Don’t Expose Your Meat
Q I’ve read that school cafeterias can serve irradiated meat. Should I be concerned?

A If you belong to the better-safe-than-sorry school of thought, then yes. Granted, the FDA has deemed irradiation a safe way to sterilize food, and most mainstream experts agree. But several studies do suggest that the compounds produced when fats are irradiated could contribute to the development of cancer.

According to Michael Greger, a Boston-based physician, this research shows that irradiation can produce profound chemical changes in meat, including some that can cause chromosomal damage. “There’s concern that this genetic damage may initiate or promote tumor growth,” he says. And while irradiation won’t make foods radioactive, it can sometimes deplete their vitamin content.

The best way to find out if your kid is chowing down on irradiated foods is to ask an administrator in your school district. While grocery stores must flag irradiated meat with the flowerlike international symbol for irradiation, restaurants and schools don’t have to inform consumers. To ensure that irradiated meats aren’t served to your children, your best bet may be to get the school board to pass a resolution banning them, as has happened in several school districts.

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