ABC News: FDA Says Viruses Safe for Treating Meat
The FDA has just approved using a combination of six viruses to combat bacteria in cold cuts and sausages. The combination would be sprayed on the meats before packaging. Consumers will not be told which meats are treated with the listeria-eating-viruses.
Listeria is a big problem for elderly people and pregnant women, for whom it can cause premature delivery and other complications. For that reason pregnant women are advised not to eat deli meats, soft cheeses, sushi and other products more likely than average to contain listeria. BUT there seems to be little point in applying this product to some products and not others – as careful pregnant women would still have to keep away from these products in general as they wouldn’t know which ones would be safe. The rest of the population, who wouldn’t need them, may want to stay away from viruses in general.
As for my part, I plan to call whatever manufacturers of sausages & hotdogs & deli meats I use and ask whether they’re serving me viruses a la carte.