Reckless! The FDA just increased the level of radiation allowed in irradiation of your chicken

Coming home to roost

What did you get from the FDA for Christmas? Nothing? Me neither. But the agency didn’t overlook everyone.

Just before the holidays, the FDA gave the poultry industry a huge gift. And it was just what they wanted! How thoughtful is that?

The FDA very kindly increased the allowable radiation level for irradiating chicken.

That’s a wonderful present for people who run massive factory poultry farms.

But it’s bad news for you and me.

From “filthy” to “just fine”

In irradiation, food is exposed to high doses of radiation to kill bacteria and parasites.

The problem — or I should say, problem number one — is that irradiation gives meat producers less incentive to maintain strict sanitary production methods. The meat will get zapped anyway, so… Why not cut a corner here and there?

And now, the radiation level can be juiced up by an additional 50%!

That makes room for a lot of potential corner-cutting. Especially when you’re talking about barns the size of football fields. And each one is jammed with tens of thousands of chickens.

Problem number two is nutrition. Any dose of radiation strong enough to wipe out pathogens will also wipe out vitamins, enzymes, and desirable bacteria. It’s like killing the food. And the FDA is fully aware of this nutrition loss.

Gee. Thanks, FDA!

The next problem is safety. This is something HSI Panelist Jon Barron has followed closely.

Jon notes that the FDA at first examined, then ignored studies that suggested irradiation dangers in humans. This oversight could have a huge negative impact on your health.

Slamming food with high levels of gamma rays creates dangerous molecules. Researchers originally called them radiotoxins. But the FDA didn’t want consumers to use THAT word. So they dreamed up “known radiolytic products.”

These “products” include formaldehyde and benzene. Both are known carcinogens.

Even scarier are “unique radiolytic products.” Jon explains that these are “chemical molecules created by irradiation and that have never before been seen by man.”

With this in mind, the FDA says, “Yes!” Let’s INCREASE the radiation levels used to make filthy chicken meat palatable. Have an extra helping of unique radiolytic products in your chicken salad sandwich!

Which brings us to the final problem. How do you avoid radiolytic Frankenmeat?

Well, if you order that chicken salad sandwich at your corner deli, you’re taking your chances. And your chances aren’t good.

Your chances are a little better when you buy chicken in a store.

If the chicken has been irradiated, the label is supposed to display a “radura” symbol. It’s a green circle around a large dot hovering above two leaves. It’s specifically designed to look “green” and “natural.”

If it were an honest symbol, it would be a flaming red skull and crossed bones.

Unfortunately, there’s a catch. If chicken is processed in any way (like chicken salad), the radura symbol is not required.

Again… Thanks FDA! (For nothing.)

But you do have one last option. You can buy organic chicken. If you ever wonder if you’re getting your money’s worth with organics, this is at least one instance where you absolutely do.

Organic chicken is not irradiated. And that’s the only chicken that’s welcome home to roost.

Sources:
“Irradiation in the Production, Processing and Handling of Food” FDA, Federal Register, Vol. 77, No. 231, 11/30/12, gpo.gov

“FDA increases irradiation in poultry products” World Poultry, 12/4/12, worldpoultry.net