E. coli can cause serious illness and sometimes death, especially in children and the elderly. An estimated 73,480 people are infected every year, and about 600 cases are fatal, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ground beef that's been irradiated to kill E. Coli and other deadly bacteria could start showing up in supermarkets next month. New rules that allow the irradiation of raw beef, pork and lamb took effect February 22. Most meatpackers intend to start small, testing irradiated ground beef in select markets to see how it sells. Colorado Boxed Beef Co., a Florida processor, is expected to be the first to test the market by distributing through grocery chains in the Southeast.
The company had to recall 359,000 pounds beef products in November 1998 because of possible contamination with the deadly E. coli bacteria, and Florida officials have been promoting irradiation heavily. Initially, irradiated meat is likely to be most popular with hospitals and nursing homes because of the danger E. coli poses to patients with weakened immune systems. But its use there could generate interest from consumers, said Tim Willard, a spokesman for the National Food Processors Association.
The meat is expected to cost an extra three to five cents per pound but the price is likely to drop as it becomes more widely available. Excel Corp., the industry's No. 2 firm, plans to start shipping treated beef to its food service customers the first week of March.
Irradiation has long been allowed for poultry, as well as fruits, vegetables and spices. But it is seldom used on poultry, partly because the primary poultry pathogens aren't as dangerous as E. coli and chicken processors haven't thought it was worth the expense, say industry experts. One big recall for E. coli, by contrast, can devastate a meatpacker financially.
The irradiation is done by three methods - gamma rays, X-rays, or electron beams. In addition to eliminating E. coli, the treatment can significantly reduce levels of other pathogens, including listeria, salmonella and campylobacter. The food isn't radioactive, and while there is a slight loss of nutrients, the food is largely unchanged, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Special labels are required, carrying the international symbol of irradiation, known as a "radura," and a statement that they were treated. The symbol, colored green on a white background, depicts two leaves resting in a semicircle, with a green dot above it beneath a broken-lined semicircle.
There is no question that there is a problem with contaminated meat. The FDA proposes to clean it up after the fact rather than addressing the cause which is improperly processed meat by the meat packers. There is also little doubt that this technology will likely eliminate meat born food infections very effectively.
I also do not believe that the "nutritional content" will be altered and no harmful toxins will be added. Well then, what is the problem? Why is this proposed technology so devastatingly dangerous to your health? The answer is quite simple. They are attempting to do the same thing that was done to milk, pasteurization.
Those of you who have seen my nutrition recommendations or seen me as a patient already know that I recommend ALL people avoid milk because it is the number one food allergy and causes more food related complication than any other food. It is clearly the number one reason for childhood ear infections and colic.
Why is this so? It is most likely related to the pasteurization process. Raw milk contains many enzymes which help the body digest it. When the milk is heated, most infectious bacteria are killed, but additionally the three dimensional shape of the enzymes in the milk are altered and they become non functional. Numerous studies have shown that calves fed pasteurized milk die within 60 days. Should we expect optimal health from the pasteurization process with this type of data? I think not. The other major proteins in milk such as albumin and casein are also altered in a way which increases their damaging effects.
Homogenization further worsens the process. It is likely that raw milk would be an acceptable, even health promoting food for the vast majority of the population. Unfortunately most states outlaw its sale for fear of spreading salmonella. There is little doubt in my mind that the irradiation process would cause similar problems in meat. It would turn a relatively good health promoting food into one with as many side effects and complications as milk.
The issue is not one of organic versus non-organic. Many people are confused on this issue. There is no question that feeding the animals grains that were sprayed with pesticides will bioaccumulate in their fat and transfer to our fat as soon as we eat the meat or drink the milk. Organically raised cows or milk will avoid this pesticide transfer and the commonly prescribed antibiotics and growth hormones that are given. Organically raised, although more expensive, is clearly preferable when feeding higher up the food chain. However, milk pasteurization or meat irradiation will alter the food's nature from health to disease promoting, even if organically raised.
So, what practical insights can you gain from this understanding? If you are consuming milk products now you should consider stopping them, even if organically raised. If you really enjoy milk try to find a source that is unprocessed and raw. The risk of contamination in clean cows is very low.
All meats will not be irradiated, so you should be able to purchase non-irradiated meat. In the worst case scenario, you might acquire a food borne infection from the meat. This is RARELY a life threatening situation, especially in healthy individuals. If this happens generally one teaspoon of healthy gut bacteria such as acidophilus or bifidus taken every hour until better clears up most people in four to eight hours. So there is a solution even if you do get sick. If you value your long-term health I could not encourage you more strongly than to avoid this product and to tell everyone you love and care for to do likewise
However, there will be a natural solution to the problem that will hopefully get ALL the irradiated beef off the market. Click here for more information.