August 22, 2006

FDA approves virus to be used as food additive

Soon, food processors would be spraying a variety of viruses on consumer meats such as cold cuts, hot dogs and sausages, after FDA gave its approval on the use of viruses as a food additive Friday (Aug 18). 

The bacteriophages would kill strains of the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium, the FDA said.

The bacterium the viruses target can cause a serious infection called listeriosis in pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems.

About 2,500 Americans become seriously ill with listeriosis each year and a fifth of those infected die from it, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

The bacteriophages target only strains of the Listeria bacterium and not human or plant cells, the FDA said, adding that consumers would not be able to detect that the meat and poultry products have been treated with the spray.

The FDA applied one of its toughest food-safety standards before approving the procedure, said Caroline Smith DeWaal, director of food safety for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group.

Intralytix also plans to seek FDA approval for another bacteriophage product to kill E. coli on beef before it is ground, Vazzana said.