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From: hstrop@mhuxt.UUCP (trop)
Newsgroups: net.cooks,net.veg,net.med
Subject: Re: irradiated food
Message-ID: <1232@mhuxt.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Feb-84 13:15:48 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxt.1232
Posted: Wed Feb 22 13:15:48 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 23-Feb-84 04:36:48 EST
References: <1550@tekig1.UUCP>, <588@pyuxqq.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 17

First of all, Cobol is a computer language,
Cobalt-60 is an isotope of cobalt that is radioactive.
Cobalt-60 decays by gamma emission, basically it is
just an extremely hot photon. It is extremely effective
at killing micro-organisms, as well as larger critters.
It does NOT affect the nutritional value of the food
and extensive research by both the FDA and Army has also
shown that irradiation doesn't make the food radioactive
or create any known carcinogens that weren't there in the 
first place. I for one look forward to seeing more
use of irradiation. It will make backpacking meals much
better and tastier. It will also result in lower levels of
pesticides in the environment as a whole when widely
used.

			Harvey S. Trop
			mhuxt!hstrop