From salmonella in jalepeños to E. coli in spinach, foodborne-
illness outbreaks have made big headlines. Despite the media
blitz, however, the situation is not improving. Recent data from
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that rates
of reported illness are the same today as they were four years
ago. Joe Mendelson, legal director of the Center for Food
Safety, believes not enough is being done to improve the
industrial food system, which allows one megafarm's
contamination to affect thousands of people countrywide. Some
experts believe the solution is irradiation — briefly exposing
food to high-energy radiation that kills pathogens and insects.
One USDA study found that irradiation killed pathogens inside
spinach leaves, whereas water rinses and chemical baths
eradicated only surface bacteria. But many critics argue that
irradiation alters nutrients and lessens the overall quality of
food. Prevention starts at home, says nutritionist and culinary
consultant Meg Woodard. “Consumers are the las