Food Safety and Irradiation

In response to “Bacteria in the Meat? Just Turn Up the Heat,” Commentary, Feb. 3:

Elizabeth Whelan is correct in her assessment of the problems of contaminated meat. Unfortunately, our society is not just technophobic, as she states, but also techno-illiterate. On the news recently, I heard reference to food poisoning due to the “E. coli virus.”

Many people in the country truly don’t know the difference between a bacterium and a virus, therefore, how can we expect people to understand that radiating food doesn’t make food radioactive? Our (lack of) science education is entirely to blame for the public’s fear of food irradiation.

JANET TOWNSLEY

Los Angeles