Health Canada to Call for Irradiation of More Food The Brockville Recorder & Times (Ontario, Canada) August 24, 2004 Tuesday Final Edition Health Canada officials are preparing to recommend that federal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh allow irradiated ground beef, chicken and shrimp to be sold in the country, Montreal's Le Devoir reported today. The recommendation to be presented in the coming weeks comes after more than 22 months of public consultations and departmental consideration. Criticism of the practice of using gamma rays to eliminate contamination such as the deadly E. coli bacteria from food hasn't persuaded department bureaucrats. "We have met many people who oppose this change (during national consulations since November 2002)," said Claudette Dalpe, head of the project at Health Canada. "But nobody can really justify why. And scientific knowledge in this allows us to proceed." Despite the negative image of radiation, the method has been used for many years on such products as wheat, flour, potatoes, onions, spices, dehydrated seasonings, along with medications, sanitary napkins, and milk and fruit juice containers. Even if the practice is approved, it won't be required and must by law be clearly indicated on packaging.