How is Irradiation Done?
Food is irradiated by exposing it to ionizing radiation. Radiation is a household word that covers a wide spectrum of energy – ranging from low-level emissions from TV sets and computer screens to deadly gamma rays from nuclear fuel and waste products. High energy radiation can change the structure of a molecule. Electricity also can be used to produce ionizing radiation, as is the case with X-ray Machines or linear accelerators. Whether ionizing radiation comes from radioactive materials or linear accelerators, its effect on food is the same; the only difference is how the radiation was produced. In a typical food irradiation process, gamma rays from the radioactive isotope Cobalt 60 are used to destroy the DNA of disease-causing microorganisms. The effect of irradiation on microorganisms depends on the power of the rays, as well as the amount of time food is exposed to them. Irradiation exposes food to ionizing radiation using one of three sources: gamma rays (produced by Cesium 137
