| Wouldn't it be wonderful to wave a magic wand over | | | | such as 2-alkylcyclobutanones, which form when |
| the food supply and make it safe to eat? Since that's | | | | animal fat is irradiated. Some studies have shown that |
| not possible, we can do the next best thing: food | | | | such compounds can cause strandbreaks in DNA, |
| irradiation. Exposure of food to X-rays and other | | | | which raises the prospect of cancer. Most |
| forms of ionizing radiation kills the molds, bacteria, and | | | | researchers, how ever, do not attach much |
| insects that cause spoilage. It delays the ripening of | | | | importance to this finding. As in cooking, the benefits of |
| fruits and berries, and thus extends shelf life. In addition, | | | | irradiation greatly outweigh the risks. There are roughly |
| irradiation inhibits the sprouting of potatoes and other | | | | 50 million cases of food-bones illness in North America |
| foods, which means that they stay fresh longer. | | | | every year and a large number of these are cause by |
| Previously, heat and the use of | | | | E. coli and salmonella, which could be controlled by |
| chemicals(formaldehyde, alcohol, or various pesticides) | | | | irradiation. Foods such as wheat. flour, potatoes, and |
| were the major methods of sterilization, but each had | | | | spices have been irradiated in many countries for |
| its drawbacks. Heat sterilization entails cooking foods, | | | | decades without any link to harmful effects. |
| so they are no longer fresh;chemicals that kill bacteria | | | | The government mandates that only certain forms of |
| and other microorganism often make food inedible. | | | | irradiation can be applied to foods and ensure that |
| Irradiation would seem to be an ideal means of | | | | they don't absorb the radioactive material. X-rays |
| sterilization, but the public has been slow to accept it. | | | | which pass through an object without leaving behind |
| Radioactive foods? Despite assurances that irradiation | | | | radioactive material, and exposure to certain cobalt |
| with X-rays or certain isotopes does not make foods | | | | and cesium isotopes are all acceptable methods. This |
| radioactive, some consumer and environmental groups | | | | methods of cool sterilization allow most radiated foods |
| remain unconvinced. The worry that any radiation | | | | to retain their fresh appearance and taste. When |
| exposure poses a potential environmental hazard, | | | | meat, fish, and seafoods are exposed to the high |
| even if the foods themselves are not made | | | | doses of radiation needed to destroy parasites, |
| radioactive. | | | | salmonella bacteria, and other organisms, however, the |
| They also fear the radiation may foster the | | | | flesh of some meat may darken, and fish and seafood |
| development of dangerous mutant organism or"unique | | | | may become mushy. Irradiation can also oxidize the |
| radiolytics products. " The latter refer to compounds | | | | fats in whole grains, causing them to taste rancid. |