do we trust them?

The FDA has approved the use of bacteriophages (viruses) as a food additive to be used on processed meats (lunch meats, etc.) as a way to kill listeria. There are also trials being done to develop viruses to kill e-coli and other bacteria that routinely contaminate meat products. Now, it’s not that I think that science shouldn’t be looking at these sorts of things, but I have grave concerns about FDA approvals being truly what they are touted to be (i.e., “safe” for humans and other animals).

Here’s the part that worries me…

Consumers will not be aware which meat and poultry products have been treated with the spray, Mr. Zajac said. The Department of Agriculture will regulate the actual use of the product.

and WHY aren’t we (consumers) going to be made aware that the meat being bought (consumed) is treated with this “additive”?

Now, this part is just plain laughable.

“The F.D.A. 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.”

This from the agency that approved vioxx.

Read the entire article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/19/us/19viruses.html?_r=1&oref=slogin