Help End Irradiation of Ground Beef

On November 24, 2003, the Center for Food Safety and Public Citizen filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting that the agency revoke its 1997 approval of irradiation for ground beef. The consumer groups made the request because of a number of findings:

* The FDA failed to follow its own protocols when it approved irradiation for ground beef;

* New research has raised safety concerns about some of the chemicals produced in ground beef when it is irradiated;

* Testing of irradiated ground beef conducted by the groups showed that these chemicals (which do not occur in non-irradiated meat) were present in irradiated ground beef purchased at grocery stores and one fast food restaurant.

Please submit your comments!

The FDA allows interested parties to comment on the Center for Food Safety/Public Citizen petition. Comments must refer to “Citizen Petition No. 4Z4752 on irradiated ground beef.”

There is no deadline on registering your support for the ban. The best way to submit views is via postal mail to:

Division of Dockets Management
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061 (HFA-305)
Rockville, MD 20852