APRIL 9, 2001 — WASHINGTON DC — The Bush Administration has backed away from a plan to irradiate ground meat purchased by the government for schools.

Early last week, the Agriculture Department introduced a proposal that called for the irradiation of ground meat purchased by the government for schools. Rather than testing the meat for salmonella, the Agriculture Department had proposed to implement tougher processing standards for slaughterhouses and processing plants. Plants would be tested for general bacteria counts.

However, late last week White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer said the proposal came from “the lower level of the Department of Agriculture.”

The plan had been criticized by some for not being strict enough. Others however, including the American School Food Association, lauded the plan, saying it would have more to ensure school-bound meat was safe to eat.

The Agriculture Department plans to leave its current procedures for salmonella testing in place, Fliescher said.