www.mnbeef.org
1
FOOD
IRRADIATION UPDATE
Food
Irradiation Update is published by the
News
Watch: Irradiated Ground Beef Sold in More Stores
SureBeam Represents the State-of-the-Art in Electron
Beam Food Irradiation
New
Cold Storage Facility in Northeast to Offer Irradiation to the Food Industry
Performance
Food Group Introduces Irradiated Line: Private-label Food Safety Logo
Where’s
the (Irradiated) Beef?
Health
Upcoming
Irradiation Workshop in Portland, Oregon
World Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003 at
Chicago
Food
Irradiation Education Activities
News Watch: Irradiated Ground Beef Sold in More
Stores; More Retailers Sell Irradiated Ground Beef;
Supermarket News (February 10, 2003) NEW YORK -- From New England to
Missouri to Pennsylvania, additional retailers are now offering irradiated,
fresh ground beef processed by SureBeam
Corp. Giant Foods,
Surebeam Represents the State-of-the-Art in
Electron Beam Food Irradiation:
Agri-Marketing
magazine (February 2003) by Linda Leake, Contributing Editor:
Meet SureBeam Corporation,
a relatively new name in the field of food irradiation technology, but still a
seasoned and capable player. The firm was created in August 2000 when Titan
Corporation,
Under Oberkfell's leadership, SureBeam established its strategic direction and
completed its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on
According to Dan Henroid, director of
"We compete against several companies seeking to address the food safety
market, including firms offering gamma ray Cobalt 60 technology and alternatives
to irradiation, such as thermal sterilization, fumigation and chemical
washes," Oberkfell says. "However, we are the only company dedicated
exclusively to electron beam and X-ray system solutions in the
Unique Distinctions
Unquestionably, SureBeam built the nation's first electron beam facility
dedicated to meat, poultry and other food products (in Sioux City, Iowa). The
first electronically irradiated beef product sold commercially, marketed by
Huisken Meat Company, Sauk Rapids, Minn., was processed with SureBeam
technology. SureBeam also built the nation's first commercial X-ray facility in
Beginning
in late summer of 2002, SureBeam's momentum began to accelerate in the
"This was driven in part by the growing consumer demand for food safety due
to the heightened awareness since Sept. 11, as well as the USDA's own admission
last September that E. coli 0157:H7 is now believed to be more prevalent
than originally thought," Oberkfell says.
Currently,
SureBeam irradiated fresh ground beef is sold in at least 1,400 stores primarily
in the
SureBeam
has contracts with most of the nation's largest meat suppliers, plus other
commodity suppliers, such as Iowa Beef Processors and Cargill. All of this is
done with three food irradiation centers in the
According to Oberkfell, SureBeam's worldwide market is about 1.8 trillion pounds
within five major target categories: ground beef, poultry, processed meats,
seafood, and fruit and vegetables. The
New
Patent
On
"This patent further strengthens SureBeam's position as a leader in
electron beam and X-ray technology," says Oberkfell. "This is
particularly important since processing plants produce many different products
and packages in the same production runs."
For
its "great step" into food safety, SureBeam's technology is the winner
of Food Processing Magazine's "Innovation Award" for 2001.
SureBeam is also ranked by Deloitte and Touche as the 37th fastest-growing
technology company in the Orange County/San Diego region for 2002.
Oberkfell is enthusiastic about the future. "We're a new company
introducing a new technology into the food market," he says. "We have
made progress in the early stages of our growth, including gaining consumer and
retailer acceptance as well as building our brand awareness. There is enormous
potential before us, and we will measure our success over time.
"On
the day of SureBeam's IPO, one newspaper editorial referred to our company as
'the baby put out in the snowstorm'," Oberkfell says. "We have great
customer partners and a growing support network for our technology, so we feel
this infant has great prospects to grow up into a healthy adult." Freelance
journalist Linda L. Leake follows technology developments from her home base in
Cold
Storage Facility in Northeast to Offer Irradiation to the Food Industry:
(February 18, 2003) From a Press Release
CFC Logistics, Quakertown, Pa.-based cold storage facility, broke ground for the
installation of a new type of cobalt-60 irradiator. This irradiator will be
dedicated to meet the needs of the food industry in the Northeast Services
provided will meet the requirements for maintaining the cold chain of all
segments of the food industry including meat, poultry, fruits and vegetables,
and spices, manufactures, and retailers. "This provides a unique service
offering for food companies in the Northeast who wish to irradiate their food
and perishable products," said Jim Wood, President of CFC Logistics, Inc.
The facility will use the Genesis Irradiator(tm), designed by GrayStar, Inc. of
CFC Logistics, Inc.,
is a subsidiary of the Clemens Family Corporation of
Performance
Food Group Introduces Irradiated Line: Private-label Sports Food Safety
Logo: ID
Management Report (February 6, 2003): www.foodservicetoday.com
Performance
Food Group (PFG),
No.
3 in ID’s Top 50, the regional distributor will offer some 10 skus at the
outset. The new products will be packed under PFG's West Creek label by
Rochester Meats and will boast a new trademarked Smart Shield food safety logo.
The irradiation process utilized will be SureBeam Corp.'s electron beam
technology, also known as cold pasteurization.
Smart
Shield product selections will include six skus of 100 percent pure ground beef
patties, three skus of 100-percent USDA Black Angus premium patties, and one sku
of 100-percent bulk ground beef.
The food safety
benefits will be extremely advantageous for customers, PFG points
out At the same time, operators will be able to choose between
advertising the benefits or taking a more low-key approach-whichever makes them
more comfortable.
Some 800 DSRs will
undergo training on how to sell the line, which will launch in mid-February. DSR
support materials will include: a manual on key features, benefits and selling
strategies; an updated West Creek ground beef brochure with a special section on
Smart Shield products; Smart Shield table tents, Smart Shield frequently asked
question (FAQ) brochures for dispersal to operators for their own customer
education efforts; and West Creek Smart Shield coupons offering customer rebates
of up to $150. By Stephanie Salkin
Where's
the (Irradiated) Beef?: Agri-Marketing
magazine (February 2003) by Linda Leake, Contributing Editor:
Getting it in Your
Grocery Store is Getting to be Big Business; You
may love to sink your chops into a thick, juicy hamburger, but how confident are
you in the safety of ground beef? According to Ipsos-Reid, a market research
firm based in
Those percentages are expected to rise in the years ahead, thanks to one of the
most newsworthy and sometimes controversial technologies of this new century -
food irradiation.
Radiation Is the Energy, Irradiation Is the Process
Food
irradiation is the process of exposing food to controlled levels of a particular
form of electromagnetic energy known as ionizing radiation. This term is used to
describe these rays of energy because they cause whatever material they contact
to produce electrically charged particles called ions.
Ionizing
radiation is a part of the spectrum of electromagnetic energy that includes a
type of energy similar to radio and television waves, microwaves and infrared
radiation. However, the higher frequency and hence higher amount of energy
produced by ionizing radiation allows it to penetrate deeply into food, killing
microorganisms without significantly raising the food's temperature.
Within approved dosages, irradiation has been shown to kill at least 99.9
percent of common foodborne pathogens such as E. coli 0157:H7, Salmonella (various
species) and others, making hamburger, poultry, processed meats, eggs and
produce safer for consumers, while reducing liability for sellers.
Irradiation disrupts the DNA strands in pathogenic microorganisms, such as
bacteria, yeasts and molds, thereby either destroying the organism or preventing
its reproduction. Scientists often compare the process to thermal pasteurization
of milk.
Irradiation
also inactivates insect pests (particularly from fruits and vegetables) and
extends product shelf life. What's more, many people consider irradiation a more
desirable alternative to chemical or heat treatments to achieve these same
results because it leaves no residue or toxic by-products.
Making History
Following USDA's approval of a red meat irradiation protocol on
Wegmans Food Markets, based in
Now,
at least 30
The
Edina, Minn.-based International Dairy Queen became the first fast food chain in
the nation to include irradiated hamburger patties on its menu. More than 100
Dairy Queen franchises in
Setting
the Stage
After Nebraska's Hudson Foods' 1997 headline E. coli 0157:H7 ground beef
recall, Osterholm, as the Minnesota State Epidemiologist, contacted the
Minnesota Beef Council (MBC) and proposed that the Minnesota Department of
Health (MDH) and the MBC work together to make irradiated ground beef a
commercial reality.
Osterholm and the MBC began the education process by hosting a food safety
issues forum in November 1997. Forum participants learned about the history of
foodborne illnesses, food safety and irradiation technology. The benefits of and
objections to irradiation were also discussed. "The 'Minnesota Model' of
consumer education involving product sampling, informational workshops, press
releases and partnerships with public and private groups is serving as a
catalyst to expand the marketing of irradiated food nationwide and help make
ground beef and other foods some of the safest on the consumer's dinner
table," says Ron Eustice, MBC's executive director. Currently the MBC is
assisting about two dozen state beef councils, health departments and other
groups with educational workshops, product sampling and information
distribution.
"No opportunity was lost to present the facts and tell consumers about the
positive role that irradiation could play in stopping the spread of foodborne
disease in ground beef and other foods," Eustice adds. "The MBC, in
partnership with the MDH, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and other
supporters, put the critics on the defensive every time they came forward."
Market Misconceptions
Not surprisingly, there is some public concern about the use of irradiation on
food products.
A
small, but vocal minority of people do not believe that the quality and safety
of food remains unaltered after being exposed to radiant energy. Perhaps the
biggest misconception is that irradiation makes food radioactive, which simply
isn't true. However, reality suggests otherwise. Consider the facts:
* One billion lbs. of food products and ingredients are irradiated annually
worldwide(1);
* Ninety-seven million lbs. of food products are irradiated annually in the
* Five to 10 percent of all ground beef processed in the
"Demand for and availability of irradiated food is expected to rise,"
Eustice says, "due in large part to continued media coverage of
bioterrorism and meat recalls, which has heightened consumers' concerns about
food safety."
Moreover, according to the Centers for Disease Control, each year 76 million
Americans will contract a usually preventable foodborne illness; 325,000 of
those stricken will require hospitalization, and nearly 5,000 will die.
Research
studies have consistently shown that the key to consumer acceptance of
irradiation of food products is education, says Christine Bruhn, an Extension
consumer food marketing specialist with the University of California-Davis. Most
recently, a 2002 study conducted under the leadership of Kansas State University
ag economist Sean Fox reveals that information about irradiation has a
significant effect on attitudes toward the process.
"Only 32 percent of respondents who did not receive an informational
brochure with their survey form reported a positive attitude toward
irradiation," Fox relates. "Of those who received a brochure labeled
'Based on information provided by the food irradiation industry,' 66 percent
reported a positive attitude, while of those who received a brochure labeled
'Based on information provided by the Food and Drug Administration and the
United States Department of Agriculture' 76 percent reported a positive
attitude."
The bottom line, Fox summarizes, is that when given facts from reliable sources,
the majority of consumers have a favorable attitude about irradiation.
Irradiation
Choices
In
the
While these three types of ionizing radiation have the same effects on food,
there are some differences in how they work, says John Masefield, an executive
advisor with Steris/Isomedix Services, Inc., Menton, Ohio, and chairman of the
Food Irradiation Processing Alliance.
´´Gamma ray technology uses the radiation given off by a radioactive
substance, typically Cobalt 60, which is a radioactive isotope of the element
cobalt," Masefield explains. "Cobalt 60 gives off high energy photons,
called gamma rays, which can penetrate foods to a depth of several feet. It's
important to note that Cobalt 60 does not give off particulate radiation
(neutrons), which means it cannot make anything around it radioactive."
Electron
beam and X-ray irradiators - irradiation facilities - are operated by
electricity and do not use radioactive isotopes. The newest technology is X-ray
irradiation. "This is an outgrowth of e-beam technology and is still being
developed," Masefield mentions.
Several X-ray irradiation units have been built in recent years; however, some
experts feel this technology won't get widespread use for food irradiation.
That's because the higher electric power requirement will mean higher operating
costs compared to the other two technologies.
"Like cobalt gamma rays, X-rays can pass through thick foods, and require
heavy shielding for safety. However, like e-beams, the machine can be switched
on and off, and no radioactive substances are involved," Masefield
explains.
Regardless of the type of energy source used, the actual irradiation process
takes place at the food processing facility, after packaging in initial boxes or
final cartons, or at an irradiation service center.
Big
Business
Electron beam, X-ray and gamma ray food irradiation facilities are all
multimillion-dollar propositions. It is possible to install a small in-plant, or
even online, irradiation processing system, but the cost will still be at least
$2 million to $4 million, industry insiders say.
The cost per unit processed with these small systems is higher than the unit
processing costs in large irradiation facilities, due to lower throughputs -
fewer pounds of product irradiated per year. The increase in cost for irradiated
foods over non-irradiated ones is estimated at 2 to 3 cents per pound for fruits
and vegetables and 3 to 8 cents per pound for meat products.
Key
Players
Food Technology Service Inc., Mulberry, Fla., was the first irradiation company
in North America dedicated to the food market. Since 1993, Food Tech has been
using gamma irradiation to treat a wide variety of products including spices,
produce, poultry and food packaging.
Around 1994, Food Tech created the Nations Pride label to help food companies
bring irradiated products to market, including fresh and frozen poultry, fruits
and vegetables.
"In those early days, most companies didn't want it known that their
products were irradiated," says Jim Jones, Food Tech's vice president of
sales and marketing. "So we developed the Nations Pride label to provide
them with a marketing venue that allowed them to maintain their anonymity."
SureBeam
Corporation is currently the only U.S. company dedicated exclusively to
developing electron beam and X-ray irradiation systems. SureBeam owns and
operates three commercial irradiation centers in the United States, which are
located in Sioux City, Iowa, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
In addition to Food Tech and SureBeam, at least 16 companies are known to be
working on food irradiation processing or equipment manufacturing. The key
players include Ion Beam Applications, Oakbrook, Ill.; Gray Star Inc., Mt.
Arlington, N.J.; Revis Services/Puridec, United Kingdom; and Steris/Isomedix,
Menton, Ohio.
Prominent academic institutions that are making food irradiation research a high
priority include Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, which uses electron beams as
its irradiation energy source, and Texas A&M University (TAMU), College
Station, Texas. Collaborating with SureBeam Corporation, TAMU opened a $10
million research facility in May 2002, which features electron beam and X-ray
energy sources.
"Irradiation is the most extensively researched food treatment process in
the history of mankind," Masefield emphasizes.
Labeling
In
the United States, all electronically irradiated food, whether processed with
gamma rays, electron beams or X-rays must be labeled with the international
symbol for irradiation, known as the radura, along with one of several phrases
acceptable to FDA and USDA, such as Radiation" or "Treated by
Irradiation.
"If
the irradiated product is to be used as an ingredient in a further processed
product, the radura symbol or special labeling is not required unless the
irradiated ingredient is meat or poultry (i.e. "potatoes, irradiated ground
beef, natural flavors").
Retail food service providers are not required to disclose that their food
products have been irradiated. Nonetheless, Dairy Queen and Embers America
franchises make a point of letting customers know they serve irradiated ground
beef. This is accomplished with signs, table tents, tray liners and
informational brochures.
"From the beginning, we wanted to be completely upfront and honest with our
customers, and to educate them about the increased food safety benefits of
irradiated ground beef," says Dean Peters, director of communications with
International Dairy Queen. "We needed customer feedback to help determine
if selling irradiated hamburgers would be a viable and widely-accepted long-term
plan for our company and franchisees. More than 95 percent of the customers we
surveyed at our 80 restaurants responded that they are more likely, slightly
more likely, or significantly more likely to come back and eat an irradiated
hamburger again."
Several food industry groups and other food irradiation proponents are seeking
to change the labeling requirements and to allow the use of words such as
"cold pasteurization" or "electronic pasteurization" instead
of "irradiation" or "radiation," which sound so much like
the dreaded "radioactive."
Great Potential
According to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, U.S. households
purchased an average of 50 pounds of ground beef in 2001, which was 51 percent
of all beef purchased. Ground beef represented 75 percent of all beef servings
in commercial restaurants, for a total of some 8.2 billion servings. Moreover,
ground beef accounted for 43 percent of all beef purchased by foodservice
operators, or 4.42 billion pounds.
Since ground beef is so popular, irradiation of this staple appears to have a
dynamic and limitless future.
"Irradiation will become fashionable as retailers and consumers
increasingly understand that this process can be used to improve the safety of
our food supply without measurably compromising the quality or nutritional
value," Steris/Isomedix's Masefield says.
"I predict that by 2010 irradiated beef will be as readily available as
pasteurized milk is today," MBC's Eustice says. "Irradiation is
destined to become the fourth pillar of public health along with pasteurization,
immunization and chlorination."
(1) International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation.
(2) General Accounting Office study, 2000.
(3) Glenn Grimes, agriculture economist, University of Missouri-Columbia.
Linda L. Leake is a freelance journalist who purchases irradiated fresh
ground beef at her neighborhood grocery store, Lowe's Foods, Wilmington
OTTAWA- Health Canada, in response to requests for additional time to consider
the regulatory proposal, is extending the official comment period for Canadians
to present their views on the proposed regulatory changes to expand the list of
irradiated foods allowed to be sold in Canada.
Instead of the end of this week, the new deadline will be March 21, 2003. Prepublication of the proposals was in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on November 23, 2002. The proposed additions to the table are: fresh and frozen ground beef, fresh and frozen poultry, prepackaged fresh, frozen, prepared and dried shrimp and prawns, and mangoes.
Information on the proposed amendments
can be found on Health Canada's Website at: http://www.hc
sc.gc.ca/food-aliment/e_index.html Comments can be sent by e-mail to: irradiation@hc-sc.gc.ca
Or by fax at: 613-941-3537 or by traditional mail to:
Ronald Burke
Director
Bureau of Regulatory, International and Interagency Affairs
Health Canada
Address Locator 0702C1
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0L2
Upcoming Irradiation Workshop in
Oregon –The Oregon Beef Council is hosting an Irradiation
Workshop Tuesday March 4 from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm at the Food Innovation Center
located at 1207 NW Naito Parkway in Portland. Speakers
and presentations will include: Dr. Emilio DeBess, Oregon Department of Health,
Michelle Torno, R.D. MN Beef Council and Ron Eustice, Exec. Dir., MN Beef
Council. Space is limited, only those with reservations will be able to attend.
Please call Oregon Beef Council office at 503/274-2333 to reserve your spot. Contact
Dianne Byrne Johnston at Dianne@orbeef.org
or Ron Eustice at reustice@mnbeef.orbis.net
World Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003 at Chicago:
The World Irradiation Congress is scheduled for May 5 to 7, 2003, at Chicago's
McCormick Place. The international event will provide a comprehensive technical
and scientific forum to promote the technology and benefits of food irradiation
around the globe. The congress will examine the future of food irradiation in a
comprehensive program that includes analysis of the: Global situation and
outlook on the use of irradiation as a sanitary and phytosanitary treatment;
Major markets and market trends; Technological developments, such as irradiation
facilities and quality assurance; Investment opportunities; A visit to a
commercial food irradiator; a buyer-seller business conference and technical
sessions.
The keynote speaker on May 5 (Monday) will be Dr. Elsa Murano, USDA
Undersecretary for Food Safety, speaking on "Food safety from farm to fork:
the role of food irradiation."
Other top speakers include the CEOS of FMI and GMA; the presidents of IFT and
the International Union of Food Science and Technology; the director of National
Food Safety & Toxicology Center at Michigan State University; and top
officials from the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, the International Consultative Group on Food
Irradiation, the Minnesota Beef Council and such companies as Huisken Meat Co.,
International Dairy Queen Inc., Food Technology Service Inc. and Hawaii Pride
Inc.
For more information and to register, contact:
The National Food Safety & Toxicology Center
Michigan State University
165 Food Safety & Toxicology Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1302
517/432-3100
Website:
www.foodsafe.msu.edu/Congress/congress.html or www.foodsafe.msu.edu.
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:
Minneapolis, MN; February 23-25, UP Show (Upper Midwest Hospitality Show)
Portland, OR; March 4, 2003: Oregon Beef Council Irradiation Workshop
Raleigh, NC; March 19, 2003: North Carolina Beef Council Irradiation Workshop
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
Ft. 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
FOOD
IRRADIATION UPDATE
FEBRUARY 14, 2003
Food Irradiation Update is
published by the Minnesota Beef Council
All
Hats Off To The American National CattleWomen (ANCW)
U.S.
Food Industry Begins to Embrace Irradiation
Dierberg Markets Offer Choice of Irradiated Ground Beef
Irradiated
Burgers Featured at Illinois Governor Inauguration
Irradiated Meat Due in Atlanta Area Stores; Treated
Chicken, Beef at Publix
Weis Markets to Begin Selling Irradiated Ground Beef
Safeway to Sell Irradiated Fresh Ground Beef in
Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Giant Eagle Introduces Irradiated Beef
Upcoming Irradiation Workshop in Portland, Oregon
World Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003 at Chicago
Food
Irradiation Education Activities
Quotable Quotes
"In the last 12 months, irradiation of raw ground beef has moved from one
of a constellation of anti-microbial treatment options to the technology of
choice for controlling E. coli O157:H7."
Meat Marketing Technology, January 2003
"I would estimate the total volume currently being irradiated under 5
percent (of beef production), but we are anticipating an exponential growth
curve,"
Janet Riley, spokeswoman for the American Meat Institute (AMI).
"I look at this (irradiation) as it evolves and becomes more accepted as
one of the true pillars of public health, along with chlorination of water and
pasteurization of milk. " People had concerns about microwave ovens 30
years ago. "Nobody protests microwaves anymore."
Dr. Daniel Lafontaine, Director,South Carolina Meat & Poultry Inspection
Department.
"The effort to educate consumers on the benefits and safety of
irradiated ground beef acquired a powerhouse ally. Members of the American
National CattleWomen (ANCW) have joined the effort to promote and educate
consumers about irradiated ground beef."
All Hats Off To The National CattleWomen:
(
Patti Townsend, Roswell, NM, president of the 3,200-member ANCW organization,
and ANCW vice president Susie Magnuson of Eaton, CO, tell BEEF Cow-Calf Weekly
that the first steps in the effort will begin during the organization's five
regional meetings this spring.
"Irradiation is another important safety measure that we need to use,"
says Townsend, a seedstock operator, in explaining the organization's
commitment.
Magnuson, a farmer-feeder, says she's convinced individual animal identification
is coming to the U.S. beef industry. Besides the obvious food safety merits of
the technology to consumers, she says its widespread use also offers protection
to producers.
"When that animal leaves my place, I lose control. If I have good beef
quality and safety programs in place and I'm committed to them, irradiation will
move the point of responsibility further away from the producer."
Among the most elated with the ANCW news are Minnesota Beef Council (MBC) staff
Ron Eustice and Michelle Torno, along with Minnesota cattlemen and women. This
state has been a driving force in an effort that in less than three years has
seen irradiated ground beef product move from absolutely no retail availability
to a presence on the menus and shelves of thousands upon thousands of
restaurants and retail grocery stores in the U.S. In addition, it's very likely
that irradiated ground beef could begin to show up on federal school lunch menus
before the end of this academic year.
Because of its success in Minnesota, the MBC has been asked and has been
consulting with almost a score of other state beef councils in the U.S.
interested in recreating what's come to be called "The Minnesota
Model." Meanwhile, national trade industry groups for producers, packers
and retailers, such as the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the American
Meat Institute and the Food Marketing Institute, respectively, have refused to
financially support the irradiation promotion and education effort on a national
level.
"ANCW's decision is great news," says Eustice, MBC executive
director." It's a unique opportunity to combine ANCW's extensive contacts
with the resources that the MBC has to offer. This ANCW/MBC partnership will
help fill a void in meeting a growing need to educate consumers, retailers and
school representatives about irradiation. This is an initiative that will
greatly bolster public health in the U.S., eliminate suffering and save
countless lives among vulnerable children and adults."
The ANCW effort will formally kick off at this spring's ANCW's five regional
meetings, says Magnuson. Part of those meetings will consist of a two-hour,
training and education workshop led by MBC staff on the irradiation technology
and its safety and benefits. All ANCW members are invited to attend those
meetings, Townsend says.
"We won't allow anyone who hasn't gone through that training to promote
irradiation," Magnuson says. "We need very informed spokespeople out
front meeting with consumers."
Following that, the women say, the level of participation in the promotion and
education effort will depend on the level of sponsorships received to cover the
expense of the program. Product sampling and promotion efforts, they say, will
be concentrated in larger cities, particularly in the heavily urban eastern
states that don't have an ANCW resource.
The ANCW organization deserves a big dose of gratitude from producers and
consumers for taking a national lead in this effort. Anyone familiar with the
zeal and the promotional prowess that ANCW historically brings to its
commitments should realize what a boon its involvement will be to this food
safety effort. Let's hope those controlling the dollars needed for the effort
are half as sharp. By Joe Roybal
U.S. Food Industry Begins to Embrace Irradiation: January 31,
2003 (Reuters) - Stung by record recalls of tainted meat last year, the
U.S. food industry is stepping up the use of new technology to irradiate meat as
an extra protection against deadly bacteria such as E. coli and listeria.
Just
a small part of the 9 billion pounds of ground beef sold in the United States
last year was irradiated, but the amount is growing rapidly, despite concerns
voiced by some consumer groups about the unknown long-term effects on health.
"I
would estimate the total volume currently being irradiated under 5 percent (of
beef production), but we are anticipating an exponential growth curve,"
said Janet Riley, spokeswoman for the American Meat Institute (AMI).
Irradiation
exposes products to ionizing radiation that kills 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.
BIG INCREASES
Irradiation
began to ramp up late last year after the largest meat recall in U.S. history.
In October, Pilgrim's Pride Corp. (CHX) recalled 27.4 million pounds of poultry
products because of an outbreak of listeria, a potentially deadly bacteria. The
outbreak that prompted the recall was blamed for killing eight people and making
more than 40 sick.
Food
companies see irradiation as another barrier of protection against bacteria that
can cause food-borne illness, especially to protect children, the elderly and
those with weakened immune systems.
SureBeam
Corp. (SURE) , the largest provider of the technology, said it expects to
process between 300 million and 350 million pounds of beef this year, up from
about 15 million in 2002
"Irradiation
eliminates 99.9 percent of the pathogens such as E. coli, salmonella and
listeria without changing the taste, texture, appearance or nutritional value of
the meat," said John Fox, associate professor of agricultural economics at
Kansas State University. "In spite of its name, the process cannot make
food radioactive."
The
Food and Drug Administration permits three types of ionizing radiation on foods:
gamma rays, high-energy electrons and X-rays. Irradiation is widely used
to sterilize many non-food products, including toothbrushes, home-use adhesive
bandage strips and surgical tools, although at doses much higher than used for
food. Irradiation has been used to kill insects in wheat flour since 1963 and
used on common kitchen spices since 1983.
Still,
critics say irradiation may deplete vitamins and nutrients, and that irradiated
food contains chemical byproducts that may be harmful. They say irradiation is
an effort by meat packers and processors to cover up sloppy food-handling
processes. Washington-based consumer group Public Citizen, for example, is
calling for studies on the long-term effects of treated meat on children. In the
meantime, they oppose the use of irradiation for beef supplied by the
Agriculture Department for school meals.
"A
decision to feed schoolchildren irradiated food would mean this agency (USDA) is
willing to put our children's health at risk to help cover up the meat
industry's sanitary failures," said Wenonah Hauter, director of Public
Citizen's Critcal Mass Energy and Environment Program.
Also,
if irradiated food is permitted in school lunches, it will not be labeled in the
way that irradiated retail food must be, making it impossible for parents to
know what school cafeterias are feeding their children, critics point out.
The
FDA requires irradiated meat be labeled with a symbol resembling a stylized
flower and the words "treated by irradiation."
IMMEDIATE
BENEFITS
Meat industry experts said irradiation is no "silver bullet" and
proper food handling at home remains critical. Meat can be contaminated by
residue from other foods or by utensils used to prepare other meals. Cooking of
ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit can kill E.
coli and listeria, the Beef Council said.
Still,
the proven benefits are clearly winning over many consumers and health care
officials, and use of the technology is taking off. A nationwide survey
conducted by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association found that 48 percent of
Americans would purchase irradiated meat. That response in November 2002 was up
from 38 percent in February. Industry officials said that small doses of
irradiation should not affect the taste of the meat.
The
World Health Organization has endorsed irradiation, saying it is one of the most
effective food decontamination methods available for meat and poultry products.
"On
the average, one major retail (food) chain has rolled out irradiated ground beef
every week basically since last August," said Ron Eustice, executive
director of the Minnesota Beef Council. He said about 4,000 supermarkets carry
either fresh irradiated ground beef or frozen products. Supermarket companies
Safeway Inc. (SWY) , Albertson's Inc. (ABS) and Giant Eagle Inc. have all signed
on to sell irradiated meat at some of their stores.
MEAT PROCESSORS
TAKE ACTION
The number of packers and processors irradiating beef is growing rapidly. They
are beginning to contract for irradiation capability in their plants instead of
at remote locations. Excel, a division of Minnesota-based Cargill Inc., plans to
install electron beam irradiation facilities at its packing plants in Schuyler,
Nebraska, and Plano, Texas. Rochester, Minnesota-based TeMeats, and
Minnesota-based W.W. Johnson Co. have announced plans to market irradiated
product. The former ConAgra Foods Inc. (CAG) slaughterhouse in Greeley,
Colorado, now operating as Swift and Co., has committed more than $4 million to
increase food safety and plans later this year to have some of its meat
irradiated. In July, the plant was the focal point of the third-largest beef
recall in history when the company recalled almost 19 million pounds of beef
because of E. coli concerns.
"Irradiated
ground beef will become the gold standard at food service in the next two to
three years," said the Minnesota Beef Council's Eustice. "Food
irradiation will take its rightful place as the fourth pillar of public health
alongside pasteurization of milk, immunization against disease and chlorination
of our water supply -- and that will take place in the next decade. By Jerry
Bieszk
Dierberg
Markets Offer Choice of Irradiated Ground Beef:
(February 1, 2003) From a press release: Dierbergs Markets of St.
Louis, MO has added two new electronically irradiated fresh ground beef items to
its meat department giving customers ground beef options with an extra measure
of protection against foodborne illness. Dierbergs new items, a fresh 93-percent
lean ground beef and an 85-percent lean ground round, are supplied by Excel,
from its processing plant in Dodge City, Kan. Its route to Dierbergs 19
stores includes a stop in Sioux City, Iowa, where the packaged product is
electronically irradiated at a facility operated by San Diego-based SureBeam
Corp.
More than 500 studies over 40 years of research support irradiation as a safe
and effective method of enhancing the safety of foods. The Food and Drug
Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture approve its use.
It's a healthy choice endorsed by the American Medical Association, the American
Dietetic Association and other health organizations. Irradiated beef is on
the shelves of more than 4,000 U.S. grocery stores and is available in more than
40 countries.
Dierbergs'
irradiated ground-beef and ground-round will be clearly identified on meat
department shelves with the SureBeam seal, the FDA-required "Radura,"
an internationally accepted symbol for irradiation, and the words
"Irradiated for Food Safety."
John May, Dierbergs' director of meat and seafood operations, stressed that
beyond the food-safety benefits, Dierbergs irradiated meats were
indistinguishable from the store's comparable non-irradiated product.
"Irradiated ground beef is just as flavorful, juicy and nutritious as its
non-irradiated counterparts…the advantage is the extra layer of safety,"
May said.
Dierbergs and SureBeam advocate that customers follow the same handling
guidelines for irradiated fresh ground as they would for any raw-meat product,
including refrigeration and cooking to an internal temperature of 160 degrees
Fahrenheit.
The
Irradiated Chef: More Stores are Stocking Meat Products That Have Undergone
Radiation Treatment to Kill Bacteria. Should You Buy Them?
The State; Columbia, SC (January 23, 2003)
Meat that's been zapped by radiation to kill bacteria is coming soon to a
frozen-food section near you - or might be there already. Whether you'll
ever want to try these products may depend on which you fear more: the word
"radiation," or food-borne bugs that could make you deathly ill with
diarrhea.
Some
supermarket chains are betting that recalls of contaminated foods and recent E.
coli and listeria outbreaks finally have created a small niche for irradiated
meat products.
"We
have been watching the industry as it relates to irradiated meats, and decided
the timing was right to offer our customers a choice," said Brenda Reid, a
spokeswoman for Publix. Publix and other stores see potential demand among
people who must be extra-vigilant about food contamination because their immune
systems are weakened by AIDS or by aggressive treatments for cancer.
Irradiated
foods offer a health advantage for people who need to use the safest possible
product, said Mickey Clerc, a Winn-Dixie spokesman.
Irradiated hamburger patties have been available at Winn-Dixie stores for about
a year. Piggly Wiggly will introduce a similar product later this month. Publix
just added three irradiated products: lean ground-beef patties, boneless chicken
breasts and chicken tenders, all frozen.
And in March, Bi-Lo plans to become the first major supermarket chain in South
Carolina to offer an irradiated product that will be sold fresh (ground beef).
It's "just another choice for consumers," said Joyce Smart,
spokeswoman for Mauldin-based Bi Lo. "There really is a need for safety,
because people don't cook their meat properly," added Smart, who admitted
she likes her own burgers rare.
HOW IT WORKS
Food-borne
outbreaks are not always deadly. But they can be, especially among children and
the elderly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in 1999
that about 5,000 Americans die each year from food-borne diseases, which
typically cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps and diarrhea.
More recently, at least 120 illnesses and 20 deaths from listeria poisoning
occurred last summer and fall in the Northeast; 27 million pounds of turkey and
chicken products were recalled.
Zapping food with low-level radiation doesn't cook it, but disrupts the DNA of
bacteria or insects enough to kill them, said Daniel Lafontaine, director of the
South Carolina Meat and Poultry Inspection Department. Irradiated products cost
5 to 20 cents more per pound, he said.
The technology behind irradiation has been around for many decades. Astronauts'
food is irradiated, as a precaution against their contracting a food-related
ailment while an inconvenient 200,000 or so miles from the nearest emergency
room.
There
are two main methods for irradiation, a gamma-ray process and an electronic-beam
technique. (At high levels, the latter technique is being used on
anthrax-infected mail.)
Foods
are passed through a radiation field quickly - think of an airport luggage
scanner - and a similar procedure is used to sterilize medical products such as
sutures and contact lens solutions.
"It
doesn't make the product radioactive," said Lafontaine, who has eaten
irradiated meats and pronounced them "quite good."
Public health and agriculture officials are among the proponents of irradiation.
"I look at this as it evolves and becomes more accepted as one of the true
pillars of public health, along with chlorination of water and pasteurization of
milk," Lafontaine said.
Irradiation
has been approved as safe by agencies including the Food and Drug
Administration, the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association,
the American Dietetic Association and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
But that doesn't mean everyone thinks it's a good idea.
IRRADIATION
WORRIES
Public
Citizen, the consumer watchdog organization founded by Ralph Nader, says
irradiation is no substitute for cleaning up filthy slaughterhouse conditions
that can cause contamination.
Consumer
groups voice concerns about possibly cancer-causing chemicals formed in food
that is irradiated, and cite studies showing illnesses in animals such as mice
that have been fed irradiated foods. Other worries focus on safety at
irradiation facilities.
Critics also say irradiation destroys vitamins and other nutrients. That's true,
Lafontaine said, but any type of processing results in a loss of nutrients,
including boiling vegetables on the stove. He said carcinogenic effects can be
minimized by careful attention to packaging materials when foods are irradiated
- similar to the care one must take when cooking food in a microwave oven.
Dominick
Quinzi, who manages Earth Fare on Devine Street, said its "natural is
best" philosophy relies on suppliers to ensure high standards of
sanitation, handling and packaging. "It's our company's policy not to carry
any irradiated foods," Quinzi said. He declined to be specific about claims
of danger, "but there are health risks."
Carolyn Jenkins, a registered nurse and dietitian who teaches at the Medical
University of South Carolina, said compounds formed by irradiating meat are the
same as those produced by other processes, including some cooking methods. She
said she prefers the risk of irradiation to the risk of food poisoning. "It
would be wonderful if our food supply were perfectly safe, but we all know
that's not the case," she said.
Irradiation is available for produce as well, extending the shelf life of
strawberries and killing a parasitic fly on Hawaiian papayas. No stores
contacted have immediate plans to offer irradiated produce in South Carolina.
Lafontaine
said irradiated products have been slow to come to the marketplace because of
grocers' worries about public perceptions, not because of safety hazards.
Jenkins
said she expects people will look more favorably on irradiation as they learn
more about it - especially with more than 300,000 hospitalizations a year
occurring from food-borne illnesses. "When you look at any new process, it
takes a while for the public to feel safe," she said.
Lafontaine agreed, noting the concerns people had about microwave ovens 30 years ago. "Nobody protests microwaves anymore," he said. By Linda Lamb
Irradiated Burgers Featured at Illinois Governor Inauguration: The Illinois Beef Association partnered with the Illinois Institute of Technology and SureBeam Corporation to serve irradiated hamburger patties at the inauguration BBQ for Governor Blagojevich in Springfield, IL on January 13th.
Irradiated Meat Due in Area Stores; Treated Chicken, Beef at Publix:
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution (January 13, 2003): From
supermarket shelves to the school lunch program, irradiated food is inching its
way into the American diet. The technology, which bombards food with
ionizing radiation to kill bacteria that can cause food-borne illness, is
unfamiliar to many. That's likely to change.
Thousands of grocery stores began selling irradiated, uncooked ground beef last
year, a year that also saw the largest and third-largest recalls in U.S. history
of meat potentially contaminated with deadly bacteria. The first major
chain in Atlanta to do so, Publix, planned to start offering treated frozen
ground beef and chicken this weekend under the New Generation label at its 108
metro stores. Kroger is considering it.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture just began studying how to incorporate
irradiated foods into the school lunch program; they could be available as soon
as this fall. The Food and Drug Administration is considering a proposal to use
the technology on seafood and processed foods like deli meats and hot dogs,
which would greatly expand its reach; a ruling could come this year. (Last year
32 million pounds of ready-to-eat chicken and turkey deli meat were recalled
because of potential contamination with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, the
largest such action ever.) And a handful of restaurants are serving irradiated
meat.
For many consumers, questions remain, starting with the most basic: What does it
do, and is it safe?
The process not only kills bacteria but also extends shelf life and kills
insects. First approved 40 years ago for insect control in wheat, irradiation
slowly has gained regulatory approval for use on other foods. Depending on how
it's applied, the process can impart an off flavor, especially to foods high in
fat.
The World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and many other health agencies say irradiation is safe, and that treated foods
are not radioactive. They say it provides an additional safeguard against
bacteria that can cause food-borne illness, especially among children, the
elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
A few consumer advocacy groups, including Public Citizen, urge caution,
contending the process causes chemical changes in the food that could cause
unknown long-term health problems. Other consumer groups, like Center for
Science in the Public Interest, say the process is safe but want tougher
enforcement of sanitation rules at meat plants rather than relying on
irradiation to eliminate potential problems.
Although many public health organizations endorse irradiation, the process has
been slow to gain consumer acceptance. Several events in the past 18 months have
raised its profile, starting with the U.S. Postal Service's announcement that it
would irradiate mail to kill anthrax bacteria, a plan that has since been scaled
back.
A question of labels
A
provision in last year's farm bill says that the USDA cannot prohibit its use in
the school lunch program. It also directs the FDA to consider replacing
"treated with radiation" or "treated by irradiation"
(irradiation means treatment with radiation) on labels with other terms.
SureBeam Corp. of San Diego, which supplies much of the irradiated ground beef
sold in supermarkets, shipped some 16 million pounds of fresh beef in 2002. For
this year, the company estimates it will produce 350 million pounds. That's
still a sliver of the 9.8 billion pounds of ground beef sold annually.
"We believe the potential is far greater than being a niche market,"
says Mark Stephenson, a SureBeam vice president. "And we don't think that
time is such a long way away."
SureBeam plans to ask the FDA to let it replace "irradiation" on
package labels with another phrase, perhaps "electronically
pasteurized," to increase consumer acceptance. Food Technology Services,
which irradiates the ground beef and chicken for Publix, does not.
"I think the word 'irradiation' is a badge of honor," says company
President Richard Hunter, who acknowledges that many Americans have different
views. "Consumers would be more accepting if it said something else."
Others selling irradiated food share those concerns. Irradiated food sold at
retail must carry an identifying label and the radura symbol, except for spices
used as a small component of another food product. Restaurants and food service
operators are not required to tell diners that they're serving irradiated food.
Some don't.
School lunch programs
The USDA is starting an education program about irradiation in Minnesota
schools. Schools that do decide to serve irradiated meat --- and they will have
a choice of whether to buy it --- will be encouraged to disclose that
information to parents, says USDA spokeswoman Alisa Harrison.
Publix has briefed its employees on the irradiation process and plans signs on
freezer cases to let customers know about the ground beef patties, boneless
chicken breasts and breast tenderloins. The 741-store chain is one of the few to
offer chicken, but wanted to do so because both meats can harbor harmful
bacteria, says spokeswoman Brenda Reid.
Publix's irradiated meats are treated with cobalt 60 irradiation; most
supermarkets buy food treated with an electron beam or X-rays generated by a
linear accelerator.
Scientifically, there is no difference in the end results, says Elsa Murano,
USDA's undersecretary for food safety. "It doesn't matter what source you
use," Murano says. "Irradiation is irradiation."
Heidi Harrison of Atlanta says she will probably buy treated chicken to cut the
risk of food-borne illness. The extra cost, 10 to 20 cents more per pound,
doesn't deter her. "If it's something to make (it) healthier or better, it
would be worth paying more money," Harrison says.
Fresh irradiated ground beef, available at some supermarkets around the country
but not (until now) in Atlanta, has persuaded many consumers to take the plunge.
Wegmans Food Markets in the Northeast began selling fresh, irradiated ground
beef in May, and during barbecue season it accounted for 30 percent of all
ground beef sales. At Wegmans, customers were told they could cook burgers rare
if made with irradiated meat, something the USDA and irradiation companies
advise against.
They say that although irradiation provides an additional level of safety,
treated products should still be handled like untreated ones. That means cooking
thoroughly and preventing cross-contamination with foods that will be eaten
without cooking, like salads.
"Just because it's irradiated doesn't mean all pathogens have been
eliminated," says Mike Doyle, director of the University of Georgia's
Center for Food Safety in Griffin. By Elizabeth Lee
Weis Markets to Begin Selling Irradiated Ground Beef : (January
29, 2003) From a press release
SUNBURY, Pa. -- Weis Markets, Inc. (NYSE: WMK) began selling irradiated
fresh ground beef on February 2 in stores throughout its marketing area in
Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia.
The Company said it would be the first to market with irradiated fresh ground
beef products in many of its Central Pennsylvania markets including Harrisburg,
Lancaster and York. SureBeam Corporation will supply the irradiated fresh ground
beef products to Weis Markets.
SureBeam's patented technology utilizes electricity as an energy source to
irradiate fresh ground beef, greatly reducing the threat of E. coli, Listeria
and Salmonella. The SureBeam process also extends the freshness and shelf
life of irradiated ground beef products. Since it is known as a cold
process, it does not significantly increase the temperature of the ground beef
being processed. Beginning February 2, Weis Markets will sell fresh irradiated
ground beef in 1 lb. packages - 85% lean and 1 lb. packages
- 93% lean patties. The packages will be clearly labeled and marked as
being processed through the SureBeam method.
"Throughout our company, our associates work diligently to maintain the
highest food safety standards," said Weis Markets President Norman S. Rich.
"SureBeam fresh irradiated ground beef offers customers an extra level of
safety without sacrificing quality or taste. Every day our customers get
our best including more options and better quality. It's what they have
come to expect from Weis Markets."
Food irradiation has been approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, the American
Medical Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American
Dietetic Association and the U.S. Surgeon General have endorsed this process.
Studies have shown that food irradiation improves food safety, particularly for
people vulnerable to food borne illnesses, including those who are diabetics,
transplant patients, cancer patients, HIV/AIDS patients, and the elderly.
Experts note that food irradiation is not a substitute for proper food handling.
People using ground beef products should: clean all surfaces touched by ground
beef products; avoid cross contamination with other foods and take care to use
separate cutting boards and utensils for cooked and uncooked foods; and cooking
ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Customers should
also chill food within two hours of purchase or preparation.
Founded in 1912, Weis Markets currently operates 160 stores in six states:
Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and West Virginia. The
Company also owns SuperPetz, a pet supply superstore chain with 33 locations in
eleven states.
Safeway to Sell Surebeam(r) Processed Fresh Ground Beef in Baltimore and
Washington, DC (January 29, 2003) From a press release
SAN DIEGO -- SureBeam Corporation (Nasdaq: SURE) announced January 29th that
consumers can now buy SureBeam(R) processed fresh ground beef at all 136 Safeway
Eastern Division supermarkets in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington,
D.C. Safeway is offering fresh ground beef products processed with
SureBeam Corporation's revolutionary electron beam technology, a process that
uses ordinary electricity to safely eliminate the threat of dangerous bacteria
from food products.
"Safeway's primary goal is to provide customers with the highest quality
food products available," said Roger Herding, Safeway Eastern Division
Marketing Vice President. "As consumers have become increasingly
concerned about the safety and wholesomeness of the ground beef they are
purchasing, we believe that this product will help ease their concerns."
Safeway is selling SureBeam processed fresh ground beef in one-pound packages of
85-percent and 93-percent lean.
"It's exciting to know that consumers throughout the Baltimore/Washington,
D.C. area can now purchase SureBeam fresh ground beef at their local Safeway
stores," stated Larry Oberkfell, SureBeam Chairman, CEO and President.
"By offering this important choice to their customers, Safeway is
demonstrating their national leadership in food safety."
Similar to a microwave oven, SureBeam technology uses electricity as an energy
source to irradiate harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella.
The SureBeam patented system is based on proven electron beam technology that
destroys dangerous bacteria, much like thermal pasteurization does to milk.
Safeway's
entry into the market brings to over 2,100 the total number of stores in the
Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic States offering SureBeam processed fresh
ground beef. This is in addition to the thousands of supermarkets
providing SureBeam processed frozen hamburger patties, which are also provided
through home delivery, direct mail and food service.
Safeway's Eastern Division employs approximately 11,000 people and operates 136
stores, including 16 in the District of Columbia, 75 in Maryland, 44 in Virginia
and one in Delaware. Safeway (NYSE: SWY), a Fortune 50 company, is one of
the largest food and drug retailers in North America with annualized sales
exceeding $34 billion. The company operates approximately 1,755 stores in
the United States and Canada with a total workforce of nearly 200,000 employees.
Giant Eagle
Introduces Irradiated Beef (January 23, 2003) Pittsburgh Post
Gazette via FSNET
Supermarket chain Giant Eagle was cited as debuting ground beef treated by the
SureBeam electron beam process in Pittsburgh-area stores without fanfare Jan.
12. The story says that educational point-of-purchase brochures and signs
introduced meat department customers to the concept and safety benefits of
irradiated ground beef, nattily packaged in opaque, one-pound tubes similar to
ready-to-bake cookie dough.
Without
divulging any actual sales figures for the first-week rollout of the new
product, Rob Borella, director of corporate communications for Giant Eagle Inc.,
was quoted as saying, "sales were pretty much what we expected." Giant
Eagle Inc., which encompasses 124 corporate stores and 89 franchises in Western
Pennsylvania, north-central West Virginia and Maryland, is the first in the
region to offer irradiated meat products in the form of 80 percent lean/20
percent fat and 93 percent lean/7 percent fat ground beef. Last week and this
week, the supermarket chain is offering an introductory price of $2.29
(regularly $2.49) for the one-pound tube of 80/20, and $2.99 per pound
(regularly $3.29) for the 93/7. (Prices for irradiated meats average 5 percent
to 10 percent higher than their untreated counterparts.)
Upcoming Irradiation Workshop in Oregon –The Oregon Beef Council is hosting an Irradiation workshop Tuesday March 4, 2003 from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm at Portland’s Food Innovation Center (FIC). (The FIC is directly across from the Oregon Beef Council’s offices.) A 9:30 AM registration check-in and a 10:00 AM start are planned. Please call Dianne Byrne Johnston at the Oregon Beef Council office at 503/274-2333 to reserve your spot.
World Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003 at Chicago:
The World Irradiation Congress is scheduled for May 5 to 7, 2003, at Chicago's
McCormick Place. The international event will provide a comprehensive technical
and scientific forum to promote the technology and benefits of food irradiation
around the globe. The congress will examine the future of food irradiation in a
comprehensive program that includes analysis of the: Global situation and
outlook on the use of irradiation as a sanitary and phytosanitary treatment;
Major markets and market trends; Technological developments, such as irradiation
facilities and quality assurance; Investment opportunities; A visit to a
commercial food irradiator; a buyer-seller business conference and technical
sessions.
The keynote speaker on May 5 (Monday) will be Dr. Elsa Murano, USDA
Undersecretary for Food Safety, speaking on "Food safety from farm to fork:
the role of food irradiation."
Other top speakers include the CEOS of FMI and GMA; the presidents of IFT and
the International Union of Food Science and Technology; the director of National
Food Safety & Toxicology Center at Michigan State University; and top
officials from the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, the International Consultative Group on Food
Irradiation, the Minnesota Beef Council and such companies as Huisken Meat Co.,
International Dairy Queen Inc., Food Technology Service Inc. and Hawaii Pride
Inc.
For more information and to register, contact:
The National Food Safety & Toxicology Center
Michigan State University
165 Food Safety & Toxicology Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1302
517/432-3100
Website: www.foodsafe.msu.edu/Congress/congress.html or www.foodsafe.msu.edu.
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:
Minneapolis, MN; February 23-25, UP Show (Upper Midwest Hospitality Show)
Portland, OR; March 4, 2003: Oregon Beef Council Irradiation Workshop
Raleigh, NC; March 19, 2003: North Carolina Beef Council Irradiation Workshop
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
Ft. 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
FOOD
IRRADIATION UPDATE
Food Irradiation Update is published by the Minnesota Beef Council
Upcoming
Irradiation Workshop in Tennessee
World Irradiation Congress to be held in May 2003 at Chicago
Food
Irradiation Education Activities
Schnucks
Introduces Irradiated Ground Beef in Metro Area Stores:
(January
13, 2003) From
a Press Release; Grocer
Launches Education Effort to Shed Light on Food Safety:
St. Louis: Schnuck Markets, Inc.
January 13 became the first grocer in the St. Louis area to announce plans to
sell irradiated fresh ground beef and frozen beef patties. Irradiated beef has
been exposed to a beam of electrons that significantly reduces bacteria and the
risk of foodborne illnesses.
According
to Cy Jansen, vice president of
meat merchandising at Schnucks, metro area stores will sell fresh ground beef
chubs ("chub" refers to the plastic packaging, similar to that of pork
sausage) supplied by Excel, a subsidiary of Cargill of Wichita, Kan. Frozen beef
patties will come from Huiskens of Sauk Rapids, Minn. The SureBeam®
Corporation of San Diego, Calif. will irradiate the ground beef and beef patties
in their Sioux City, Iowa facility.
Jansen
said irradiated ground beef is simply another choice for customers, particularly
those who are the most vulnerable to infection. "Cooking ground beef to the
proper temperature of 160 degrees kills bacteria, including Salmonella and
E. coli 0157:H7. Customers who are very young, elderly, pregnant or
struggling with weakened immune systems will benefit from the added security
that comes through irradiation."
Mark
Stephenson,
vice president of communications for SureBeam®, explains,
"Irradiation kills bacteria by using ordinary electricity in the form of an
electron beam. Exposure to this energy source virtually eliminates E. coli,
which is present in some form in the majority of ground beef. The benefit is
similar to that of milk pasteurization."
Schnucks
is an industry leader and has been leading the way in food safety for the past
several years. According to Schnucks Food Safety Director Dianna Pasley,
irradiation is just one more way to guard against contamination prior to
purchase. "In the aftermath of recent food recalls, it's important that we
look for alternative ways to protect our food supply."
Pasley
added, "It's important to remember that although irradiation reduces the
level of harmful bacteria, it does not protect against recontamination through
improper handling. Consumers must continue to practice good food safety habits
in the home."
Jansen
encourages consumers to learn more about irradiated ground beef and to stop by
selected Schnucks store for samples Jan. 17 - 19. He admits that for some, the
first step is accepting the name. "We believe the name, perhaps the most
controversial part of launching irradiated ground beef, has hindered its
acceptance." Jansen emphasized that the SureBeam® process uses
ordinary electricity, not gamma or cobalt, as the energy source.
Schnucks
first offered SureBeam® irradiated ground beef in its Peoria and
Pekin, Ill. stores last winter. While sales of the product met Schnucks
expectations, Jansen says education is the key to greater acceptance. He said,
"The microwave oven was met with resistance. Today, nearly every home has
this technology."
Although
Schnucks is the first local grocer to offer irradiated ground beef, the grocery
industry has embraced the irradiation process as an additional way to ensure
product quality.
Irradiated
food is now being offered in nearly 40 countries and is endorsed by numerous
health organizations and regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to Stephenson,
"Our company (Surebeam®) alone has placed fresh and frozen
irradiated beef in more than 4,000 grocery stores nationwide."
Irradiation
is also being used to reduce or eliminate bacteria in produce. The process
delays the ripening and sprouting of fruits and vegetables (Schnucks does not
carry irradiated produce at this time).
Schnuck Markets, Inc. currently operates 102 stores and 93 pharmacies in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Mississippi. This includes five stores that operate as Logli Supermarkets and a stand-alone Sentry drug store. Schnuck Markets, Inc. is currently ranked 83rd in the Forbes Magazine listing of the nation's "Top 500 Private Companies."
Three
Minnesota school districts to consider irradiated lunches:
Star
Tribune
(January
17, 2003);
Minneapolis: Minnesota
school districts will be the first in the state, and possibly the nation, to
consider using irradiated ground beef supplied by the federal government in
school meals.
The
first irradiated burger could be served as early as this coming fall in the
Spring Lake Park, Sauk Rapids and Willmar districts, Minnesota education
officials said Thursday. But before that happens, officials said they will
launch community awareness projects about irradiation's role in preventing
foodborne diseases, such as that caused by E.coli bacteria.