Just finished reading an article about how raw alfalfa sprouts easily spread e-coli, but the problem could be solved by irradiation. So why don’t we?

After all, the US is the land of GMO, pesticides, washed eggs, chlorinated chicken, and pasteurized dairy. How could irradiated produce be any worse?

  • I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world
    0·
    13 days ago

    We can, but I suspect we don’t because the disclosure requirements would hurt sales. Without massive public education campaigns to convince people that it’s not as stupid as letting kids play with Xray machines every time they went to the shoe store up until the 1970s, people will be unsure. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe-fitting_fluoroscope

    Since ionizing radiation from medical procedures, nuclear weapons and reactors is a known cause of cancer [ www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation ], it would be quite a project to get the entire US public to believe that exposing your food to the process is different than exposing your body to it.

    Irradiated foods can be recognized by the presence of the international symbol for irradiation on the packaging along with the words “Treated with Radiation,” or “Treated by Irradiation.”