Since the FDA has approved virus spraying our foods: you know that

[pooja]

meat packers probably already have the spray... So, anyone done the research yet to find out the meats that will refuse virus spraying... or am I becoming vegetarian. Maybe a compilation of local organic farmers... I know one thing Subway, quiznos, and blimpies are a definate no-no's, along with all the chains that are now deli-touting. I'll have to ask my local meat market what they are doing? If anything, anti-viral meat is going to be expensive.

[MadMaddie]

1. It cannot be healthy.....

just hearing it sounds unhealthy....

[mike_c]

2. you'd rather eat antibiotic resistant E. coli and salmonella...?

Good lord, the hysteria over this issue says a lot about the state of scientific illiteracy in America. Do you even know what a bacteriophage is? Why on earth would you fear them?

[pooja]

3. I'd rather they throw away bad meat... on top of that this is not

a virus to combat e.coli or salmonella. Besides, most foods cooked properly will eliminate bacteria. It is lunch meats that go bad quickly. So, it will be the Subways, etc. that will be serving you lunch meat that is green... but never fear, its been sprayed.

[MadMaddie]

6. Mike....Americans and citizens around the world have

been eating meat for many, many years...and the meat was not sprayed with anything....yea people get food poisoning if the meat is not refrigerated or handled properly...just because they can spray this doesn't mean they have to....

And if they are going to start treating all meat across the nation with this...shouldn't there be a public information forum and debate on what the American people want?

And by the way to make an assumption that people are scientifically illiterate is kind of rude...

bac·te·ri·o·phage (plural bac·te·ri·o·phages)
bacteria-infecting virus: a virus that infects bacteria and may integrate into the genetic material of its host cell. Bacteriophages are used as vectors in gene cloning and have other biotechnological uses.

Anyhoo...if you have more information to share about this process I am willing to listen....Remember that is the difference between us and the Repugs

:hi:

[mike_c]

14. here you go....

Here's a good article I linked in an earlier thread on this topic.

http://www.slate.com/id/2142626

There is a HUGE amount of scientific literature available about phages, but the basic stuff in college biology and genetic texts is more than enough to inform this discussion. My ire stems from knee jerk responses from people who read "virus," "spray," and "food" in the same sentence-- and who exhibit an apparent poor understanding of what kind of viruses are in question, what they are routinely used for, their historic uses, their specificity, and so on. IN short-- biological Luddites who have more fear than knowledge. I'm a biologist. I'm sorry if I seemed rude-- but it is discouraging to see that sort of response over and over from people who appear rather poorly informed.

on edit-- and then there are responses like #12 below. I mean, what can you do but throw your hands up and shake your head?

[MadMaddie]

15. Thanks for the link....I like meat don't get me wrong...

I just like to know what's going on with it....

[leesa]

4. I wonder what the feds would be able to insert in those viruses.

[emcguffie]

5. Obviously I missed something.

Spray meat with viruses? What is this about, please?

Already sick enough.

[Odin2005]

8. The viruses infect and kill bacteria.

It's been an idea on the drawing boards for a long time to deal with anti-biotic resistant bacteria.

[pooja]

9. a little alternative info

http://www.truthinwellness.com/news.htm

The stated goal of the new FDA-approved viruses is to kill a rare bacterium known as Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium is killed by cooking; however, it poses a problem in meats that are cooked during processing and not cooked again prior to consumption, so it can readily infect foods such as deli meats.

snip

The human immune system is highly reactive and sensitive to bacterial endotoxins. They provoke allergy, asthma, autoimmune problems, and elevate cholesterol. They also interfere with the healthy function of cells lining the digestive tract. Researchers have demonstrated that the presence of bacterial endotoxins can start cancer in the colon.

snip

Phages are so good at disrupting normal immunity that they are being considered for use as part of organ transplant medicine.

snip

Furthermore, the Listeria bacteria are not going to take the issue lying down. They will develop resistance to the viruses over time, as we have seen with the overuse of antibiotics. Going down this path we are likely to have hundreds of viral food additives in the food we eat, all designed to combat some possible infection coming from poor quality food. Sooner or later we will inadvertently create deadly new super-strains of bacteria and/or parasitically infect the human digestive tract with an untreatable infection.

[pitohui]

10. listeria is a menace!

if this works it could be a very good thing

[pooja]

13. Are you kidding me. Listeria is quickly rid of by heating meat.

As far as deli meats go (which is the main reason for this--so Subway can sell you 30 day old meats). There is absolutely no reason to add viruses to our meats. I for one do not support this.

[pitohui]

16. you heat every cold cut you buy before you eat it?

maybe you do, most don't, hell, i don't and i've heard some toe-curling horror stories!

[pooja]

19. Did you read the whole message. I was pointing out that

by heating meats (cooking) you kill the bacteria. On deli meats no, I was refering to all meats.

They will be using this manly on ground items and deli meats which aren't cooked. This means longer than avg. shelf-lifes so that a company won't lose money on throw away items. There are already enough problems with stores and eateries selling bad meats, I certainly don't want them to just put out crap because of a spray. There needs to be tougher testing standards, not masks that have their own drawbacks.

[diamidue]

20. masks

All those nitrates they put in the bologna, hot dogs is to mask the true color of the meat which would have been grey brown or even black instead of pink. The whole thing with these processed meats is disgusting.

[pooja]

21. exactly

[mike_c]

18. resistance is not nearly as problematic with phages....

The basic process of screening for specific phages can simply be repeated on the resistant bacteria. Voila-- phage evolution matches bacterial evolution. This is an arms race that has been going on for BILLIONS of years. Phages are very good at it.

[12string]

7. becoming vegetarian

Makes me glad that I became veggy 32 years ago.Just a thought
to help with your decision...The number one reason for
destruction of the rainforests is to graze cattle for the
american beef market.The number one cause of ground water
pollution in the U.S. is chicken farms.

[Warren DeMontague]

11. Sure. As long as they don't find out that you can eat virus sprayed meat

within 72 hours of having unprotected sex for birth control purposes, they won't have any problem with it.

[upi402]

12. crap

meat makes crap

[pitohui]

17. bran makes more crap!

i'm fairly sure that crap is unavoidable in this life :-)

into every life a little crap must fall