Irridated foods----CNN report

[Rastadawta]

Greetings. I have watching CNN with the report about foods. Being a Health Inspector and learning about bacteria...E. COLI, Listeria, etc. and food, I was wondering how does the board feel about eating irridated foods... produce going through UV light, I believe. I would love to eat my own grown foods yet living in the city makes some items difficult. Any thoughts on how to eliminate the contamination of produce and nuts? I do eat my produce a majority from a Coop, mostly organic. Yet the thought bothers me of not being sure about the conditions of the processing plant where food are packaged. We had the FDA come to the health department and learned how most plants aren't look out..99%. So what can we do?

[Solace]

Hi I started a thread hoping I would get a chance to catch this but missed most of it:( I dont like the sound of what I did see:mad: http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?p=274166#post274166

What else did we miss ?

[eatyourbroccoli]

We had the FDA come to the health department and learned how most plants aren't look out..99%. So what can we do?

most foods arent what? :confused:

[Rastadawta]

Sorry.. meant most fruits and produce being shipped to America are not looked at..99%. Even produce shipped across states are also not looked at. Being how I knew about this story months ago when the FDA came, it has become difficult to really eat raw produce. i do use a clorine wash sometimes and need to get back raw. hope this answers your question.

[rawererin]

i saw the segment, it was really interesting, i don't think i'd eat erradited food, just because it seems a little to sci fi to me, the thought of eating something that's been technically zapped with lazers or whatever they use makes me a little offput.

[mercurial]

I also watched this and I am new to the whole raw lifestyle, but I personally would feel much better, as a mother, if I had the option to irradiate food, which if I remember correctly from the show actually uses low-level radiation (gamma-rays) to alter the DNA of bacteria, thus rendering them inactive! Now with that said, I would like to first see more testing to ensure the product is not changed, as some do claim. This should be easy to prove or disprove with simply lab testing on produce to see if the nutritional elements are altered with irradiation. In fact, they've already begun doing it with some foods, but it is company specific and not regulated or forced. I believe Del Monte already uses it for some produce, as mentioned in the show.

The episode was terrifying and my heart cried out for the parents of that little girl who suffered the infection from the spinach! I am terrified to give my child any spinach now! It also scared the crap out of me so bad, I am washing all fruits and veggies with antibacterial soap and warm water! Not sure if the soap will help with the bacteria biggins', but it's worth trying for me. As the show did discover chlorine doesn't provide a clean wash so why use it! The washes were also useless and they found that a simple, not extended thorough, wash with warm water was the most effective way available to us for eliminating bacteria. However, even the best wash discovered still left, I believe 2,300 clusters of bacteria on the produce! Like the mother of the little girl who's life has been drastically altered (she can no longer process simple produce like bananas, potatoes, carrots, and on and on!), I would feel terrible thinking I gave something to my child that made her so ill! It was very sad to watch!

I can definitely see an issue for some Americans though, as it will conflict with their beliefs and lifestyle. I personally do not look at my diet in a spiritual manner, nor do I truly think it's the end all. I am simply doing this for my dd's well-being and in hopes she will be able to finally live pain free and without digestive problems or doctor visits every week. Being healthy myself is an added bonus for us both!

I find that as society progresses we can either move with it, fight it, or find a happy medium. I find some of today's methods fabulous and other's very scary! What I like is that I have the choice and that would be horrible if it was taken away, as it has been with some things in life already.

I do not have ethical concerns about this process, but I would understand others not wanting it used. What would be nice, is if they could offer the option to the consumer. It would be costly, but then folks could make their own decisions on the issue. However, this is unlikely as if the FDA likes the idea they will just force it upon everyone, as they often do! Now that's sad!

Here is an article I found on the topic:
http://weeklywire.com/ww/02-16-98/boston_feature_1.html

The above are simply MY personal beliefs and I in no way want to push them on anyone else, just thought I would share my thoughts and what I found on the topic.

[mercurial]

Here's even more on the topic and very interesting read on the topic. I may have to rethink if I'd purchase food put through this process, bc this site does explain some "changes" take place, but what changes exactly? What I find interesting is that irradiation is already used on dried spices and enzymes in the U.S., so then I wonder if the enzymes in products are altered with this process, if it's specifically used for enzyme products? That is our main issue and why we are going raw, bc my dd has an enzyme deficiency. Anyway, hope this gives more information and products are supposedly labeled if this process is used...that's a first!

http://www.physics.isu.edu/radinf/food.htm

[RowanC]

Please do your own research. This is just the food industry's way of scaring you into thinking their stupid processing of food is safe.

Please go to www.organicconsumers.org and do a search on the word irradiated. You will read more than you ever thought was possible on why you should NOT eat irradiated food. Here is a sample:

Research has revealed a wide range of problems in animals that eat irradiated food, including premature death, a rare form of cancer, reproductive dysfunction, chromosomal abnormalities, liver damage, low weight gain and vitamin deficiencies. Irradiation also destroys vitamins, disrupts the chemical composition of food, and masks and encourages filthy conditions in slaughterhouses and food-processing plants.

If you buy from local sources, you are not likely to get e-coli. And even if you do, so what? You have 1,000,000 more times chance of getting hit and killed by a car in the next 5 minutes. Are you going to stop walking across the street?

No no no... dooooon't do it.!:rolleyes:

[mercurial]

My original instinct was why not, but like I said in my last post I may have to rethink that after reading the govt. statement that there are no nutritional value changes, but then in another paragraph stating that the cells do go through changes, as all organisms do in cooking, etc. It seemed suspicious that in one section they say yes and then no in another! Typical government though with hypocritical answers that contradict themselves! Anyway, I realized that even when they claim there are no "nutritional changes" from irradiation, what exactly are they referring to? There nutritional guidelines, which do not take enzymes into consideration, etc.? If they are just referring to basic food pyramid guidelines then I would be concerned as to what the actual content is as a whole for each product.

Anyways, I guess we should be grateful that for the time being they require labeling of such products, that we know of at least!

[RawVegan4Health]

You have to consider what the government considers nutrients to be in those cases. Basically just carbs, proteins and fats. And long as those remain, then the nutritional value did not change! Now all of the other stuff may get altered, but it is stil nutritionally the same!:D

[RowanC]

I don't the government and the fda have your best interests in mind when they write their propoganda.:p

[Naiad]

Bleagh....

People have been eating spinach for a long time. That "poor, little" girl got sick because a cattle ranch, with idiots running it, allowed offal to contaminate the water which was also used by the spinach farm. So, the answer is... have no accountability for farmers, food producers or handlers to be clean, intelligent or responsible and instead mutate EVERYONE's food?

Noone in this country or any other is made safer by "high-tech" bandaids for issues that stem from laziness and only caring about the fiscal bottom line... which is exactly what pesticides and non-biodynamic farming are out to accomplish as well. It's not to protect your child or anyone elses. It's so that big corporations can save money that should be spent training workers or providing them with means to run productive and responsible farms. Instead, they can hire people who are ignorant slobs, working in unthinkable conditions and the bottom line is everything goes by a magical beam that alters it in very real ways - ergo keeping potential lawsuits to a minimum.

The reason why people are shifting to organics is because the assumption is REAL people are growing REAL food and actually pay attention to things such as cleanliness, sustainability and the health of the eventual consumer.

If you think a mechanical tool is a solution versus expecting ALL food industry types to give a proverbial "rats ass"... well, this is why ALL almonds will be pasturized and that, one by one, so too will everything else be "sanitized" as well.

If you think the status quo is the right way to do things, I don't think you'd be on this site or realise that pure and unadulterated food is the way to exist. Do some more reading and exploring before you say that you'd feel safer feeding irridated food to your child... you'll come to see that it's all circular. That world, which would alter food for the sake of ease, well, it's the world that brought you here looking for better answers.

[eachpeachpearplum]

When I lived in the UK the bins for each item stated if was or was not irradiated! At least there was a choice.:o I was really frowned upon. I think if I can recall by the time I left no irradiated fruits/veg were allowed.

eppp

[Craig]

Please do your own research. This is just the food industry's way of scaring you into thinking their stupid processing of food is safe.

Please go to www.organicconsumers.org and do a search on the word irradiated. You will read more than you ever thought was possible on why you should NOT eat irradiated food. Here is a sample:

Research has revealed a wide range of problems in animals that eat irradiated food, including premature death, a rare form of cancer, reproductive dysfunction, chromosomal abnormalities, liver damage, low weight gain and vitamin deficiencies. Irradiation also destroys vitamins, disrupts the chemical composition of food, and masks and encourages filthy conditions in slaughterhouses and food-processing plants.

If you buy from local sources, you are not likely to get e-coli. And even if you do, so what? You have 1,000,000 more times chance of getting hit and killed by a car in the next 5 minutes. Are you going to stop walking across the street?

No no no... dooooon't do it.!:rolleyes:


You have a greater chance to get e-coli from animal products then plants.

[Solace]

Please do your own research. This is just the food industry's way of scaring you into thinking their stupid processing of food is safe.

Please go to www.organicconsumers.org and do a search on the word irradiated. You will read more than you ever thought was possible on why you should NOT eat irradiated food. Here is a sample:

Research has revealed a wide range of problems in animals that eat irradiated food, including premature death, a rare form of cancer, reproductive dysfunction, chromosomal abnormalities, liver damage, low weight gain and vitamin deficiencies. Irradiation also destroys vitamins, disrupts the chemical composition of food, and masks and encourages filthy conditions in slaughterhouses and food-processing plants.

If you buy from local sources, you are not likely to get e-coli. And even if you do, so what? You have 1,000,000 more times chance of getting hit and killed by a car in the next 5 minutes. Are you going to stop walking across the street?

No no no... dooooon't do it.!:rolleyes:

This is sooo gross= and I guess everyone didn't hear the part where the guy said - they would need to irradiat at a much higher level than what is now done by companies like Dole to get rid of this form of e-coli:eek:

[RowanC]

This is sooo gross= and I guess everyone didn't hear the part where the guy said - they would need to irradiat at a much higher level than what is now done by companies like Dole to get rid of this form of e-coli:eek:

This is nothing more than PROPOGANDA!!!!

Yes, I read it. So what? It's propoganda to turn you away from organic foods. People are getting tired of being sick from science and they're turning more and more to organic. As the corporations who push these terrible practices feel the pain in their pocketbook, you can expect to see more and more propoganda, for sure!

Now did YOU read what irradiating your food will do to it? IT will destroy the life-preserving properties and open you up to a whole new set of risk factors. I suggest you go to the link I provided and read for an hour. Here is a short paragraph again, in case you didn't see it the first time:

Research has revealed a wide range of problems in animals that eat irradiated food, including premature death, a rare form of cancer, reproductive dysfunction, chromosomal abnormalities, liver damage, low weight gain and vitamin deficiencies. Irradiation also destroys vitamins, disrupts the chemical composition of food, and masks and encourages filthy conditions in slaughterhouses and food-processing plants.

Yes, there is a superstrain of e-coli out and about. And why is it here? For the same reason MRSA and other superbacteria are here, because we are not only taking too many antibiotics ourselves, but we are allowing ALL of the meat in the country to be filled with antibiotics, creating mutating superstrains of bacteria which cannot be stopped.

So what will you do? This has been found in one crop of spinach. One.
And most likely on a crop that was sprayed with either human or UNORGANIC animal waste to fertilize it. Organic animal waste will not have the mutated e-coli because organic animals are not getting antibiotics twice a month.

Your risk of getting cancer from irradiated food is MUCH higher than your risk of getting e-coli.

Your chances of getting e=coli are much higher from going swimming in the sea or a lake.

When given the choice of e=coli or cancer? I'll take the e=coli risk. I've worked in a cancer ward... e-coli wins hands down!

STOP and consider the source here....

[mercurial]

Naiad, please see the above TWO additional post I listed that were done so PRIOR to what I feel is a personal attack on my opinion! It should be noted the previous post, solely directed towards my beliefs, were unwarranted!


Instead, they can hire people who are ignorant slobs, working in unthinkable conditions and the bottom line is everything goes by a magical beam that alters it in very real ways - ergo keeping potential lawsuits to a minimum. I didn't mean to start a vicious and vile war of words. I especially did not want people to pick on others, name call, and spew vile words out of anger;


The above are simply MY personal beliefs and I in no way want to push them on anyone else, just thought I would share my thoughts and what I found on the topic.
I truly listed this, as I stated, as my OWN PERSONAL views and that I did not expect others to agree with my feelings. However, my words have apparently been misconstrued or overlooked by some!


If you think a mechanical tool is a solution versus expecting ALL food industry types to give a proverbial "rats ass"... well, this is why ALL almonds will be pasturized and that, one by one, so too will everything else be "sanitized" as well. I do not appreciate being blamed as the cause of the above discussed regulation enforced by the food industry that I had very little control over! In fact, if bothered asking prior to assumptions being made I actually signed the petition against the above regulations on Almonds, which was what little control I did have over the issue. So please I would love to know how I am personally creating these issues when I am doing what is in my power to help keep them from being instituted? I do not appreciate, what I feel is, anger directed towards me because of differing beliefs. We are all human beings and will not always agree on the same matters, but that is no reason to go on the attack against me and it is truly not appreciated even the slightest bit!



If you think the status quo is the right way to do things, I don't think you'd be on this site or realize that pure and unadulterated food is the way to exist. Do some more reading and exploring before you say that you'd feel safer feeding irradiated food to your child... you'll come to see that it's all circular. That world, which would alter food for the sake of ease, well, it's the world that brought you here looking for better answers.
What I DID NOT post this for was to have other's judge my personal views and mothering choices, especially by those whom know nothing about my personal situation or reasons of why I make specific decisions and as such, should be the last judging MY INDIVIDUAL choices!

The original poster posed a question and I provided MY personal feelings on the TOPIC (notice not directed to a specific person) and provided more information, since there was some incorrect information posted on exactly what irradiation is. Please take notice that I did not isolate the poster's, or other's, belief or personal views on the issue and judge it. I simply provided my own thoughts and views on the subject, which were NOT directed at any one individual, as has been done to me. I could totally understand individuals wanting to get personal opinion out on the post, but not at the expense of judging my beliefs!

It's very cruel in my eyes to sit in judgment of another's beliefs, as I try best not to do, because it's not my place in this world to judge others. I personally believe that if people in this world would sit in judgment of THEMSELVES more, rather then other individuals, it would be a much brighter and healthy world. Unfortunately, many use what they feel is wrong done by others to ignore what they in fact are doing wrong themselves! Maybe it's best for everyone to remember when posting follow-ups directed at other's choice that the person may be deeply offended when judged and not asked for such judgment. Maybe it is best when in disagreement to use "I" in the post instead of attacking and using "you". This will help alleviate individuals from feeling attacked, hurt, and uncomfortable posting in the future, as I now do! Why should I post my personal views, if I am only going to be ripped into?



If you think the status quo is the right way to do things, I don't think you'd be on this site or realize that pure and unadulterated food is the way to exist.
It's assumed why I came to this forum and I can list what I DID NOT come here for; to be judged for my individual lifestyle and beliefs or have someone that knows absolutely nothing about me as a person make assumptions!

What I DID come here for; help in my quest for a new lifestyle and new ideas to get me through the hard parts! Sadly, that is not what I am seeing from the above response!

[SchoolOfRAWk]

Irradiation scares me more than just about anything.

[Naiad]

I come here for; help in my quest for a new lifestyle and new ideas to get me through the hard parts! Sadly, that is not what I am seeing from the above response!


Coming on a board, such as this, I would think you'd realise that saying "I would choose irridated food!" is akin to saying you'd eat McDonalds. It's not the best idea on a board read by people who choose to support raw and organic vegan food.

You might have read the pages and pages of debate already played out about the almond pasturization. You might have seen that the people on the board flat out disagree with interference with food in such a manner.

I am saying you probably would have been better off reading the boards and coming across some of the answers you seem to want. You made YOUR post, which offended me... as people who agree with what is going on, and allow the government to feel the American people are OK with this stuff... it ultimately DOES affect me. I wind up being unable to buy raw almonds/spinach/etc when the masses do not rally against it. I'm frustrated that people in other countries seem to take a stand, where in the US, as a whole, we just accept the scare tactics and acquiese.

I think it's fantastic that you want to live a healthier life. I, like many others here, have been in your shoes and have suffered the ailments and issues you have posted about.

It just upsets and boggles me that someone can so willingly not inform themselves of information already here and then post views that are completely opposite to the general opinion. It's even in the charter mission to support a diet which consists of fresh, organic food. I'm sorry, I do not apologise for thinking that before you post a single word, you should have an understanding of what that entails. Noone here expects you to whip out a perfect raw pizza or write a book about curing PCOS, but, to know the difference between shooting radiation at food and not? I would hope so. The bigger issue is - so much of that information is already on the board.

You DO have every right to express how you feel and wish to live your life. However, I also have a right to express mine as well.


What I DID NOT post this for was to have other's judge my personal views and mothering choices, especially by those whom know nothing about my personal situation or reasons of why I make specific decisions and as such, should be the last judging MY INDIVIDUAL choices!

I am afraid I have to disagree again. When you make a post on a public forum, people read it and form opinions. You were not forced to voice your opinion, nor was I to respond.

That being said, I probably should have made my post with a more general tone. It really was more of a rant at common practises rather than you as a specific person, and for that, I apologize.

I honestly and truly welcome you to this lifestyle. From what you have stated, it is the smartest and most natural way to solve the issues you have. It is very brave of you to toss off conventional advise and turn within to get the real answers. The sad fact, however, is that eating raw vegetables and fruit has become almost as bad as processed trash. We need people, especially those who live this way, to be as educated as possible... before everything we eat has been hosed down and remade to "protect" us from problems we created in the first place.

[Solace]

This is nothing more than PROPOGANDA!!!!

Yes, I read it. So what? It's propoganda to turn you away from organic foods. People are getting tired of being sick from science and they're turning more and more to organic. As the corporations who push these terrible practices feel the pain in their pocketbook, you can expect to see more and more propoganda, for sure!

Now did YOU read what irradiating your food will do to it? IT will destroy the life-preserving properties and open you up to a whole new set of risk factors. I suggest you go to the link I provided and read for an hour. Here is a short paragraph again, in case you didn't see it the first time:

Research has revealed a wide range of problems in animals that eat irradiated food, including premature death, a rare form of cancer, reproductive dysfunction, chromosomal abnormalities, liver damage, low weight gain and vitamin deficiencies. Irradiation also destroys vitamins, disrupts the chemical composition of food, and masks and encourages filthy conditions in slaughterhouses and food-processing plants.

Yes, there is a superstrain of e-coli out and about. And why is it here? For the same reason MRSA and other superbacteria are here, because we are not only taking too many antibiotics ourselves, but we are allowing ALL of the meat in the country to be filled with antibiotics, creating mutating superstrains of bacteria which cannot be stopped.

So what will you do? This has been found in one crop of spinach. One.
And most likely on a crop that was sprayed with either human or UNORGANIC animal waste to fertilize it. Organic animal waste will not have the mutated e-coli because organic animals are not getting antibiotics twice a month.

Your risk of getting cancer from irradiated food is MUCH higher than your risk of getting e-coli.

Your chances of getting e=coli are much higher from going swimming in the sea or a lake.

When given the choice of e=coli or cancer? I'll take the e=coli risk. I've worked in a cancer ward... e-coli wins hands down!

STOP and consider the source here.... What I meant was on the CNN show- where the guy said that- I just quoted your post to say - all this info is making me sick, that you don't here full details on tv as you do in your report. :( ;)