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Food Borne Illness
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Beef
was added to the approval list for irradiation in 1999, along with
other foods like potatoes and
strawberries. Food irradiation is a process through which food
products are exposed to a controlled amount of high-energy
electrons to eliminate harmful bacteria. According to the
American Medical Association, food irradiation is a safe and
effective process that increases the safety of food.
Scientific studies have shown that irradiation does not
significantly reduce nutritional quality or change food taste,
texture or appearance. American astronauts have been eating
irradiated foods in space since the early 1970s. Hospital patients
and elderly people with weakened immune systems are also sometimes
fed irradiated foods to reduce the chance of a life threatening
infection. Irradiated food costs slightly more than their
conventional counterparts - generally two to five cents higher.
In Europe, over 40 types of irradiated foods are being purchased
by consumers. The United States Postal Service has begun
using the same technology from SureBeam to irradiate letters and
packages.
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