All irradiated products will require special labels. Stores to Offer Irradiated Meat Beef that has been irradiated to kill deadly bacteria will begin appearing in some stores in March as producers start to test the public's reaction to such treated meat. New FDA rules that allow irradiation of raw beef, pork, and lamb recently went into effect. Irradiated meat is expected to be most popular with hospitals and nursing homes, because the E. coli bacteria poses the most danger to the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. But food producers and retailers will be watching closely to see if treated meat becomes popular with average consumers as well.
Most people are ready.
Irradiated meat is expected to cost an extra three to five cents per pound at first, but the price will likely drop as it becomes more widely available. All irradiated products will require special labels. A large part of that increase would go to ensuring a safer food supply, according to the Clinton administration. The FDA is also asking that seafood inspection, which is currently done by the Commerce Department, be transferred to its program. A California state law that went into effect January 1 requires restaurants and food handlers to be certified in food safety.