Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture is considering nominating Dr. Michael Osterholm, a proponent of food irradiation, for his Undersecretary of Food Safety.  This nomination could happen in the next couple days.

What's so bad about irradiation? The technology's safety has not been thoroughly researched.  Some research suggests that irradiated food promotes tumor growth and may cause genetic damage.  Irradiation also is ineffective, as it fails to kill all bacteria and may undermine food safety efforts by masking filthy conditions in slaughterhouses.  On top of all this, the technology is expensive, meaning we will all pay more to treat our food with something that may harm our health.  Tell Secretary Vilsack to oppose irradiation and the potential nomination of Dr. Osterholm!

Dr. Osterholm has been a zealot in promoting this controversial technology as the panacea to contaminated food. In fact, as Director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Dr. Osterholm accepted contributions for the irradiation industry to promote the technology.  Tell Secretary Vilsack you don't want a proponent of food irradiation in charge of your food's safety!

The Obama administration has enacted policies to support sustainable and organic agriculture.  But appointing Dr. Osterholm to run food safety would be a huge step backward.  We've already had a a food irradiation advocate as Undersecretary for Food Safety - under President Bush.  ​Tell Secretary Vilsack we don't want to go down that road again​.

Thanks for taking action!




Source: Alex, Sarah, Noelle, and The Food Team
Food & Water Watch
goodfood(at)fwwatch.org