Disadvantages of Irradiated Food
- Food Irradiation Food irradiation is a process in which certain foods are exposed to radiation to reduce possible bacteria content, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, USDA. ...
- Resistant Strains One common concern about irradiated food is that insufficient amounts of radiation could lead to mutations among microbial strains, creating more dangerous bacteria. ...
- Cost ...
- Hazards ...
- Nutrient Content ...
What is irradiated food and why should I avoid it?
Why We Should Avoid Irradiated Foods
- By breaking up the molecules in the food, free radicals are created during food irradiation. ...
- Food irradiation destroys a significant quantity of nutrition in food - up to 80% of many vitamins, including A, C, E, and B. ...
- Irradiation damages the natural enzymes found in raw foods. ...
- When foods have been irradiated, they are no longer considered fresh. ...
Why is irradiation of food bad?
Irradiation Destroys the Vitamin Content of Foods. Irradiated foods can lose from 2-95% of their vitamins. For example, irradiation can destroy up to 80% of the vitamin A in eggs, up to 95% of the vitamin A and lutein in green beans, up to 50% of the vitamin A and lutein in broccoli, and 40% of the beta-carotene in orange juice.
Does food irradiation cause cancer?
Research also shows that irradiation forms volatile toxic chemicals such as benzene and toluene, chemicals known, or suspected, to cause cancer and birth defects. Irradiation also causes stunted growth in lab animals fed irradiated foods.
How does food irradiation prevent bacterial growth?
“Irradiation is a technology that leaves no residue in food products and destroys the DNA of microorganisms to prevent them from multiplying. When you irradiate food, you produce an effect on microorganisms due to their effects on DNA and cell membranes. Photons, electrons, or x-rays strike the cell membranes and the DNA, damaging both.
Why is it bad to eat irradiated food?
Irradiation makes meat and poultry safer by reducing the numbers of harmful bacteria and parasites. Food irradiation does not make foods radioactive. The radiant energy passes through the food. The food itself never contacts the source of the radiant energy.
What is irradiated food and why should I avoid it?
Did you know that ionizing radiation is also used to kill bacteria, molds and other pests in our food? This process is called food irradiation. Food irradiation can help prevent foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning. Food irradiation protects people in this world—and people out of this world as well!
What are the pros and cons to irradiated foods?
To control food spoilage and eliminate food-borne pathogens like salmonella, a technology called food irradiation was developed....List of Cons of Food IrradiationIt is radioactive. ... It gives consumers less choice. ... It raises concerns about food hygiene. ... It eliminated warning signs of food spoilage.More items...•
What happens when food is irradiated?
When food is irradiated, it absorbs energy. This absorbed energy kills the bacteria that can cause food poisoning in a similar way that heat energy kills bacteria when food is cooked. They can also delay fruit ripening and help stop vegetables from sprouting.
Why are people afraid of food irradiation?
Response: Nuclear energy has many applications in medicine. Many common household products, like bandages, articles of hygiene, even tires, are irradiated. Opponents believe that if irradiation is used as a final sanitation process, food handlers will be careless in food preparation.
Is irradiated food natural or unnatural?
Putting the atrocities of the agricultural system aside, the process of irradiation might seem harmless in comparison. Yet the ionized radiation actually breaks down molecular bonds in our food which stops natural cell division. Hence making this process extremely unnatural.
What are some disadvantages of irradiation?
Disadvantagesit may not kill all bacteria on an object.it can be very harmful - standing in the environment where objects are being treated by irradiation could expose people's cells to damage and mutation.
What is the safe limit of irradiation applied to food?
10 kGyAlthough there is an agreement among international committee experts that food is safe and wholesome for consumption after irradiation up to a dose of 10 kGy, there is no approval for irradiation of all foods up to this limit in any country. Most countries approve food irradiation on a case-by-case basis.
Are organic fruits and vegetables irradiated?
Can organic foods be irradiated? Happily, no. Just as opting for an 'organic' label means the food cannot be genetically modified, foods labeled 'organic' cannot be irradiated.
Does irradiation destroy nutrients in food?
Irradiation does not make foods radioactive, compromise nutritional quality, or noticeably change the taste, texture, or appearance of food. In fact, any changes made by irradiation are so minimal that it is not easy to tell if a food has been irradiated.
Does irradiated food become radioactive?
Can irradiated food become radioactive? No. Irradiation of food by gamma-rays, x-rays or high energy electrons under the approved conditions does not cause food to become radioactive. Additionally, in the process, the food does not come into contact with the radioactive source and therefore cannot become contaminated.
What foods Cannot be irradiated?
Some foods, such as dairy foods and eggs, cannot be irradiated because it causes changes in flavour or texture. Fruits, vegetables, grain foods, spices and meats (such as chicken) can be irradiated.
What are the disadvantages to irradiating food?
Research also shows that irradiation forms volatile toxic chemicals such as benzene and toluene, chemicals known, or suspected, to cause cancer and birth defects. Irradiation also causes stunted growth in lab animals fed irradiated foods.
What foods Cannot be irradiated?
Some foods, such as dairy foods and eggs, cannot be irradiated because it causes changes in flavour or texture. Fruits, vegetables, grain foods, spices and meats (such as chicken) can be irradiated.
What does irradiated mean?
Definition of irradiate transitive verb. 1a : to affect or treat by radiant energy (such as heat) specifically : to treat by irradiation. b : to cast rays of light upon : illuminate. c : to enlighten intellectually or spiritually. 2 : to emit like rays of light : radiate irradiating strength and comfort.
What makes something irradiated?
An irradiated substance is one that has had radiated energy interact with it, generally the radiation has simply fallen on the surface. When radiation is incident on a surface, it is either absorbed or reflected depending on the properties of the surface.
How does food irradiation destroy bacteria?
The idea behind food irradiation is to destroy bacteria by exposing them to free radicals which are highly reactive and can interrupt cell division. The needed free radicals are generated by bombarding the food with gamma rays released from a cobalt-60 source. This does not make the food radioactive or dangerous in any way.
What are the benefits of irradiating meat?
The real potential benefit, though, would be in treating fresh and frozen meat to reduce the risk of Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria poisoning. The latter is a serious concern with ready- to-eat meat products such as sausages, luncheon meats and cooked ham. In any case, anyone desiring to avoid irradiated foods could easily do so because by law such foods have to be labeled with the symbol known as the radura. Some anti-irradiation activists claim that exposing foods to gamma rays destroys nutrients and gives rise to what they call unique “radiolytic products” of unknown toxicity. Gamma rays from cobalt-60 can destroy some of the A,C,E, and B vitamins but under the conditions used this effect is very small. True, on exposure to irradiation chemical bonds are broken and new molecules can form. Most have not been identified and tested but formaldehyde does form in irradiated starch, benzene in meat, peroxides in plant tissues and formic acid in sucrose. All such radiolytic products total no more than 30 ppm. There is more benzene in non-irradiated dairy products than in meat that has been irradiated. Countries such as Israel use irradiation on a large scale and no problems have been noted. In fact, some studies have shown that irradiation increases the concentration of some beneficial substances such as flavanols in citrus fruits. The one realistic concern with food irradiation concerns the cobalt-60 source. This has to be transported to the irradiation facility and in theory accidents can happen along the way. But current methods of transporting radioactive materials are very sophisticated and accidental release of radiation is extremely unlikely.
Does Israel use irradiation?
Countries such as Israel use irradiation on a large scale and no problems have been noted. In fact, some studies have shown that irradiation increases the concentration of some beneficial substances such as flavanols in citrus fruits. The one realistic concern with food irradiation concerns the cobalt-60 source.
Is irradiation bad for food?
Too bad because food irradiation can reduce the risk of bacterial food poisoning, but public fear keeps the technology from being more widely applied than it currently is. And this fear is mostly irrational.
Is accidental release of radiation possible?
But current methods of transporting radioactive materials are very soph isticated and accidental release of radiation is extremely unlikely. Nobody has ever been killed by exposure to gamma rays from a cobalt-60 source used in food irradiation.
Is food irradiation dangerous?
It’s a safe bet that many would rather take their chances with bacterial food poisoning than with food irradiation. Too bad because food irradiation can reduce the risk of bacterial food poisoning, but public fear keeps the technology from being more widely applied than it currently is. And this fear is mostly irrational. The idea behind food irradiation is to destroy bacteria by exposing them to free radicals which are highly reactive and can interrupt cell division. The needed free radicals are generated by bombarding the food with gamma rays released from a cobalt-60 source. This does not make the food radioactive or dangerous in any way. Food irradiation technology has been around a longtime and today most of the spices, herbs and dried vegetables we import are treated in this fashion without any problem ever having appeared. The technique can be used to prevent sprouting in potatoes, extend the shelf life of strawberries and reduce insect infestation in mangoes and papayas.
How does irradiation affect food?
Irradiation can alter slightly the flavor of some foods. The change is like the way pasteurization alters the taste of milk.
What is food irradiation?
Food irradiation uses ionizing radiation to reduce bacteria, molds and other pests in food. Irradiation breaks chemical bonds to stop bacteria and other pathogens from multiplying. You are probably familiar with pasteurizing milk and pressure cooking canned foods as ways to kill bacteria and other pathogens. Did you know that ionizing radiation is ...
How does irradiation help animals?
Irradiation can prevent the spread of these bacteria to livestock. Food irradiation slows down the aging of foods such as fruits and vegetables by delaying sprouting. Irradiating dry foods like spices and grains allows them to be stored for a long time. It also allows shipping of grains and spices over long distances.
Why is food irradiation important?
Food irradiation can be used to protect agriculture from the import of invasive pests such as insects and worms. The radiation kills or sterilizes pests, preventing new bugs from infecting crops.
Why do astronauts eat food?
Food irradiation protects people in this world—and people out of this world as well! NASA astronauts eat food that has been irradiated to avoid any chance of foodborne illness in space.
How does ionizing radiation affect bacteria?
The ionizing radiation sends enough energy into the bacterial or mold cells in the food to break chemical bonds. This damages the pathogens enough for them to die or no longer multiply, which reduces illness or spoilage.
How does food irradiation help us?
About Food Irradiation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that food irradiation helps ensure our food is safe. Some ways that food irradiation keeps our food safe are: Food irradiation does not make food radioactive. Food irradiation reduces or removes pathogens, such as bacteria and molds, ...
Why is irradiation harmful to food?
During irradiation, food is exposed to ionizing radiation in an effort to destroy microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, or insects that could be dangerous if consumed by people. In addition to sanitizing our food, irradiation can also be used to prevent sprouting, delay ripening, or increase juice yield–in other words, messing with a fruit or vegetable’s natural life process or progression. How exactly does irradiation achieve all these things? By damaging the DNA of the food in question, basically stunting any growth.
What happens if you irradiate food?
Irradiating a food can cause it to lose a large percentage of its vitamin content.
What happens when you eat raw vegetables?
In their natural state, raw fruits and vegetables contain valuable enzymes that aid digestion. Once these foods are irradiated, the enzymes are destroyed. Basically, its like cooking the food–though by looking at it you’d never know this, because it still looks like a raw piece of produce.
Is irradiation related to distance?
The distance and irradiated food problem are somewhat related, as many food organisms, if moved from farm to table quickly are not an issue. However, when you have to ship grapes from Mexico to Chicago, you have to take many more precautions, thus irradiation is employed.
Does irradiated food harm humans?
Irradiated food has been researched for more than 50 years, and the scientific literature is available for the public. Irradiated food has never harmed any human being. It’s what the Apollo astronauts ate in space, where they could not afford to have any food-borne pathogens.
Does Whole Foods irradiate food?
Susanna – Whole Foods does not support ir radiated foods, and irradiation is not in compliance with organic standards. So whether you buy organic at Whole Foods or not, the food you get there won’t be irradiated, and I would imagine this is the case with any other respectable natural food stores, too.
Does irradiation kill bacteria?
Irradiation creates super bacteria. Just like antibacterial soaps, the irradiation process can never kill 100% of the microorganisms living on our food. The ones that do survive will become resistant to irradiation, and therefore, of greater potential danger to us.
Why is irradiated food used?
While irradiated food is not widely sold in the United States, the process of food irradiation is used throughout the world to reduce the risk of illnesses and food poisoning. In addition to some safety concerns, irradiated food has other disadvantages, including poorer taste and nutrient content.
Is it safe to eat irradiated food?
Many health agencies like the International Institute of Concern for Public Health are concerned that consumers will see irradiated food and automatically assume it is safe to eat. However, irradiation cannot be a substitute for healthy growing and processing practices. For example, irradiation cannot eliminate pesticides and other chemicals in food, nor can irradiated food be handled and packed in unsanitary conditions without contamination recurring.
Is food irradiated safe?
This process does not cause the food itself to become radioactive. The FDA and other health organizations throughout the world have studied the effects of irradiated food and declared it safe for consumption. However, there are certain disadvantages to purchasing irradiated food.
How does irradiation damage food?
The free radicals kill some bacteria, but not all! The free radicals bounce around in the food, damage vitamins and enzymes, and combine with existing chemicals (like pesticides) in the food to form new chemicals, called unique radiolytic products (URPs).
Why are irradiated foods not safe?
Because irradiated foods have not been proven safe for human health in the long term, prominent, conspicuous and truthful labels are necessary for all irradiated foods. Consumers should be able to easily determine if their food has been irradiated. Labels should also be required for irradiated ingredients of compound foods, and for restaurant and institutional foods.
Why do irradiated foods have longer shelf life than nonirradiated foods?
Irradiated foods can have longer shelf lives than nonirradiated foods, which means they can be shipped further while appearing 'fresh.' Food grown by giant farms far away may last longer than nonirradiated, locally grown food, even if it is inferior in nutrition and taste. Thus, irradiation encourages centralization and hurts small farmers.
Who was the original sponsor of food irradiation?
The original sponsor of food irradiation in the US was the Department of Energy, which wanted to create a favorable image of nuclear power as well as dispose of radioactive waste. These goals have not changed.
What is irradiation in food?
Irradiation creates new chemicals in foods called radiolytic products. Some of these products are known cancer-causing substances (like benzene in irradiated beef). Others are unique to the irradiation process and no one knows what effects these have on human health.
What happens when food is exposed to radiation?
Foods that have been exposed to ionizing radiation have second-rate nutrition and "counterfeit freshness." Irradiated fats tend to become rancid. Even at low doses, some irradiated foods lose 20% of vitamins such as C, E, K, and B complex. Because irradiation breaks down the food's cell walls, accelerated vitamin losses occur during storage--up to 80%. Ironically, irradiation both creates harmful free radicals and destroys the antioxidant vitamins necessary to fight them! When electron beams are used, trace amounts of radioactivity may be created. In Europe, food irradiation has been used to camouflage spoiled seafood. Consumers should ask, "Why is the food suddenly so dirty that it has to be irradiated?"
Is irradiation a quick fix?
Irradiation is a quick fix with long-term consequences.
Does irradiation solve the problem?
Irradiation doesn't solve the problem, it just covers it up.
Is it safe to eat irradiated food?
Irradiation destroys essential vitamins and nutrients that are naturally present in food. No studies have been done to show that a long-term diet of irradiated foods is safe. Safer, well-tested alternatives to irradiation exist.
