Agricultural Irradiation
By Nate Streu
What is it?
Definition: Food irradiation is the process of exposing foodstuffs to ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is energy that can be transmitted without direct contact capable of freeing electrons from their atomic bonds in the targeted food. This treatment is used to preserve food, reduce the risk of food borne illness, prevent the spread of invasive pests, and delay or eliminate sprouting or ripening. Irradiated food does not become radioactive. The radiation can be emitted by a radioactive substance or generated electrically.
My Defenition
Food irradiation is a technology that improves the safety and extends the shelf life of foods by reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects. Like pasteurizing milk and canning fruits and vegetables,irradiation can make food safer for the consumer.
Facts
* The place where food goes to be cleaned is called the Cobalt-60 Irradiation facility and they have them in 60 countries
* A lot of people hate food irradiation because they believe that we get some after affects of the radiation, but it is not true
*It make food safer and extends shelf life
*they have made irradiation machines portable for farmers to use directly on the site.
This is the International sign that food has been cleaned by agricultural irradiation
The machine used to irradiate food.