What is the actual process of irradiation?

Answer 1

When a radio active material is excited the neutrons in the atoms are releases at a high energy state. These neutron ray if targeted to a body (may be human or a vegetable). the process is called irradiation. Let me know If i am wrong

Answer 2

The process of irradiation involves exposing food, either packaged or in bulk, to one of three types of ionizing energy: gamma rays, machine-generated electrons or x-rays. This is done in a special chamber for a few seconds. Gamma rays are most commonly used for food processing. The process can prevent the division of living cells, such as bacteria, by changing their molecular structure. The gamma energy penetrates the food and its packaging, but most of the energy simply passes through the food, similar to the way that microwaves pass through food. The FDA says that irradiating meat is safe and that it doesn't change food's nutritional content, smell or flavor and no residues are left behind. Micro waving and traditional cooking methods have been shown to cause more vitamin loss in meat than irradiation.

Some critics are concerned that irradiation will be used as an excuse for processors to ignore cleanliness standards in the packinghouses. Irradiation cannot be used to make spoiled food good, or to clean up ''dirty" food. Neither irradiation nor any other process can reverse the spoilage process and make bad food good. If food already looks, tastes or smells bad before irradiation, it cannot be "saved" by any treatment including irradiation. Before beef gets into the hands of the consumers, it goes through many treatments to ensure that it is clean and free of contaminants. These processes include steam vacuuming, steam pasteurization, and hot water sprays and organic acid rinses and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HAACP) procedures. Irradiation will not replace any of these processes which are or soon will be required by law, but will be in addition to these procedures.

Irradiation is just one of several important tools, but it is the only "kill step" available before the product reaches the consumer. Consumers need to know that irradiation is not a "silver bullet." Even with irradiation, proper handling in the home is just as critical as it always has been. Just because a piece of meat has been irradiated, does not mean that it can be left sitting on a counter top for an extended period prior to serving. Cooking of ground beef to 160 degrees Fahrenheit and personal hygiene are still the ultimate food safety assurances.

Irradiation is not the sole answer to food safety problems, but it is a powerful weapon that is now available to wipe out food borne illness. The acceptance of irradiation is in the best interest of the federal government, the state health departments, the food industry, and most importantly, consumers.

Answer 3

Irradiation just means exposing something to radiation.

For radiation therapy it involves firing particles at a block of tungsten in a linear accelerator, then focusing the beam to the area being treated, while avoiding organs and areas not affected by disease. Each radiation therapy machine at a hospital is a self-contained accelerator, and takes a most amazing collection of hardware, software and people to provide therapy. Here's a picture:

https://www.asrt.org/media/pdf/RadTherapyTeam_Eng.pdf#search='radiation%20therapy%20team'

Funny, you'd think if you were being treated for a life-threatening illness that'd be all you could think about, but I found the technology and the science so awesome that I could hardly stop asking questions long enough to get my treatments!

Your question wasn't very clear, and it's 2am, but that's the very tip of what ~I~ know about irradiation, so I thought I'd share it.

I'd imagine that irradiating foods for preservation is done in a similar way, but with less need for compassion. ~G~

Answer 4

I will tell you tomorrow.