Big Isle official speaks
By Rod Thompson
against food irradiator
Star-BulletinHILO -- Hawaii County Civil Defense director Harry Kim has issued a personal statement opposing a Big Island food irradiator.
But one of his main concerns, possible danger from tsunamis, is already being met by a change in the proposed site of the facility.
Isomedix, the company that wants to build the irradiator, now says the Shipman Business Park south of Hilo, five miles from the sea, is the "logical" site for the facility, according to an August letter from the company to fruit grower Eric Weinert.
Attention previously focused on Bishop Estate land near Hilo Airport, about one mile from the sea.
Kim's statement comes as Big Islanders prepare to vote in November on whether to ban commercial food irradiators.
Supporters say an irradiator is the only practical way to sterilize fruit flies in a variety of tropical fruits so they can be commercially shipped to the mainland.
Kim has added his voice to those who say the facility, and possibly the food, would be dangerous.
Kim said he made the statement because he was receiving phone calls from people who wanted to know what he said to the Hawaii County Council last year.
He said then, "I wish we would look into other alternatives."
Kim said he tried to include only indisputable facts in his present statement. But various people immediately disagreed with him.
Kim said the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has inadequate site requirements, opening the possibility that an irradiator might be built in a tsunami zone.
Dr. James Lambeth, a radiologist, said the NRC gives approval only after its engineers determine that a facility is safe at a specific site.
Kim quoted a 1997 CBS poll, which showed 77 percent of people questioned would not eat irradiated food.
But fruit grower Weinert refered to a poll by the Food Marketing Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers of America, out last month, which showed 80 percent of Americans would eat food irradiated to control bacteria.
Weinert said several thousand people ate free samples of irradiated papaya passed out at the Hawaii County Fair recently.
Kim said experts agree that irradiation causes loss of vitamins.
Weinert referred to a study of irradiated mangos, papayas, and strawberries, which found "no significant changes in nutritional compounds."
Kim said scientists don't agree on chemical changes in food caused by irradiation.
Minnesota public health expert Michael Osterholm, who spoke in favor of irradiation in Hilo last week, says multiple studies have shown that much greater chemical changes take place when food is cooked or microwaved.
