A 1997 CBS News poll found that 73 percent of the public opposed radiation and 77 percent would not eat irradiated food. It's time for Wal-Mart to put public health and safety before huge corporate profits by not selling irradiated meat. Until they do , I am not putting them on my list of places to shop. For those who don't know, food irradiation is a process where food is exposed to high levels of radiation in order to kill bacteria and extend shelf life. It is an outrage that the government would even consider taking away our right to know if the food we buy in a supermarket has been treated with radiation.
Food products undergo chemical changes after exposure to radiation.
These cosmetic and nutritional changes in food warrant disclosure on a prominent place on the package. In addition, food that is not packaged should be accompanied by a poster in plain view of where it is displayed for sale. Labels are required by law to be truthful and not misleading to the customer. Only clear, honest and permanent labeling is acceptable for irradiated foods. Instead of weakening or eliminating labeling requirements, the FDA needs to strengthen them.