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FDA Says It's OK To Irradiate Lettuce; Tough Sell Ahead

The Food and Drug Administration has added iceberg lettuce and spinach to the short but growing list of foods approved for irradiation -- including meat, poultry and some shellfish -- to kill dangerous bacteria such as E. coli. Companies may have a tough time selling the idea to consumers, however.

The FDA says that irradiation done correctly and at approved levels reduces or eliminates bacteria without altering the nutritional value of the greens or harming consumers. Opponents say more testing is needed. Food & Water Watch calls irradiation an "impractical, ineffective and very expensive gimmick" that may ruin flavor, texture and nutritional value. The FDA will require irradiated produce to be labeled.

The FDA's ruling resulted from a petition filed in 2000 by a food-manufacturing association asking it to approve irradiation for a broad array of foods. In 2007, the petition was amended so that the leafy greens could be ruled on first. The year before, bagged spinach was associated with an E. coli outbreak that killed five people and pummeled bagged salad sales.

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