Are food irradiation facilities subject to possible meltdowns or explosions?
No. It is impossible for a meltdown or an explosion to occur in a food irradiation facility. The source of radiation energy used is undergoing radioactive decay, meaning it s is giving off energy like a battery. In order for there to be a meltdown or an explosion there must be a nuclear reaction like fission to induce a chain reaction. Q: What are the possibilities for accidents at a food irradiation facility? A: During the past 25 years, there have been several accidents at other kinds of industrial irradiation centers, such as medical irradiation facilities, where workers were killed. These accidents occurred because safety systems had been bypassed. None of them endangered public health or the environment. Sources for answers: International Journal of Applied Radiation and Isotopes; United Kingdom Advisory Committee on Novel and Irradiated Foods; Council for Agricultural and Science Technology; U.S. Food and Drug Administration; World Health Organization; Food Safety Advisory Centre
