Working for the Beef Producers of Georgia
Funded by Georgia Producers through Beef CheckOff
Funded by Georgia Producers through Beef CheckOff
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.
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.