Comments on: Why Preserved Food is So Bad: "Retort Flavor" http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2012/05/14/why-preserved-food-is-so-bad-retort-flavor/ Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: DS http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2012/05/14/why-preserved-food-is-so-bad-retort-flavor/#comment-32828 DS Tue, 15 May 2012 18:22:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=37057#comment-32828 Doug, in the U.S. at least, irradiation is only allowed in very few products. It is currently not allowed in canned goods. Lots of validation studies would need to be done for years. There is a very serious risk of botulism in low acid, shelf stable products. The FDA or USDA (if it has meat in it) has very stringent rules for retort products to prevent this. They would have to be convinced beyond doubt that irradiation has killed every single pathogen and spore and does not create anything harmful. I agree that irradiation can accomplish this, but it will be very expensive to prove and very expensive to impliment. In the mean time, there are very good canned goods out there, unfortunately most of it is only availble to the food service industry - the retail stuff is mostly garbage. Doug, in the U.S. at least, irradiation is only allowed in very few products. It is currently not allowed in canned goods. Lots of validation studies would need to be done for years.

There is a very serious risk of botulism in low acid, shelf stable products. The FDA or USDA (if it has meat in it) has very stringent rules for retort products to prevent this. They would have to be convinced beyond doubt that irradiation has killed every single pathogen and spore and does not create anything harmful.

I agree that irradiation can accomplish this, but it will be very expensive to prove and very expensive to impliment. In the mean time, there are very good canned goods out there, unfortunately most of it is only availble to the food service industry – the retail stuff is mostly garbage.

]]> By: Redshift http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2012/05/14/why-preserved-food-is-so-bad-retort-flavor/#comment-32827 Redshift Tue, 15 May 2012 15:28:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=37057#comment-32827 People don't want to buy irradiated food, and you can't lie about it or they'll run you out of town when they find out! People don’t want to buy irradiated food, and you can’t lie about it or they’ll run you out of town when they find out!

]]> By: Nils http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2012/05/14/why-preserved-food-is-so-bad-retort-flavor/#comment-32826 Nils Tue, 15 May 2012 05:37:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=37057#comment-32826 Slow food for the win ! Slow food for the win !

]]> By: Doug Alder http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2012/05/14/why-preserved-food-is-so-bad-retort-flavor/#comment-32825 Doug Alder Mon, 14 May 2012 18:23:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=37057#comment-32825 Wouldn't irradiation accomplish the same goal without destroying the flavor? Wouldn’t irradiation accomplish the same goal without destroying the flavor?

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