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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 8, 1998)
_ National News Experts promote food irradiation The controversial process could cut down on bacterial illnesses such as E. coli and salmonella By Curt Anderson The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Irradiation of food should become a national priority to reduce illness caused by dangerous microbes, despite some consumer skepticism, a top food industry executive and a leading health advocate said Tuesday. Dr. David Kessler, former head of the Food and Drug Administra tion, and ConAgra Inc. chief Bruce Rohde told an irradiation conference that consumers must overcome unfounded fears that the process might harm them. “Not to do something at this point is to condemn us as a coun try to suffer the consequences of these foodborne illnesses again and again,” said Kessler, now dean of the Yale University School of Medicine. “Food irradi ation is a food safety tool that we as consumers should not ignore.” Rohde is one of the first major food executives willing to pub licly outline plans to install irra diation in meat processing plants when the technology becomes feasible on a large scale. “We’re ready to make those in vestments,” Rohde said in an in terview. “The investment in food safety is a priority for us.” His Omaha, Neb.-based Fortune 500 conglomerate is among the top four beef packers and includes brands such as Butterball turkeys, Armour meats and Eckric.h cold cuts. Irradiation has been used for years on limited amounts of pro duce, spices and other foods. However, last year’s FDA ap proval of the process for red meat has sparked new interest as the food industry tries to tackle prob lems with bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella and Campylobacter. Those bacteria and others cause some 33 million gastrointestinal illnesses and 9,000 deaths a year, although some researchers be lieve the true number could be far higher. Most scientists agree that low level doses of gamma ray or elec tron beam irradiation to kill bac teria are safe in food. But anti-nuclear groups have been vo cally opposed, and some health advocates worry that use of irradi ation might reduce other safety techniques such as proper han dling and plant sanitation. Threats of protest and worries about consumer views have prompted many large meat processors to take a wait-and-see attitude. Grocery chains say that attitude itself could slow con sumer acceptance of products once they do reach the market. irs audit reveals easy access to records Anyone can get access to sensitive tax records with just a few key pieces of information By Rob Wells The Associated Press WASHINGTON — With a phone call to the Internal Rev enue Service, a government in vestigator was able to get confi dential taxpayer records of prominent people including a mayor and a sports announcer by providing little more than their names, addresses and Social Se curity numbers. “Under current procedures, an impostor who knows a tax payer’s name, address and So cial Security number can find out tax and income informa tion from the Internal Revenue Service with a simple phone call,” according to a 1997 in ternal IRS audit of agency practices. A copy of the audit, dated Sept. 30, 1997, was obtained by The Associated Press. In re sponse to the findings, the IRS said it quickly strengthened its procedures last fall by requiring taxpayers to provide more de tailed information from their tax returns in order to receive sensi tive records. “I am extremely confident that what we require exceeds what very well might be required in private industry,” said Ron Wat son, the IRS executive officer for customer service. "We have put far more stringent requirements in place now.” “Is it an absolutely foolproof system?” Watson continued. “I don’t think any system is fool proof.” Watson said he wel comed the report's scrutiny be cause it enabled the agency to improve its systems. IRS is required to guard against unauthorized disclosure of tax payer records while allowing tax payers access to their own files. "We take these kinds of reports very, very seriously,” Watson said. IRS internal auditors con ducted 109 test calls from 17 of fices in the Northeast and West between July 1996 and Febru ary 1997. They posed as local taxpayers, including — with their permission — some prominent business people, a mayor and a sports announcer. They were not identified in the report. st [Annual Csltwic 3-on-3 Hoops Tournament * FOR PARKINSON’S RESEARCH * Saturday, May 9th Entries Due before April 29 First come, first play!! Enter NOW. 64 teams - 3-game guarantee - Winner of each 4-team group will advance to a 16-team, single elimination bracket Free T-shirt for all players !!! Prizes available All games will be played at Bean Courts, located one block east of Hayward Field $40 per team - One check per team payable to Warsaw Classic Deliver entry form and fee to 171 Gilbert Hall (slide under door if no one is there) Team Name:_ Captain Name: Address:_ City/State:_ Age:_ ‘Zip: Phone: _ Age: _ Age: _ Age: Player 2 Name Player 3 Name Player 4 Name Team Experience / Skill Level (Circle One): Low Med. High 'I. iht underlined participant intending 10 be legalh bound herein c*rtif> lhai I im plnocalli Hi and hate not been informed otherwise b\ a ptoucian ! acknowledge itui I am aware of all Ihc risks invohcd in basketball including possible permanem diubilm or death and agiee lo assume all of I bote risks AS A CONDITION Of MV PARTICIPATION IN THE FIRST ANNUAL WARSAW l ON < BASKETBALL CLASSIC OR ANY ACTIVITIES INCIDENT THERETO I HEREBY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO CLAIMS FOR LOSS OR DAMAGES INCLUDING ALI CLAIMS FOR LOSS OR DAMAGES CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE ACTIVE OR PASSIVE Of THE FOLLOWING THE UNIVERSITY Of OREGON THE WARSAW SPORTS MARKETING CENTER. ITS FACULTY ST AFT AND MEMBER STUDENTS THE HOST FACILITIES TOURNAMENT SPONORS TOURNAMENT COMMITTEES OR ANY INDIVIDUALS OFFICIATING AND/OR SUPERVISING THE TOURNAMENT FVENTS In addition I agnx to atwdc In and be gen emend be I he rule* and enqueue of basketball Signatures: Captain:_ Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 DATF. (Pareni or Guardian if Under 18 vears old) DATE (Parent or Guardian if Under 18 years old) DATE (Pareni or Guardian if Under 18 years old) DATE (Parent or Guardian if Under 18 years old) CLASSES STARTING REGISTER TODAY! 13TH AND UNIVERSITY • EMU LOWER LEVEL • 346-4361 [ SPRING SPECIALS Ceramic Whistles Sun, Apr 26 1:00-4:00pm $12/$ 16* Traditional Basketry Tues,Apr14&21 6:00-9:00 pm S22/S26* Fly Tying Mon. Apr 20-May 11 2:30-5:00pm $s4/$38* OPA showcase Trip Sat, May 9 (bus leaves at 10 am retumsat7pm)$15 gift Soaps & Scented Lotions A) Sat, Apr 1111:00 am-3:00pm $34/$38* 8) Sun, May 3 11:00 am-3:00 pm $34/$38* V__/ CERAMICS Handbuilding / Sculpture Tues, Apr 7-May 5 (6:30-9:30pm) $38t Ceramic Clockfaces Tues, May 12&19 (6:30-9:30pm) $ !6/$20* PHOTOGRAPHY Continuing Photo Mon, Apr 6-May 11 (6:00-9:00 pm) $48t Alternative Photo Sun, May 10 & 17 (12:30-4:30pm) $34 Med/Large Format Photo ^ Sat, Apr 18-May2 (12:30-5:30pm) $45t PAINTS, PENS, PAPERS Drawing Thu, Apr 16-May 21 (6:00-8:30 pm) $33/$37* SlLKSCREEN Mon, Apr 6-May 11(6:00-9:00 pm) $45t Oil Pastels WpH Anrft-Mav II nm) Tunnel Books Tues, Apr7-21 (6:00-9:00pm) $22/$26* Alternative Papermaking Sat, May 2-16 (10:30 am-12:30 pm) $20/$24* FIBER ARTS r Fabric Hats Mon, May 4-18 (6:00-9:00pm) $24/$28* Beginning Weaving j Wed, Apr 8-May 13 (6:00-8:30pm) $42 \ Mapuche Weaving Mon, Apr 20-May 18 (6:00-9:00pm) $45/$49• BEGINNING KNITTING Wed, May 6-27 (6:00-8:30pm) $28/$ 32* Spinning Mon, Apr 6-27 (6:00-8:30pm) $30t Beadwork Tues, Apr 14-May 12 (6:30-9:00pm) $32/$36* Lace Feltmaking Sat, May 16 (10:30 am-S:00 pm) $42/$46* Nat. Dyeng on Silk Scarves Sat, May 2 (1:00-5:00pm) $24/$28* Flint Knapping Thun, Apr 9-30 (6:30-9:00 pm) $30/$34* Stained Glass Beads Demo Sat, May 9 (1:00-4:00pm) $8/$ 12* r JEWELRY Jewelry Techniques Wed, Apr 8-May20 (3:00-6:00pm) $45t Fimo Clay Jewelry Sun, May 38,10 (1:00-4:00) $26/$30* SCULPTURE v Carved Wood Sculpture Wed, Aprl 5-May 20 (6:30-9:00 pm) $451 Figure Modeling Mon, Apr 13-May 18 (6:30-9:00pm) $60/$64* Plaster Mold Making Sat, May 30 (10:30-4:30 pm) $21/S15* J HTTP://DARKWING.UOREGON.EDU/~CRAFTCTR
