Irradiation regs lag

It's been more than a year since FDA approved the irradiation of red meat, but USDA continues to drag its feet in producing regulations governing the use of irradiation on USDA-regulated beef products.

In December 1998, NFPA sent a letter to President Bill Clinton expressing its concern about USDA's lack of action. Such delay is surprising, said NFPA President John R. Cady, because the administration has taken a leadership role in advancing food safety. Asked at a recent press conference when USDA planned to issue the irradiation regulations, Catherine Woteki, Ph.D., R.D., undersecretary for food safety, would only say, "Soon. We're working on it."

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