Irradiation To Ground Beef May Not See Light Of Day, Yet

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This after Health Canada posted in their website regarding the proposed amendment that includes the irradiation of ground beef as a process to rid food products of harmful bacteria like E. Coli and salmonella, among others, before it is sold to the market.

Irradiation Of Ground Beef As A Precautionary Measure

The amendments came in the heels of a supposed legislation to require all beef manufacturers to subject meat products, especially ground beef, for irradiation as part of an ongoing campaign to prevent the spread of deadly bacteria that may contaminate food during processing.

However, what was thought to be legislated steps could now only allow and not require the meat industry to “improve the safety of their products” of irradiation to ground beef, according to Health Canada Spokeswoman Marysse Durette, who said that with these changes, irradiation to ground beef may not yet see fruition by the end of summer.

Irradiation is the process of bombarding meat with radiation energy to sterilize it from microbes and has been proven to be effective in eliminating any type of microbes that may contaminate the meat.

The US FDA on the other hand, says that irradiation is the process of applying radiation to ionize food to “improve the safety and extend the shelf life of foods by reducing or eliminating micro-organisms and insects.”

Change of Perspectives

For more than a decade, industry and civic groups in Canada has been calling for irradiation to food products to prevent the spread of harmful diseases caused by microbes that contaminate food, especially after several incidents over the years have been reported of diseases caused by food contamination.

The latest of which was back in 2012 when 18 people in British Columbia, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador were affected by an E. Coli infection linked to beef processed in a facility that led to the largest food recall in the history of Canada.

Mark Klassen, director of technical services for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association said that initially the public has been willing to push for requiring the beef industry to subject meat products for irradiation prior to retail.

However, it may have taken a new twist as it has taken in some negative reactions from several quarters of the community based off on mostly “due to negative stakeholder reaction” to the procedure.

“I think public perception has changed,” says Klassen.

Industry observers pointed out that unless there are more compelling reasons and studies behind it to quell negative public perception on irradiation to ground beef, it may just be another campaign that could well be gathering dust in the shelves.

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