IBP, Excel to Test-Market Irradiated Beef

Meatpacking giants IBP Inc. (Dakota City, NE) and Excel Corp. (Omaha) are planning the first consumer acceptance tests of commercially irradiated ground beef later this year or in early 2000. The companies hope to convince consumers of the safety of the process when used to reduce bacteria from meat. Interest in irradiation has grown since recent contamination scares, including last summer's recall of 25 million pounds of ground beef feared contaminated with E. coli bacteria, industry officials said.

"We've had several major customers express interest in offering the product," said IBP spokesman, Gary Mickelson. "So that's contributed to our interest. It's another layer of protection."

In February, the USDA approved irradiation of red meat as a way to curb foodborne illnesses. While it has been used for years on limited amounts of produce, spices, poultry and other foods, none of the major food companies has stepped forward to market irradiated products. Only a few small retailers offer irradiated foods. Excel spokesman Mark Klein said that testing would have to be accompanied by educational material to ease people's fears about the process.

"We'll have to let people know that the technology is safe and that if they're looking for that added measure of safety, they may very well want to try this," he said. He said irradiated beef could cost slightly more than untreated meat. Past estimates have put the added cost of irradiation to a food processor at 3 cents to 7 cents a pound.

IBP and Excel said they will test-market beef irradiated by a system being built at Cloverleaf Cold Storage Co. in Sioux City, IA. Titan Corp. (San Diego, CA) will build and operate the system based on E-Beam technology. (Click here to see related article). The USDA has not yet approved rules for using the electronic irradiation technology, Ray said. He adds that final USDA approval is expected by the end of the year, pending legal review.

The test-marketing is tentatively scheduled to begin with completion of the Titan system in late 1999 or early 2000.