On: U.S. wants the EU to accept chemical-washed chicke...

[take_a_breath]

==It's vinegar, essentially. To say that's unsafe or not to be used, we don't think there's a basis for that in sound science.==

Why aren't they just using vinegar if it's the same thing?

[avmich → take_a_breath]

I think they are not the same thing, not exactly, and the difference is interesting.

Hydrogen peroxide is a rather - comparatively - unstable substance, it decomposes to water and oxygen; hydrogen peroxide is a rather strong oxidizer, which defines a lot of its properties.

I'd assume double -O- bond in peracetic acid behaves the same - decomposes with release of O and acetic acid (or the anion of the acid). This oxidizing effect likely provides the effect which is desired - the same which chlorine would produce, that is, oxidizing a lot of things in chickens making them safer.

I've heard that hydrogen peroxide is used in Europe instead of chlorine in US for water treatment - for example, in swimming pools. I'm not sure why peracetic acid is chosen.

[zaarn → avmich]

Not instead, along with chlorine, atleast in swimming pools and general water treatment.

Hydrogen Peroxide under UV light can burn a lot of toxins that the chlorine cannot catch, so to speak.

[ska → take_a_breath]

  Why aren't they just using vinegar if it's the same thing? 

Because it isn't the same thing, but they want to convey the idea (accurately or not) that it is benign to a general audience.

[jshevek → take_a_breath]

They are not chemically the same thing. Presumably they don't use vinegar because vinegar is less effective. However, the implication is that the chemical they use will break down to vinegar by the time it gets to the consumer.