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Tell Secretary Vilsack We Don't Want a Food Irradiation Zealot in Charge of Food Safety!

Food irradiation is a risky technology with unknown long term health effects. Yet Secretary Vilsack and the administration are considering nominating Dr. Michael Osterholm, a strong proponent of this technology, as Undersecretary of Food Safety. Some research has indicated that food irradiation promotes tumor growth and causes genetic damage, but even worse is that we don't yet understand what the long-term health effects might be.

Can you ask your Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, to reconsider Dr. Osterholm's candidacy?

Please edit the letter below.

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November 20, 2009

Subject:

Dear Secretary Vilsack:

I am writing about the possible nomination of Dr. Michael Osterholm for the position of USDA's Undersecretary of Food Safety.  I have serious concerns about Dr. Osterholm's candidacy because of his support of food irradiation.

Dr. Osterholm has consistently promoted food irradiation as the panacea to contaminated food.  This technology is controversial, and we know too little about the long-term health effects of a diet of irradiated food.  Some research links irradiated food to increased tumor growth and genetic damage.

As Director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Dr. Osterholm accepted contributions from the food irradiation industry to promote the technology.  These contributions include money from the now-defunct SureBeam Corporation, Ecolab, and Ion Beam Applications (IBA).

As you know, the Food Safety and Inspection Service is now considering allowing low-dose irradiation on beef carcasses in slaughter facilities.  This proposal is the wrong approach to food safety, and, given Dr. Osterholm's history, I worry that he will be unable to make a reasoned impartial decision on this and other food irradiation decisions.

Dr. Osterholm's nomination would run against the policies you and the administration have enunciated that promote sustainable agriculture.  Please don't take a step back by nominating this strong advocate of a risky technology such as food irradiation.

I strongly urge you to reconsider Dr. Osterholm's candidacy.

Sincerely,

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