Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mhuxt.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!mhuxt!hstrop 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