Meat spray OK'd
FDA approves mix of viruses that will be used to kill microbes on cold cuts and sausages.
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON ' A mix of bacteria-killing viruses can be safely sprayed on cold cuts, hot dogs and sausages to combat microbes that kill hundreds each year, health officials said Friday.
The combination of six viruses is designed to be sprayed on ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, including sliced ham and turkey, said John Vazzana, president and chief executive officer of manufacturer Intralytix Inc.
The special viruses, called bacteriophages, are meant to kill strains of the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium, the Food and Drug Administration said in declaring it safe to use on ready-to-eat meats before their packaging.
The bacterium the viruses make a target can cause a serious infection called listeriosis, primarily in pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems.
In the United States, an estimated 2,500 people become seriously ill with listeriosis each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Of those, 500 die.
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Meat spray ok'd (like there aren't ENOUGH additives???)
