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Airport will X-ray travelers for food
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- It is one of many health and safety precautions taken by state agriculture officials as Utah prepares to play host to thousands of visitors for the 2002 Winter Olympics. "We've said that the Olympics for us start now, not in February," state Department of Agriculture meat inspection manager Chris Crnich told the Legislature's Administrative Rules Committee on Tuesday. All organic products -- fruits, vegetables, meats -- show up in color on a bio X-ray machine. Everything else appears black and white. Contraband food items will be destroyed. The Salt Lake City Airport currently receives direct international flights from Canada and Mexico. Bio X-ray systems are typically reserved for U.S. airports that have flights coming in from around the world. "We're getting more international travel because of the Olympics and this is a way of double-checking what's coming into our country," said Larry Lewis, public information officer for the state Department of Agriculture and Food. "The wrong piece of meat coming in to the U.S. could be catastrophic." State veterinarian Michael Marshall said officials also are concerned about foreign Olympic committees or teams who plan to bring their own chefs and foods to Utah. The Salt Lake Organizing Committee has sent letters to other nations advising them what will or won't be acceptable, he said. The easily spread foot-and-mouth virus does not effect humans but has led to the destruction of thousands of cattle and sheep in Europe.
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