Media Action Alert

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This document was provided by
Food & Water, Inc.
P.O. Box 543
Montpaliar, VT 05601
(802) 229-0222
(802) 229-6751 fax
www.wildmatters.org
2001 Issue

Food Irradiation

Just nuke it already, will you?!," the food industry hollers. And from Stuart, Florida and Washington, D.C. to Seattle, Washington and Minneapolis, Minnesota, local and regional newspapers are toeing the industry line. You know how dangerous irradiation is—and why we must keep the technology from being adopted by food processors and distributors. But what about the citizens who don't? The pro-irradiation sentiment that's flooding the media only stresses the potential for destroying bacteria; it never mentions the hazards involved, or that irradiation doesn't address the root problem of our increasingly industrialized food supply.

It's up to each of us to get the point across.
Yes, each one of us. The flood of reports in news-papers and on radio and TV have been overwhelming, and our staff just can't keep up. We encourage you to continue to keep us up to date about reports in your local media, but we're also hoping you can help by writing up your own response to irradiation editorials and articles.

Let your voice be heard!
Local media wants to hear from local citizens, not an organization in another city or state. So, put pen to paper and voice your concerns. Then, please send us a copy of both the article you're responding to, as well as your response. With your help, we'll educate citizens—and reporters—throughout the country that irradiation doesn't solve food safety concerns; it only creates new ones.

Use this sample letter to the editor and follow the irradiation primer to guide your letter writing. And look over the tips for ways to help ensure your letter makes it into print. Your effort will help keep irradiation away from our food supply.

Sample letter to The Editor

 

Date:

Letters to the Editor
Newspaper Title
Address
City, State Zip

Dear Editor:

Food irradiation is not the answer to the problems plaguing the U.S. food supply, as suggested in ("name of article," date it ran).

Irradiation forms new chemicals in food called radiolytic products. Some are known carcinogens, such as benzene in irradiated beef. Others are unique to the irradiation process and remain unidentified and untested for safety. Irradiation also depletes essential vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins E, C, K, and B-complex. No studies have been done to prove that a long-term diet of irradiated foods is safe. In addition, accidents at irradiation facilities, including radioactive leaks and worker exposure, have already endangered workers and surrounding communities.

A recent CBS poll found 77 percent of the public would not buy irradiated foods, while 73 percent simply oppose it. The public wants a safe food supply, not contaminated food that's been exposed to nuclear radiation.

Your signature

Type or print your name
City, State, phone number

 

 

 

Irradiation Primer

Why We Don't Want It

  1. Irradiation creates new chemicals in food called radiolytic products. Some are known carcinogens, like benzene in irradiated beef; others are unique to the irradiation process and their effects on human health remain unknown.
     
  2. Irradiation destroys essential vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins C, K, E, and B-complex.
     
  3. No studies have been done to show that a long-term diet of irradiated foods is safe.
     
  4. Irradiation plants and the transportation of nuclear materials to the facilities pose environmental threats to workers and surrounding communities.
     
  5. Irradiation differs drastically from sunlight and microwave ovens. Irradiation is nuclear, ionizing radiation; both sunlight and microwave ovens are non-nuclear and non-ionizing radiation sources.
     
  6. The U.S. Department of Energy originally promoted irradiation to transfer its store of cesium 137 a radioactive waste byproduct of nuclear weapons manufacture and nuclear power plants to the commercial sector.

 

Tips for getting published

  1. Keep it brief and to the point. Aim for 150 words or less. Clear, concise language will get your point across and will make it more likely that others will read your letter.
  2. Address your letter to "Letters to the Editor." This will ensure that your letter lands on the proper personŐs desk.
  3. Respond quickly. Try to submit your response within one week of the article youŐre responding to. The earlier you respond, the more likely your letter will be printed.

Esther Maynard
Assistant Editor
www.wildmatters.org