Berkeley students call on university to ban irradiated food

In an unprecedented action the Associated Students of the University of 
California at Berkeley passed a bill calling for a ban on irradiated food. 
The students resolved to write a letter urging the director of dining 
services to ensure that the University does not purchase irradiated 
food.

"The federal government has not adequately tested irradiated foods and 
students shouldn't be eating this stuff until health agencies take the time 
to test these products", said Ian Sitton, an organiser with Public Citizen, 
a national consumer advocacy organisation.

"When the government approved irradiation, it relied on studies done in the 
1970s, and that's just not good enough."

Said Jessica Quindel, the bill's co-author, "Although it is a shame that 
the impact of the policy this bill recommends will be limited to the food 
providers that operate within the sphere of influence of the Berkeley 
student government, we believe this action will protect students' health."

Students are exploring ways to broaden the bill's impact by persuading 
university officials to urge other University campuses to take similar 
action.

Berkeley students are joining a growing number of individuals and 
organisations calling for the federal government to let the precautionary 
principle, which requires proof of safety before use, guide decisions about 
food safety policy.

The federal government has approved irradiation despite inadequate testing 
and evidence that irradiation may create harmful chemicals.

At Berkeley, student activist groups are educating students about food 
irradiation and connecting it to a broad range of issues, including a lack 
of labelling of genetically modified foods, the potential long-term health 
effects of consuming food grown using pesticides, herbicides and chemical 
fertilisers, and the benefits of fair trade coffee.

"This bill is an important step toward students retaking control of the 
food we eat", said bill co-author Joseph Harrison.

"Once people come to understand how irradiation creates dangerous new 
compounds, destroys the nutritional value of food, is a leading factor in 
the globalisation of agriculture, and is destroying our sustainable 
localised farming systems, the special interests that drive this industry 
won't have a leg to stand on."