Canadian beef industry asks government to approve irradiation
Canada's beef industry is about to ask the federal government to approve the use of irradiation in meat-processing plants to kill E. coli bacteria in a full range of meat products. The Canadian Cattlemen's Association says it is updating an application that was first made to Health Canada in 1998 for ground beef, but was turned down because of public concerns, reports the Canadian Press.
"Food irradiation is likely the most effective intervention remaining that we don't already use. And when you add irradiation, on top of the existing food safety system, we could essentially eliminate E.-coli-related illness from beef products," said Mark Klassen, the association's director of technical services. "Our proposal now is saying we would like to get permission to irradiate any kind of beef."