From: Steward, Angela [angelasteward@bbg.org]
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2000 9:16 AM
To: 'FDADockets@oc.fda.gov'
Subject: Stop Irradiated Juice


>Dear FDA:
>
>I object to the Food and Drug Administration's decision to allow the use
of ultraviolet radiation to "treat" fruit and vegetable juice. Irradiation
has the potential to adversely affect the health of my family. 
>
>Specifically, I object because:
>
>(1) The company that applied for the irradiation permit admits that UV
radiation destroys 48 percent of the beta carotene and 13 percent of the
vitamin C in orange juice. The FDA ignored warnings from agency scientists
who urged that more tests on nutrient destruction should be conducted and
analyzed before the permit was approved.
>
>(2) The FDA did not determine a safe level of radiation to which juice can
be exposed and still be safe for human consumption, as federal law requires.

>
>(3) The FDA conducted no independent analysis to determine the potential
toxicity of the new chemicals formed in irradiated juice. 
>
>(4) The company that applied for the irradiation permit offered to prevent
the release of smog-forming ozone during the irradiation process. The FDA
freed the company of this restriction, however, despite warnings from an
FDA scientist that "ozone can have deleterious health effects on humans who
may be exposed to it (e.g. via inhalation), and may have undesirable
effects on organoleptic qualities of the juice."
>
>I respectfully demand you reevaluate this decision. Thank you for your
time.
>
>Sincerely,
Angela Steward