Question

You are presenting a general seminar at a food safety convention. At the end of your talk, an audience member barrages you with questions about irradiation of foods causing people to be exposed to radioactive food. How should you respond?

Answer 1

Food irradiation exposes food to ionizing radiation to destroy microorganisms but does not make the food radioactive. It is safe and does not negatively impact human health in the short term, although its long-term effects are still under study.

Step-by-step explanation:

Food irradiation is a process in which food is exposed to ionizing radiation to eliminate harmful bacteria, parasites, and insect pests. This process does not make the food radioactive. The food passes through a radiation chamber on a conveyor belt and is exposed to gamma rays from isotopes such as cobalt-60 or cesium-137. These isotopes are sealed in containers and the food never directly contacts them.

Food irradiation is effective at destroying microorganisms by creating free radicals that damage cell membranes. It has been found to have no observable negative short-term effects on human health. However, some nutritional changes may occur, such as the loss of certain vitamins, but this is also a consequence of extended storage. There is ongoing research into the long-term effects of consuming irradiated foods. Overall, food irradiation is a safe method to prolong shelf life and ensure food safety, approved by many health and safety authorities worldwide.