[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 17, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               APPROVE LOW-DOSE IRRADIATION FOR RED MEAT

  (Mr. GANSKE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. GANSKE. Mr. Speaker, some people oppose vaccination for small 
pox, some people oppose pasteurization to kill TB in milk, some people 
oppose chlorination to kill bacteria in water, and some people oppose 
fluoridation of water for healthy teeth. Now we have the FDA sitting on 
approval for low-dose irradiation to kill bacteria in red meat, in 
hamburger. For 4 years they have done that. The FDA has already 
approved low-dose irradiation as safe and effective for spices, 
vegetables, fruits, chicken, and pork. Why not hamburger? Low-dose 
irradiation does not cause food to become radioactive. It does kill 
salmonella, tapeworms, and E. coli. In my opinion, the FDA taking 4 
years to approve low-dose irradiation of red meat puts them right there 
with those critics of vaccination, pasteurization, chlorination, and 
fluoridation.

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