IICPH Newsletter / Fall/Winter 2004
Food Irradiation
by Marion Odell ( info@iicph.org ) Talya Rotem, B.A., M.A., and now C.N.P., as part of her studies in nutrition, was required to do a volunteer 25 hours of work for an environmental health organization. We were fortunate to be able to provide her with this opportunity. In February 2003, we submitted a paper concerning proposed changes to food regulations arguing against food irradiation. This document is on our website, entitled "Our Children, Our Guinea Pigs". It was one of a number of submissions which led to a delay in passing and implementing these new regulations which reflected ones already implemented in the U.S.A. It was mutually agreed that Talya would research and write a follow-up article on this subject under Dr. Rosalie Bertell's supervision. Interestingly, the U.S. School Lunch programs have been using irradiated food which has caused an outcry by many parents in a number of school districts. Parents were concerned about the effects they were seeing in their children's health following the introduction of these foods. As a result, irradiated foods have been banned in many school districts. This is a part of the story in Talya's very interesting article. We are grateful for the splendid document Talya produced and wish her the very best in her new career as a nutritionist.
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