food irradiation: act now....

WILPF Qld member Norma Forrest highlights the need to continually challenge this issue of global significance.

Almost nine years ago, extensive campaigning nationally against the process of irradiating food resulted in a moratorium on Food Irradiation being passed in Australia.

In August 1999 the Federal Government Health Ministers (Australian and New Zealand) lifted the ban on food irradiation. The present Australian Food Code Standard (A17) on the irradiation of foods was amended to allow the irradiation of food on a case-by-case basis.

Steritech Pty Ltd (of Melbourne and Sydney) have applied to the Australian and New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) - Application A413 - for the irradiation of nuts (peanuts, almonds, pistachios and cashews), herbs and spices. If approved, this will be the first application for food irradiation in Australia.

With almost no community consultation, the Caboolture Shire Council in Queensland has given approval for Steritech Pty Ltd to construct a nuclear irradiation sterilisation plant at Narangba in the Caboolture Shire, 45 minutes' drive north of Brisbane. This plant would initially use highly radioactive cobalt 60 rods to sterilise equipment and products, and has the potential to be used for food irradiation.

Food irradiation involves exposing food products to Cobalt 60 for decontamination purposes. The radioactive material is produced in nuclear reactors in Canada. Irradiation destroys nutrients and anti-oxidants in the food. It produces free radicals and afla toxins which have been linked to negative long-term health effects as shown during animal and human experiments. In Australia especially, simple and safe alternatives to food irradiation sterilisation exist Ð such as eating fresh, locally produced foods.

Have your say

The second round of public submissions, in relation to Steritech's Application A413, has now been rescheduled from March to July. This extension is due to ANZFA's request to Steritech for more information on the effects that irradiation has on decreasing vitamins in nuts.

You can write to ANZFA - PO Box 7186, CANBERRA MC ACT 2610 (fax 02 6271 2278 - opposing Steritech' s Application A413 for the irradiation of herbs, spices and nuts, as the Australian public have not been adequately informed about the introduction of food irradiation into our country.

State that scientific studies have shown that the consumption of irradiated food causes serious health effects. Ask why food needs to be sterilised by the irradiation process, or any other process, anyway.

What else you can do

Write to / fax politicians and request their support to ensure that the irradiation of food is not introduced into Australia. Some suggestions:

The Right Honourable Peter Beattie Premier of Queensland Level 15, Executive Building 100 George Street BRISBANE Q 4000 Fax 07 3221 3631

The Honourable WM Edmond MLA Minister for Health Level 19, State Health Building 147-163 Charlotte Street BRISBANE Q 4000 Fax 07 3229 4731

The Honourable Mal Brough Federal Member for Longman PO Box 1883 CABOOLTURE Q 4510 Fax 07 5498 3307

For further information

Friends of the Earth PO Box 5702 WEST END Q 4101 Ph 07 3846 5793 Fx 07 3846 4791 Email: foebrisbane@uq.net.au

Narangba Community Progress Association Ð Environment Committee PO Box 91 NARANGBA Q 4504 Email suzitooke@hotmail.com Ph 3886 6896 or 3886 6226

Everyone for a Nuclear Free Future PO Box 514 NEW FARM Q 4005 Ph/Fax 07 3358 3813. Email enuffalreadybris@telstra.easymail.com.au

www.anzfa.gov.au www.purefood.org
www.steritech.com.au
www.foodandwater.com

Information sources: Friends of the Earth, Narangba Community Progress Association, ENUFF.

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