Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site amdcad.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!amdcad!phil From: phil@amdcad.UUCP (Phil Ngai) Newsgroups: net.med,net.physics,net.cooks Subject: sterilizing food with radiation Message-ID: <6202@amdcad.UUCP> Date: Wed, 13-Nov-85 02:20:55 EST Article-I.D.: amdcad.6202 Posted: Wed Nov 13 02:20:55 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 14-Nov-85 00:48:37 EST Organization: AMDCAD, Sunnyvale, CA Lines: 21 Xref: watmath net.med:2741 net.physics:3551 net.cooks:5396 I understand that preliminary tests are being done on the use of radiation to sterilize food. The food is exposed to a source of radiation which breaks up complex molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids, killing germs and other living agents which cause food to spoil. Afterwards, the food is not radioactive and is supposed to be edible. My question is, are the results of breaking large molecules at random places likely to be completely innocuous? I guess the final answer will come from testing, but there's a fundamental difference between testing this form of food preservation and testing substances like Nutrasweet. You can provide large (100X) doses of Nutrasweet to accelerate the test. 100X doses of food are not likely to provide the desired results. Anyway, would those more familiar with the subject care to comment? -- The California Lottery may be a tax on the stupid, but at least some of the proceeds are used for education. Phil Ngai +1 408 749-5720 UUCP: {ucbvax,decwrl,ihnp4,allegra}!amdcad!phil ARPA: amdcad!phil@decwrl.dec.com