AGRICULTURE

USDA Gives OK to Zap Poultry: The Agriculture Department announced that poultry processors will be allowed to use gamma rays to destroy potential illness-causing bacteria in chickens, turkeys and game hens. The green international symbol for irradiation and the words “Treated With Radiation” or “Treated by Irradiation” will be printed prominently on the package label of treated poultry. The process involves passing food through a chamber containing rods of radioactive cobalt-60 or cesium-137, where it is bombarded with gamma rays. Consumer advocates argue that the process reduces the levels of some nutrients and may leave tiny amounts of undesirable chemicals in the meat.