By Raven Woods It is the process of exposing food ionizing radiation to kill microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, and insects that would be in the food. A bulk of food is passed through a radiation camber on a conveyor belt. Radioactive material dose not come in contact of the food. Just a beam passes through it. The type of food and the purpose of irradiation determine the amount of radiation nesscessry for the process. The speed of the conveyor belt also helps the process by controlling the time the food is exposed to the radiation. One of the sources is a Cobalt 60 Gamma. The Cobalt-60 emits ionizing radiation in the form of intense gamma rays. They are store in stainless steel capsules that are stored underwater tanks. Cobalt has couple of advantages it has up to 95% of its emitted energy is available for use, penetrates deeply, yields substantial uniformity of the dose in the food product, turn to non-radioactive nickel after use. 5.3-year half-life offers disadvantages: Cobalt -60 require frequent replenishment. The food process is kind of slow. Electron beam facilities generate e-beams with an electron beam linear accelerator. The electrons are concentrated and accelerated to 99% of the speed of light. Because e-beams are generated electrically, they offer certain advantages: they can be turned on only as needed, they do not require replenishment of the source as does cobalt- 60, and there is no radioactive waste. Electron Beam Generators E-beam technology also has disadvantages: shallow depth of penetration, e-beams must be converted to x- rays, high electric power consumption complexity, and potentially high maintenance. Uses electron beam accelerator to target electrons on a metal plate. Some energy is absorbed, and the rest is converted to X-rays. Like gamma rays, X-rays are penetrating, and can be used on food boxes 15 inches thick or more. Which allows food to be shipped in an container. X-rays offer the advantage of high penetration, but share the other e-beam technology disadvantages. Layout of a normal X-ray facility for food irradiation The radiation limit to food is 10kilogreys. The FDA sets limitation for different food. Fruit: 1kilogrey Poultry: 3kilogrey Spices and seasoning: 30kilogreys The radiation limit is higher for spices and seasonings because they are consumed in very small amounts. None of the radiation is retain in the food. So, no it does not make food radioactive. The food is just hit with gamma, x-ray or electrons beams to kill many types of food poisoning microorganisms. This symbol shows that the food has been through radiation. That it is safe to eat. An organization called Organic Consumers Association is fighting to have food irradiation stopped. Heres what they say: Irradiated fruits and vegetables benefit the packer and grocer, not the farmer or consumer. The consumer receives an inferior product that appears fresh, but has depleted vitamins and enzymes. The problem is that food irradiation damages the food by breaking up molecules and creating free radicals. Those free radicals kills some bacteria but it also damages the vitamins and enzymes, and combine with existing chemicals (like pesticides) in the food to form new chemicals. So basically food irradiation is very helpful but it does have some bad aspects to it as well. Like it takes out some of the nutrients that we need in our bodies. But it kills the bacteria that can harm us too. Everything has good and bad aspects to it. But to me I think Food Irradiation is a good thing to use on food to keep us safe. irradiation/irradiation/ =what+is+food+irradiation&btnG=Google+Se arch&aq=f&aqi=&oq=&fp=b03f3b2a1b =what+is+food+irradiation&btnG=Google+Se arch&aq=f&aqi=&oq=&fp=b03f3b2a1b rrad.htmlrrad.html act.cfmact.cfm