The interest of the pork industry in the United States of America in irradiation

Trichinosis is a disease caused by a microscopic parasite, Trichinella spiralis, which becomes encysted in the muscle after migrating from the intestine. The migration of heavy infestations can result in a painful, debilitating disease. Pork is one of the sources of this parasite. The potential hazard of trichinosis is a reason some people do not eat pork. Various attempts have been made to quantify how much of a deterrent trichinosis is to pork consumption. The pork producers in the United States of America are convinced that eliminating this disease would substantially increase pork consumption and thereby increase the profitability of producing pork. The pork producers in the USA want to assure American consumers and those in other countries that American pork is safe. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) desires to use all possible methods for making pork trichina-safe. One of the processes they want to have utilized is irradiation and approval is being sought. This desire is motivated by knowledge that 30 krad or less exposure to 137Ce has been shown to be effective in inactivating the trichina. Further encouragement was received by the WHO/FAO/IAEA expert committee's conclusion relative to the safety or irradiation at doses of mrad or less. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) proposal to categorize irradiation at 100 krad and below as safe was also encouraging. A petition has been submitted to FDA requesting approval for pork irradiation. Research studies confirming the effectiveness of low level (15-30 krad) irradiation and the microbial and organoleptic changes in irradiated pork will be reported. The results of a consumer survey conducted by NPPC will also reveal that consumers are concerned about irradiation but less than about chemicals and pesticides. Other results of the survey will be reported and discussed. Finally, the likelihood of irradiation of pork being approved in the USA will be discussed. (author)