Does treatment destroy all bacteria, resulting in a sterile produce?
Irradiative treatment, at the levels normally used in food processing, destroys most, but not necessarily every single microorganism present; it does not sterilize the food. As with any food, consumers must take appropriate precautions, such as refrigeration and proper handling and cooking, to make sure that potentially harmful organisms do not present a problem. The process is not beneficial if the consumer improperly handles the treated food. After treatment, the surviving disease-causing and food spoilage organisms may start to multiply again if the food is not properly handled. The disease-causing organisms in treated food are just as dangerous, but not more so, as the same organisms in untreated food.
