FARMINGTON – Despite strong protests from several members, the SAD 9 Board of Directors voted 9-3 in November to authorize the district’s hot lunch director to purchase irradiated meat for use in school cafeterias.
Food irradiation is a process used to preserve food and improve its quality through the use of radiant energy to zap bacteria such as E.coli that can cause serious illness or even death.
According to a letter written by Susan Gendron, commission of Maine’s Department of Education, “… Irradiated foods can provide a critical extra layer of food safety for our school children.”
Although the 9-3 vote authorizes hot lunch director Cheryl Ellis to purchase irradiated meat at her discretion, Superintendent Michael Cormier said if the district does decide to serve the irradiated meat, parents and students will be notified first.
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