LEWISTON – Maine schools could begin serving irradiated ground beef to students next year.

If there’s enough demand, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin offering irradiated beef to school systems that buy food through the National School Lunch Program.

If the state stocks the meat, each school system will have a choice to take irradiated or untreated beef starting with the 2004-05 school year.

Irradiated ground beef has been exposed to X-rays, gamma rays or electron beams. The government says irradiation kills E. coli, salmonella and other bacteria, leaving the meat safe to eat.

“The beef is not really changed but it’s enough to kill the microbes in there,” said Philip Haines, Maine Bureau of Health’s deputy director. “This is an additional layer of protection.”

Irradiation is also allowed for spices, fruits, pork and other foods, but all treated food must be labeled. A law enacted last year required the USDA to allow irradiated food in the National School Lunch Program.