Organization strives to place
food-labeling issue on ballot
By Scott McFetridge
(H U» Knutrald
A newly formed group is seeking to place
an initiative on the November ballot to ensure
that all food treated with radioactive gamma
rays, used to kill insects and bacteria, is plain
ly labeled.
When telling people about the food ir
radiation, "No one can believe it," Portland
resident Hale Weitzman said. "People just
laugh and say they can't believe something
like that is allowed."
The Coalition to l.abel Irradiated Food,
organized by Weitzman, has gathered about
5,000 signatures but must obtain about 75.000
more by early July in order to place the in
itiative on the ballot, he said.
, The use of radiation, called pigawaves, is
designed to kill insects and bacteria in. food,
and prevent spoilage. Backers of food irradia
tion claim the process would extend, the shelf,
life of foods and could decrease the use of
chemical pesticides.
.Low-lever irradiation of wheat. potatr>es
and apices already is permissible, although
there .is little cothmercia) use of the process,
• said James Green, a spokesman Tor the Food.,
and Drug. Administration. Only some spices
.used .fn processed foods currently; are ir
radiated, he said. » .••*.. • „•
•But "use ot the irradiation method soon
» may be expanded to fruits and vegetables The
KDA approved a plan to broaden th'e use -of -
.* . radiation in foods.in December 1985.-but the
plan also must.be approved by the Office hf
■' ' ‘Management andBudg'et. ■ •
"Given the level we're using,'the process *;
• ' ' J ■ - ' ■
is definitely safe,” Green said. “There is no
safety concern whatsoever.”
If the OMH approves the irradiation plan,
food manufacturers must plainly indicate that
the food has been “picowaved.” but this re
quirement could be waived after two years.
Because members of the Coalition to Label Ir
radiated Food question the safety of food ir
radiation. they believe labeling should be re
quired indefinitely. Weitzman said.
Although the initiative will require only
Jabeling of the irradiated food. Weitzman's
group also questions any use of radiation on
food. Despite the government's claims, some
experts say the process drastically changes the
molecular structure- of foods and may have
unknown effects. Weitzman said. ■■
And-much of the radiation used on the
food would be supplied by wastes from the
production of nuclear warheads and from com
mercial nuqlearpowerplants., Weitzman said.
' “A lot of people think it’s just being push
ed through by the.nuclear power industry.’.’.
Weitzman said. . * . °
„ Green said* the use of radiation On foods
could be a cost-saving measure, for thenuclear
power industry..'but he doesn’t see this as a. •
problem-. •. , • * ' '. '
• Nucjear was'te "could be turned into a*
, positive instead of.-something.that normally is .
.costly to dispose of.” Grtwri’said. •‘‘•That's a.
positive, not a. .negative.” •
• ; ' Weitzman said- he/hopes several.-other
.statewide gniups/incluamg the Oregon State .
I*uhlic.‘lnferest» kesearr:h*GnJu'p. will' help his - ‘
’group gathersigna|uro? in order to mpet the Ju
ly deadline.* ’ T * .’ . " ;
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. The" following .Is a list -of;-.
University-area crimes reported -
./„■ to-the Eugene' Police*Depart-,
merit, within jhe past week .
" A microwave valued at $129 ■_
, was stolen from Walton com* .
phixFeb.'Bat l\:30a.'m.
A vehicle was driven across
■ . the* lawn, near -McAlister dor
mitory - Feb? -6. at 11:50 p. m.
' • causing '$50 damage. An.. inr
iyestigalion into the incident is
; continuing'. ; • • - ' . .
. Thirteen dollars was stolen
from ini office in the l<aw. Center .
' . between" Feb; 0-7/• ••
."(•raffiti was written on the
: walls of a women's restroom in
the EMU between Fob, 7/111
Darniige was estimated 'at $?25..
A television set „ "valued \at
$390 was. stoienfrorn va ’lJniver-0 •
stty Inn lounge' Saturday h*!t
ween 3.-9 a , ‘m ; ■ r
. ? •* *So . * • i? ' q ' •
°A; bicycle wheel and tire
valuedat $85 were stojen from
•Robbins.‘dormitory’'SuYiday.-.at"-’
12:30 p m. . ; -..
°' Odii Dean Sanders, 28’ 1886
Harris St/,’ wasd cited’' and '
released in..connection' with a
wallet theft at ihe-.baw 'Library
on-Sunday'at*?: 15 p..mV v ‘I”.
A, backpack and contents
valued It $70 were stolen from
* . 8 o* " ’ f * \° . * • * ? ’
• • • « « • * ’ t■ . ; .
the • University Bookstore on
-Monday between .3:3.6-5:30
p. ITl/ j‘X..N.V **,•*• * * °. • *
% • « * •**’• ■.*%'■* .. Jj o
Police are investigating ;• hit ;
-and run incident anvolvlnji; ‘a ••
.vehicle that, caused damage tp
two'par£ing°m^ters.Tuesday in >
front bf* Me Art hu r Court.- „';
/ A.purse and contents valued
at $135* were stolen from 1430
Orchard = St/"on Tuesday'^ bet
ween 2^30-3:30' p. m. The .wallet •:
was recoveredjlater in the street v
; ih front of Mc Arthur Court and
returned to .its o°wner. ! 0 • :jv
Eightbicycles were stolen;
none was recovered. '
On any
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