Irradiation? What Happened to Ozone?

By Rowan Wolf

Responding to the recurring problem of e-coli (and other) contamination of produce, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved irradiating spinach and lettuce. This is likely the beginning of the irradiation of other produce. The idea of eating irradiated foods makes many people nervous (and I think with good cause

One thing we do know about irradiation, and why the big agriculture has pushed it for so long, is that it improves the shelf life of products. It does not necessarily make food "safe," and it does not deal with the issue of dangerous contamination happening in fields, processing plants, or transport and storage.

The concerns regarding long term effects of eating irradiated foods aside, there are other safety issues to think about. For example, the risk to workers and communities, and the proliferation of radioactive materials across the country. A "Fact Sheet" tries to calm fears by stating:

"The use and transportation of radioactive materials, including the facilities in which they are used and the equipment in those facilities, is closely monitored by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, state agencies and the Department of Transportation.

The radioactive material itself is sealed within two layers of metal that prevent corrosion and oxidation. When shipped, it is placed within brick layers of lead that prevent gamma rays from escaping.

Facilities must include many safety features to prevent both environmental and worker exposure. For example, when radioactive cobalt is in the storage position in an irradiator, it is under water and otherwise shielded. The irradiator is operated by remote control, and many other protections are required to prevent workers form entering the irradiation enclosure."

Somehow I don't have a lot of faith in the efficacy of government agencies to keep us safe after watching the undermining, and under-funding, of government agencies (the FDA being one). The thought of "heavy water" at processing facilities doesn't cheer me either.

When I saw that the FDA had approved irradiation, I immediately wondered "What happened to ozone processing?" Ozone processing is relatively simple and safe (particularly when compared against irradiation), and does not damage either the food or the environment.

Several years ago I saw a news clip on the process. The vegetables (I believe it was heads of lettuce) were put in a vat of water and the water was electrified. This increased the ozone level in the water and killed harmful bacteria. When the electricity was removed, the water returned to just water. "Wow!" I thought, "What a great solution."

How did irradiation make it through the gate when ozone seemed to straight forward? Why expose vegetables to radiation, when washing them with ozone rich water would do the trick? Why transport hazardous waste around the country in its lead and brick lined containers, and have to deal with radioactive water storage, when you could just use fresh water and a little electricity?

I do not know why radiation won and ozone processing lost, but I can make some guesses.

- The ozone processing is most effective if the produce is cleaned of debris first. I suspect that irradiation doesn't care if the is organic or inorganic material involved.

- The "energy" companies control radioactive material, so irradiation creates a new market for them.

- Irradiation creates collateral needs - transport, containment, maintenance, disposal.

Of course, the issue not addressed at all is that the problem of industrial agriculture. The industrial level production and processing of the food supply has numerous problems. Among those is contamination and the safety of the food supply.

Irradiation further concentrates control of the food supply in the hands of corporate agriculture. It is risky on a number of levels even if it is considered "safe" by the FDA. It increases the need for cooperation and information sharing across multiple state and federal government agencies. This increases the likelihood of foul up.

With the food supply, the best bet is still to stay as localized as possible. The benefits are numerous and include food safety, global warming and energy benefits, strengthening local economies and food security, and a higher quality of food.

Resources of Interest
FDA approves irradiating spinach, lettuce to kill germs. 8/22/08.

Ozone can clean fruits and vegetables. USA Today. 2003.

Ozone in Fruit & Vegetable Storage. Ozone Industries.

Basics of Ozone Applications for Postharvest Treatment of Vegetables. UC Davis, Vegetable Research Center draft report.