Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
ZAP! Dead
Shall we return fire on the bacteria and viruses infecting our food supply?
http://www.chazography.com/wp-content/uploads/12-09-2005_raygun.jpg
http://www.beefretail.org/uDocs/1369T-Bone%20Steak.jpg
Can irradiation solve the foodborne illness problem sweeping America?
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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
Table of Contents
Choose a subject:
Impact of Food on Society
Society’s Opinion of Food
Food Irradiation: The Facts
Types of Irradiation
So What?
Resources
Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
The Impact of Food on SocietyThe Impact of Food on SocietyIn the United States, nearly 200 In the United States, nearly 200
people, most of them elderly or people, most of them elderly or children, die each week from children, die each week from foodborne illnessesfoodborne illnesses
Also in the United States, diseases Also in the United States, diseases in food cause an estimated 76 in food cause an estimated 76 million illnesses each yearmillion illnesses each year
Foodborne illnesses result in Foodborne illnesses result in nearly 323,000 hospitalizations nearly 323,000 hospitalizations a year a year
These illnesses create a total bill of These illnesses create a total bill of $6.7 billion on the United $6.7 billion on the United States as a wholeStates as a whole
Every time we eat, we take a risk Every time we eat, we take a risk of contracting a foodborne of contracting a foodborne illness, but this cannot and illness, but this cannot and should not keep us from eatingshould not keep us from eating
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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
Future of Food in Society?Future of Food in Society?
The good thing is, in the United The good thing is, in the United States, illnesses caused by States, illnesses caused by foodborne diseases have declined foodborne diseases have declined 23% since 199623% since 1996
Can that number some day reach Can that number some day reach 100%?100%?
Is food irradiation the key to finally Is food irradiation the key to finally having bacteria free meat?having bacteria free meat?
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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
Society’s Opinion
The term “Irradiation” scares the general public:
Irradiation = Radiation = Atomic Bomb
Society fears the damage that radiation is known to cause to cells in living organisms, such as themselves
Society also worries about having a irradiation plant too close to where they live
“What if the radiation leaks?”
“What if something similar to a nuclear meltdown happens?”
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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
Society’s Continuing Dismal Attitude
Irradiation has been approved for the federal nutrition program in some school systems, and frankly, many parents don’t like the idea of their children touching anything even related to radiation
In many areas the irradiation of school lunch meat has been protested until it has been removed
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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
Food Irradiation: The FactsRadiation was discovered in 1896 by Atoine-Henri Bacquerel, French physicist
A few years later, Samuel Prescott from MIT showed that gamma rays from radium could kill bacteria in food
E. Coli, salmonella, and campylobacter are just some of the harmful bacteria that high energy radiation can kill
Above is an example picture of a food irradiation machine. Notice that the food has to be sealed off from the rest of the building before it can be dose with radiation.
ccr.ucdavis.edu/irr/what2.shtml
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During his presidency, Bill Clinton proposed a $43 million National Food Safety Initiative which singled out irradiation as a cutting edge food technology
Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
More on Food IrradiationSome hospitals serve irradiated food to patients who have weakened immune systems
Astronauts have been eating irradiated food while on their missions since the Apollo 17 launch in 1972
In 1921, scientists in U.S.D.A. reported that irradiation would kill trichinae in pork products. Since then, food irradiation has been evaluated as a way to kill microbes in food.
The “Radura” Logo
This symbol has been required on all irradiated meat sold in stores since 1992 by the FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service)
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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
Will it taste the same?Irradiation kills all microorganism, bacteria, mold, and insects still living in food
In raw meat, irradiation can double the shelf-life
Irradiation causes less damage to vitamins and minerals than cooking alone
Changes in color, smell, and taste mainly occur in foods such as raw meat
If the meat about to be irradiated, is frozen before-hand and kept in a oxygen free environment, these changes are minimal
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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
Types of IrradiationTypes of Irradiation
Gamma Rays:Gamma Rays:
Are emitted by either radioactive Are emitted by either radioactive cobalt or cesiumcobalt or cesium
Have a long half-lifeHave a long half-life
Must be stored in a pool of water Must be stored in a pool of water that absorbs irradiation, when not in that absorbs irradiation, when not in use, “turning the rays off”use, “turning the rays off”
Can deeply penetrate food, making Can deeply penetrate food, making bulk treatment possiblebulk treatment possible
Food can even be irradiated while Food can even be irradiated while still in the cratestill in the crate
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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
Types of Irradiation
Electron Beams (Beta Electron Beams (Beta Beams):Beams):
Are emitted from an Are emitted from an electron gun, such electron gun, such as one found in a as one found in a television only more television only more powerfulpowerful
Penetrates only a Penetrates only a few cm of foodfew cm of food
Can be switched off Can be switched off while not in usewhile not in use
No radioactivity is No radioactivity is involvedinvolved
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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
Types of Irradiation
X-irradiation:
Is the most recently developed
Produces x-rays by making an electron beam hit a metal foil target
Penetrates deeper than electron beams and requires more shielding and insulation
Also has the ability to be switched off at will
Also does not have a radioactive source
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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
So What?
Irradiation can be used to nearly rid foodborne illnesses from society
Irradiation has little to no affect on aspects of food such as color, smell, and taste
Two of the three forms of irradiation do not come from a radioactive source
Irradiation is considered safe by most scientists and has been in use in many government run organizations, such as NASA for over 25 years
Irradiation nearly doubles the shelf-life of food
The question is: “Is society willing to accept ‘irradiation’, a term so close the familiar ‘radiation’, as a possible freedom from foodborne illness?”
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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008
ResourcesHosansky, D (2002 November 1). Food safety: Is our food as safe as it could be?. CQ Researcher, 12, Retrieved
March 15, 2008, from http://library.cqpress.com.tarver-proxy.mercer.edu/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2002110100&type=hitlist&num=0
Skerrett, P. J. (1997, November). Food irradiation: Will it keep the doctors away?. Technology Review, Retrieved March 15, 2008, from http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/11621/
Belli, B. Nuking food: Contamination fears and market possibilities spur at irradiation revival. E Magazine, Retrieved March 15, 2008, from http://www.emagazine.com/view/?3790
Mikhail, M. (2003, December, 06). Irradiated meat: A sneak attack on school lunches. Weston A. Price Foundation, Retrieved March 15, 2008, from http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/irradiatedmeat.html
Tauxe, R. V. (2003, April, 21). Food safety and irradiation: Protecting the public from foodborne infections. Center for Disease Control, Retrieved March 15, 2008, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no3_supp/tauxe.htm
Brown, J. Lynne (2002). What Does Irradiation Do to Food?. Penn State, Retrieved March 15, 2008, from http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/uk107.pdf
Pictures:
http://www.chazography.com/wp-content/uploads/12-09-2005_raygun.jpg
http://www.beefretail.org/uDocs/1369T-Bone%20Steak.jpg
http://images.ibsys.com/2002/0710/1552804.jpg
http://whyfiles.org/020radiation/images/mushroom.jpg
http://ccr.ucdavis.edu/irr/what2.shtml
http://blogs.menupages.com/boston/Steak.gif
http://www.aboutnuclear.org/i/food/radura.gif
http://www.crou-ems.eu.dodea.edu/images/lunch.jpg
www.stoptheride.net/2007_07_01_archive.html
http://www.twi.co.uk/j32k/twiimages/eb_equipf1.jpg
http://www.ashaindustries.com/images/asha-2.jpg
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