OT: US FDA Approves Spraying Meat With Viruses
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:44 pm
Horrifying
They will not quit. One reason I left the US
Sheri
National Vaccine Information Center Newsletter
e-NEWS
" Consumers won't be aware that meat and poultry products have been
treated with the spray, Zajac added. The Department of Agriculture will
regulate the actual use of the product. The viruses are grown in a
preparation of the very bacteria they kill, and then purified. The FDA had
concerns that the virus preparation potentially could contain toxic
residues associated with the bacteria. However, testing did not reveal the
presence of such residues, which in small quantities likely wouldn't cause
health problems anyway, the FDA said." - Associated Press, Aug. 18, 2006
Barbara Loe Fisher Comments:
In yet another stunning demonstration of callous disregard for the health
of American citizens, a pathetically weak and useless Food and Drug
Administration has given the green light to industry microbe hunters to
spray cold cuts, poultry and other meats with a mix of viruses that are
supposed to eat bacteria contaminating the meat without hurting anyone in
the process. Right.
And the best part? Meat producers won't have to tell consumers which meats
have been bathed in the viruses so everyone gets a dose eating a hot dog at
a baseball game or frying up some ham and eggs for breakfast - whether they
want it or not. And when Uncle Leo in the Bronx drops dead from a
mysterious infection after eating an italian sub at a neighborhood picnic,
the story will be: it wasn't the virus infected sausage that did it, it was
- A COINCIDENCE. (But if enough people drop dead after eating virus
infected meat, an enterprising drug company will probably develop a food
vaccine and convince the CDC to mandate it).
In America, apparently the only way consumers will be able to protect
themselves from FDA-sponsored contaminated meat is to become a vegan or go
organic. It's an expensive alternative but a small price to pay to keep
viruses, chemicals and hormones that don't belong in the food we eat out of
our bodies.
FDA Says Viruses Safe for Treating Meat
Associated Press
FORBES
August 18, 2006
By ANDREW BRIDGES
A mix of bacteria-killing viruses can be safely sprayed on cold cuts, hot
dogs and sausages to combat common microbes that kill hundreds of people a
year, federal health officials said Friday in granting the first-ever
approval of viruses as a food additive.
The combination of six viruses is designed to be sprayed on ready-to-eat
meat and poultry products, including sliced ham and turkey, said John
Vazzana, president and chief executive officer of manufacturer Intralytix
Inc.
The special viruses called bacteriophages are meant to kill strains of the
Listeria monocytogenes bacterium, the Food and Drug Administration said in
declaring it safe to use on ready-to-eat meats prior to their packaging.
The viruses are the first to win FDA approval for use as a food additive,
said Andrew Zajac, of the regulatory agency's office of food additive safety.
The bacterium the viruses target can cause a serious infection called
listeriosis, primarily in pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened
immune systems. In the United States, an estimated 2,500 people become
seriously ill with listeriosis each year, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Of those, 500 die.
Luncheon meats are particularly vulnerable to Listeria since once
purchased, they typically aren't cooked or reheated, which can kill harmful
bacteria like Listeria, Zajac said.
The preparation of bacteriophages - the name is Greek for "bacteria-eater"
- attacks only strains of the Listeria bacterium and not human or plant
cells, the FDA said.
"As long as it used in accordance with the regulations, we have concluded
it's safe," Zajac said. People normally come into contact with phages
through food, water and the environment, and they are found in our
digestive tracts, the FDA said.
Consumers won't be aware that meat and poultry products have been treated
with the spray, Zajac added. The Department of Agriculture will regulate
the actual use of the product.
The viruses are grown in a preparation of the very bacteria they kill, and
then purified. The FDA had concerns that the virus preparation potentially
could contain toxic residues associated with the bacteria. However, testing
did not reveal the presence of such residues, which in small quantities
likely wouldn't cause health problems anyway, the FDA said.
"The FDA is applying one of the toughest food- safety standards which they
have to find this is safe," said Caroline Smith DeWaal, director of food
safety for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer
advocacy group. "They couldn't approve this product if they had questions
about its safety."
Intralytix, based in Baltimore, first petitioned the FDA in 2002 to allow
the viruses to be used as a food additive. It has since licensed the
product to a multinational company, which intends to market it worldwide,
said Intralytix president Vazzana. He declined to name the company but said
he expected it to announce its plans within weeks or months.
Intralytix also plans to seek FDA approval for another bacteriophage
product to kill E. coli bacteria on beef before it is ground, Vazzana said.
Scientists have long studied bacteriophages as a bacteria-fighting
alternative to antibiotics.
Click here for the URL:
NVIC E-News is a free service of the National Vaccine Information Center
and is supported through
membership donations.
NVIC is funded through the financial support of its members and does not
receive any government subsidies. Barbara Loe Fisher, President and Co-
founder.
Learn more about vaccines, diseases and how to protect your informed
consent rights at
www.nvic.org
NVIC
National Vaccine Information Center
----------
email: news@nvic.org
phone: 703-938-dpt3
web: http://www.nvic.org
National Vaccine Information Center | 204 Mill St. | Suite B1 | Vienna | VA
| 22180
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath
Well Within & Earth Mysteries & Sacred Site Tours (worldwide)
Vaccination Information & Choice Network
http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm
http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/homeo.htm
homeopathycures@tesco.net
ONLINE Introduction to Homeopathy Classes
ONLINE Introduction to Vaccine Dangers Classes
Voicemail US 530-740-0561 UK phone from US 011-44-1874-624-936
They will not quit. One reason I left the US
Sheri
National Vaccine Information Center Newsletter
e-NEWS
" Consumers won't be aware that meat and poultry products have been
treated with the spray, Zajac added. The Department of Agriculture will
regulate the actual use of the product. The viruses are grown in a
preparation of the very bacteria they kill, and then purified. The FDA had
concerns that the virus preparation potentially could contain toxic
residues associated with the bacteria. However, testing did not reveal the
presence of such residues, which in small quantities likely wouldn't cause
health problems anyway, the FDA said." - Associated Press, Aug. 18, 2006
Barbara Loe Fisher Comments:
In yet another stunning demonstration of callous disregard for the health
of American citizens, a pathetically weak and useless Food and Drug
Administration has given the green light to industry microbe hunters to
spray cold cuts, poultry and other meats with a mix of viruses that are
supposed to eat bacteria contaminating the meat without hurting anyone in
the process. Right.
And the best part? Meat producers won't have to tell consumers which meats
have been bathed in the viruses so everyone gets a dose eating a hot dog at
a baseball game or frying up some ham and eggs for breakfast - whether they
want it or not. And when Uncle Leo in the Bronx drops dead from a
mysterious infection after eating an italian sub at a neighborhood picnic,
the story will be: it wasn't the virus infected sausage that did it, it was
- A COINCIDENCE. (But if enough people drop dead after eating virus
infected meat, an enterprising drug company will probably develop a food
vaccine and convince the CDC to mandate it).
In America, apparently the only way consumers will be able to protect
themselves from FDA-sponsored contaminated meat is to become a vegan or go
organic. It's an expensive alternative but a small price to pay to keep
viruses, chemicals and hormones that don't belong in the food we eat out of
our bodies.
FDA Says Viruses Safe for Treating Meat
Associated Press
FORBES
August 18, 2006
By ANDREW BRIDGES
A mix of bacteria-killing viruses can be safely sprayed on cold cuts, hot
dogs and sausages to combat common microbes that kill hundreds of people a
year, federal health officials said Friday in granting the first-ever
approval of viruses as a food additive.
The combination of six viruses is designed to be sprayed on ready-to-eat
meat and poultry products, including sliced ham and turkey, said John
Vazzana, president and chief executive officer of manufacturer Intralytix
Inc.
The special viruses called bacteriophages are meant to kill strains of the
Listeria monocytogenes bacterium, the Food and Drug Administration said in
declaring it safe to use on ready-to-eat meats prior to their packaging.
The viruses are the first to win FDA approval for use as a food additive,
said Andrew Zajac, of the regulatory agency's office of food additive safety.
The bacterium the viruses target can cause a serious infection called
listeriosis, primarily in pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened
immune systems. In the United States, an estimated 2,500 people become
seriously ill with listeriosis each year, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Of those, 500 die.
Luncheon meats are particularly vulnerable to Listeria since once
purchased, they typically aren't cooked or reheated, which can kill harmful
bacteria like Listeria, Zajac said.
The preparation of bacteriophages - the name is Greek for "bacteria-eater"
- attacks only strains of the Listeria bacterium and not human or plant
cells, the FDA said.
"As long as it used in accordance with the regulations, we have concluded
it's safe," Zajac said. People normally come into contact with phages
through food, water and the environment, and they are found in our
digestive tracts, the FDA said.
Consumers won't be aware that meat and poultry products have been treated
with the spray, Zajac added. The Department of Agriculture will regulate
the actual use of the product.
The viruses are grown in a preparation of the very bacteria they kill, and
then purified. The FDA had concerns that the virus preparation potentially
could contain toxic residues associated with the bacteria. However, testing
did not reveal the presence of such residues, which in small quantities
likely wouldn't cause health problems anyway, the FDA said.
"The FDA is applying one of the toughest food- safety standards which they
have to find this is safe," said Caroline Smith DeWaal, director of food
safety for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer
advocacy group. "They couldn't approve this product if they had questions
about its safety."
Intralytix, based in Baltimore, first petitioned the FDA in 2002 to allow
the viruses to be used as a food additive. It has since licensed the
product to a multinational company, which intends to market it worldwide,
said Intralytix president Vazzana. He declined to name the company but said
he expected it to announce its plans within weeks or months.
Intralytix also plans to seek FDA approval for another bacteriophage
product to kill E. coli bacteria on beef before it is ground, Vazzana said.
Scientists have long studied bacteriophages as a bacteria-fighting
alternative to antibiotics.
Click here for the URL:
NVIC E-News is a free service of the National Vaccine Information Center
and is supported through
membership donations.
NVIC is funded through the financial support of its members and does not
receive any government subsidies. Barbara Loe Fisher, President and Co-
founder.
Learn more about vaccines, diseases and how to protect your informed
consent rights at
www.nvic.org
NVIC
National Vaccine Information Center
----------
email: news@nvic.org
phone: 703-938-dpt3
web: http://www.nvic.org
National Vaccine Information Center | 204 Mill St. | Suite B1 | Vienna | VA
| 22180
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath
Well Within & Earth Mysteries & Sacred Site Tours (worldwide)
Vaccination Information & Choice Network
http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm
http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/homeo.htm
homeopathycures@tesco.net
ONLINE Introduction to Homeopathy Classes
ONLINE Introduction to Vaccine Dangers Classes
Voicemail US 530-740-0561 UK phone from US 011-44-1874-624-936