Irradiation of food is a process that involves the exposure of food to short bursts of radiation to damage the DNA of most bacterias.Radiation Information Network: Food Irradiation (February 27, 2009) Irradiating food has been mentioned as a way to avert additional food safety crises like the recent salmonella outbreaks.US News: http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2009/02/26/can-irradiating-food-zap-salmonella-outbreaks.html Can Irradiating Food Zap Salmonella Outbreaks?] (February 26, 2009)
Irradiated Food Pros and Cons
Scientific research shows that exposing foods to radiation kills 99.9% of common food borne pathogens. Medical groups like the American Medical Association and the World Health Organization consider irradiated food safe. No radioactive residues are left in the food, but a few isolated animal studies suggest that there may be reproductive effects associated with irradiated food consumption.US News: The Basics on the Foodfight Over Irradiation (September 5, 2008)
Opponents point out that radiation also affects the nutritional quality, taste and texture of food. Further, relying on radiation does not fix the source of the problem: unsanitary conditions at farms and processing plants.US News: The Basics on the Foodfight Over Irradiation (September 5, 2008)
References
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Radiated food is marked with a "radura" symbol and the statement "Treated with radiation"US News: The Basics on the Foodfight Over Irradiation (September 5, 2008)
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Irradiation does not prevent reinfectionsRadiation Information Network: Food Irradiation (February 27, 2009)
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Largest marketers of irradiated food
Netherlands (20,000 tons a year), Belgium and France (each about 10,000 tons a year)Radiation Information Network: Food Irradiation (February 27, 2009)
