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Published by the Minnesota Beef Council

 

Quotable Quotes:

 

"Illness causing organisms are always present. Irradiation - harmless to humans - will kill them, not inspection."

 

Elizabeth Whelan, President, American Council on Science and Health

"Federal and state health officials have certainly studied this food safety measure (irradiation), and they emphasize that outbreaks of this nature will continue to occur until we employ food irradiation as a final safeguard."
Russell Currier, DVM; President, American Veterinary Medical History Society

"The United States and Pakistan have worked closely to open this new market to mango growers in Pakistan and make additional choices available to U.S. consumers. Irradiation treatments allow USDA to facilitate the safe importation of mangoes from Pakistan while protecting U.S. agriculture from harmful pests and diseases."
Tom Vilsack, US Secretary of Agriculture
IN THIS ISSUE
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Frozen, Fresh Ground Turkey Products
Arkansas Firm Recalls Ground Turkey Products Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
Guest columnist: Salmonella outbreak is another reason for irradiation
Good Stuff Coming From Pakistan
Pakistani mangoes hit Chicago and the US
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Frozen, Fresh Ground Turkey Products USDA Press Release
USDA (July 29, 2011)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns about illnesses caused by Salmonella Heidelberg that may be associated with use and consumption of ground turkey....Read more
Arkansas Firm Recalls Ground Turkey Products Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

USDA 

Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation, a Springdale, Ark. establishment, is recalling approximately 36 million pounds of ground turkey products that may be contaminated with a multi-drug resistant strain of Salmonella Heidelberg, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Read more  

Guest columnist: Salmonella outbreak is another reason for irradiation
Des Moines Register; by Russell Currier, DVM  (August 12, 2011)

The recent episode of Salmonella Heidelberg from ground turkey is an all too familiar scenario, and it merits another look at food irradiation as a solution. Read more

Good Stuff Coming From Pakistan

First Shipments of Mangoes from Pakistan Arrive in the United States
Forbes (July 29, 2011); by Tim Ferguson

 

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2011-The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today the beginning of mango trade between the United States and Pakistan with the arrival of the first shipments of mangoes into the continental United States.
"The United States and Pakistan have worked closely to open this new market to mango growers in Pakistan and make additional choices available to U.S. consumers," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.  "Irradiation treatments allow USDA to facilitate the safe importation of mangoes from Pakistan while protecting U.S. agriculture from harmful pests and diseases."


Irradiation became an approved treatment on all pests for fruits and vegetables entering the United States in 2002.  Irradiation provides an alternative to other pest control methods, such as fumigation, cold and heat treatments. Let's savor these. Read more

Pakistani mangoes hit Chicago and the US; Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune  (July 29, 2011)
After a quick trip to Iowa for electron beam irradiation (for food safety), the fragrant chaunsa mangoes returned for their coming out party at the Palmer House Hilton Saturday afternoon. Pakistani Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani presided over the... Read more
  
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Food Irradiation Update is being sent as an update on food irradiation by the Minnesota Beef Council. 

Ronald F. Eustice
Executive Director
Minnesota Beef Council
2950 Metro Drive # 102
Bloomington, MN 55425
USA
Phone: 952/854-6980
Fax: 952/854-6906
E-mail: ron@mnbeef.org
Website: www.mnbeef.org
 
For more information on food irradiation visit http://www.mnbeef.org