Does irradiation make food radioactive?
No. Irradiation does not make food radioactive. The types of radiation sources approved for the treatment of foods have specific energy levels well below that which would cause any element in food to become radioactive. Food undergoing irradiation does not become any more radioactive than luggage passing through an airport X-ray scanner or teeth that have been X-rayed. It should be noted that everything in our environment, including food, contains natural trace amounts of radioactivity (background level). Irradiation of food at any dose will not result in an increased radioactivity beyond that of the background environment.
No. The energy used in food irradiation is not strong enough to cause food to become radioactive. Irradiation involves passing food through an irradiation field, but the food never touches a radioactive substance. During irradiation, energy passes through food much like a ray of light passes through a window. This energy destroys most of the bacteria that can cause disease, yet allows food to retain its high quality. Since the energy involved in irradiation is not strong enough to change the atoms of the food, and since the food never actually touches the radioactive source, the food cannot become radioactive. 4. Does eating irradiated food present health risks? No. Scientists from the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Energy, as well as from many universities within the United States reviewed several hundred studies on the effects of food irradiation before reaching conclusions about its safety. Independant scientific committees in Denmar
No. The process involves passing food through a radiation field at a set speed to control the exposure. The food itself never comes into direct contact with the radiation source. The amount of additional radioactivity left over in the food is so small it s immeasurable. Everything in the environment, including food, contains trace amounts of radioactivity, meaning small amounts of radioactivity are unavoidable in our daily diets. Q: What is the difference between “irradiated food” and “radioactive food”? A: Irradiated foods are those that have been deliberately processed with certain types of radiation energy designed to kill parasites. There is virtually no additional residual radioactivity left in these foods from the irradiation process. Radioactive foods are those that have become contaminated, accidentally, by radioactive substances from weapons testing or nuclear reactor accidents, processes that involve nuclear chain-reactions. These foods can contain considerable radioactivity
• No. During the irradiation process, food moves through an energy field, but never touches the energy source and does not become radioactive. The amount of energy and type of radiation used to irradiate food is enough to kill foodborne bacteria, but it does not make the food radioactive, just as luggage does not become radioactive after passing through a security checkpoint at the airport. Many common items, such as cotton balls, adhesive bandages, baby bottles, and medical supplies are irradiated for safety. None are made radioactive. • Do I handle irradiated food differently than other foods? • No. Handle irradiated food as you would any other perishable food. Irradiation destroys 99.9% or more of harmful bacteria like E.coli 0157:H7 and Salmonella. However, it reduces by does not destroy all spoilage bacteria. Meat and poultry should still be refrigerated to slow the growth of spoilage bacteria and maintain food quality. Irradiation leaves no chemical residue in the food, so irradi
No. Radioactivity in foods can occur by two routes: contamination of foods with radioactive substances or by penetration of energy into the nuclei of the atoms that make up the food. The irradiation process involves passing food through an irradiation field; however, the food itself never contacts a radioactive substance. Also, the ionizing radiation used by irradiators is not strong enough to disintegrate the nucleus of even one atom of a food molecule. 4. Does eating irradiated food present long-term health risks? No. Federal government and other scientists reviewed several hundred studies on the effects of food irradiation before reaching conclusions about the general safety of the treatment. In order to make recommendations specifically about poultry irradiation, U.S. Food and Drug Administration scientists reviewed findings form additional relevant studies. Independent scientific committees in Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom and Canada also have reaffirmed the safety of food irrad
