Does irradiation produce harmful chemical changes in food?
No. In general, irradiation produces little chemical change in food. None of the known changes have been found to be harmful or dangerous. The chemical changes that do occur are similar to those that occur in heat processing, which is already commonly used in food storage. Q: Does irradiation produce free radicals in food, and are they dangerous? A: Free radicals are atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons, which makes them very reactive. Free radicals are considered to be carcinogenic in large amounts ingested during long periods of time. Irradiation produces free radicals, but no more so than are produced during toasting or frying, which is to say few small amounts. Q: Does irradiation adversely affect the nutritional value of food? A: Research has shown that the basic nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates and fat remain stable even under doses of radiation much larger than would be used in food irradiation. Different types of micronutrients such as vitamins have varied sensiti
