WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has scheduled a meeting on what action it should take on a petition from the American Meat Institute (AMI).

The petition, which was submitted in 2005, requests that FSIS recognize the use of low penetration and low dose electron beam irradiation on the surface of chilled beef carcasses as a processing aid.

The meeting will be held at Sept. 18, 2008 at a yet-to-be-determined location.

Individuals interested in attending the meeting are required to register at

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/reg_irradiation_091808/index.asp.

The July 8, 2005, petition, titled "Citizens Petition To Recognize the Use of E-Beam on Carcasses as a Processing Aid," filed by the American Meat Institute is posted at

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Petition_Carcass_Surface_Irrad.pdf.

The agenda for the September 18, 2008, FSIS "Low Dose Irradiation in Beef" meeting is posted at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/agenda_irradiation_091808/index.asp.

Source: American Meat Institute