Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site pyuxqq.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!whuxle!spuxll!abnjh!u1100a!pyuxn!pyuxww!pyuxqq!pat From: pat@pyuxqq.UUCP (Pat M. Iurilli) Newsgroups: net.cooks,net.veg,net.med Subject: Re: irradiated food Message-ID: <588@pyuxqq.UUCP> Date: Tue, 21-Feb-84 23:00:13 EST Article-I.D.: pyuxqq.588 Posted: Tue Feb 21 23:00:13 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 23-Feb-84 04:25:48 EST References: <1550@tekig1.UUCP> Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway, NJ Lines: 16 Apparently this process is used not only to increase shelf life but also as a way of killing insects hidden in the food, thereby stopping the need for contact pesticides like EDB. Its widest use seems to be on fruit and produce. The way it works is that the material is sent into a room on a conveyer belt which contains a pool of water in the center. Once inside, rods of Cobol-60 are raised from deep in the pool and the material is moved around the room by a circular conveyer belt, first near the ceiling, then near the floor. All scientific evidence is that this procedure is harmless, and does not cause the material to become radioactive in any way, if you can believe this. Remember this is the same scientific community that told mothers that DES, Thalidomide (sp?), etc. were harmless, until all those babies were born deformed. I see nothing wrong with nuclear harnessing for power and other things, but not in my food! It's too soon to determine if it is indeed as safe as advertised. Only time will tell... Pat Iurilli Bell Communications Research Piscataway, NJ {ihnp4,harpo}!pyuxqq!pat