The requirements include a ban on irradiation, a process of questionable safety that Public Citizen has been trying to stop. Irradiation, a process by which food is exposed to large amounts of radiation, is used to kill bacteria in food, but it doesn't clean food or remove fecal matter. Further, no studies have shown that a long-term diet of irradiated foods is safe.
Research also shows that the process can deplete vitamins.
American parents should be confident that when they send their children to public schools, the food they are served is healthy and nutritious. Irradiation has not been proven safe, and it reduces the nutritional value of food by depleting vitamins. To compete for school lunch contracts in the upcoming 2000-2001 school year, ground beef plants must comply with stringent microbial testing procedures that include a zero tolerance for E.coli and salmonella bacteria. Additionally, they must incorporate interventions to reduce pathogens at slaughter and processing plants. Irradiation will not be allowed for either raw or finished ground beef.