Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

ZAP! Dead

Shall we return fire on the bacteria and viruses infecting our food supply?

http://www.chazography.com/wp-content/uploads/12-09-2005_raygun.jpg

http://www.beefretail.org/uDocs/1369T-Bone%20Steak.jpg

Can irradiation solve the foodborne illness problem sweeping America?

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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

Table of Contents

Choose a subject:

Impact of Food on Society

Society’s Opinion of Food

Food Irradiation: The Facts

Types of Irradiation

So What?

Resources

Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

The Impact of Food on SocietyThe Impact of Food on SocietyIn the United States, nearly 200 In the United States, nearly 200

people, most of them elderly or people, most of them elderly or children, die each week from children, die each week from foodborne illnessesfoodborne illnesses

Also in the United States, diseases Also in the United States, diseases in food cause an estimated 76 in food cause an estimated 76 million illnesses each yearmillion illnesses each year

Foodborne illnesses result in Foodborne illnesses result in nearly 323,000 hospitalizations nearly 323,000 hospitalizations a year a year

These illnesses create a total bill of These illnesses create a total bill of $6.7 billion on the United $6.7 billion on the United States as a wholeStates as a whole

Every time we eat, we take a risk Every time we eat, we take a risk of contracting a foodborne of contracting a foodborne illness, but this cannot and illness, but this cannot and should not keep us from eatingshould not keep us from eating

http://images.ibsys.com/2002/0710/1552804.jpg

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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

Future of Food in Society?Future of Food in Society?

The good thing is, in the United The good thing is, in the United States, illnesses caused by States, illnesses caused by foodborne diseases have declined foodborne diseases have declined 23% since 199623% since 1996

Can that number some day reach Can that number some day reach 100%?100%?

Is food irradiation the key to finally Is food irradiation the key to finally having bacteria free meat?having bacteria free meat?

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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

Society’s Opinion

The term “Irradiation” scares the general public:

Irradiation = Radiation = Atomic Bomb

Society fears the damage that radiation is known to cause to cells in living organisms, such as themselves

Society also worries about having a irradiation plant too close to where they live

“What if the radiation leaks?”

“What if something similar to a nuclear meltdown happens?”

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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

Society’s Continuing Dismal Attitude

Irradiation has been approved for the federal nutrition program in some school systems, and frankly, many parents don’t like the idea of their children touching anything even related to radiation

In many areas the irradiation of school lunch meat has been protested until it has been removed

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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

Food Irradiation: The FactsRadiation was discovered in 1896 by Atoine-Henri Bacquerel, French physicist

A few years later, Samuel Prescott from MIT showed that gamma rays from radium could kill bacteria in food

E. Coli, salmonella, and campylobacter are just some of the harmful bacteria that high energy radiation can kill

Above is an example picture of a food irradiation machine. Notice that the food has to be sealed off from the rest of the building before it can be dose with radiation.

ccr.ucdavis.edu/irr/what2.shtml

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During his presidency, Bill Clinton proposed a $43 million National Food Safety Initiative which singled out irradiation as a cutting edge food technology

Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

More on Food IrradiationSome hospitals serve irradiated food to patients who have weakened immune systems

Astronauts have been eating irradiated food while on their missions since the Apollo 17 launch in 1972

In 1921, scientists in U.S.D.A. reported that irradiation would kill trichinae in pork products. Since then, food irradiation has been evaluated as a way to kill microbes in food.

The “Radura” Logo

This symbol has been required on all irradiated meat sold in stores since 1992 by the FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service)

http://blogs.menupages.com/boston/Steak.gif

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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

Will it taste the same?Irradiation kills all microorganism, bacteria, mold, and insects still living in food

In raw meat, irradiation can double the shelf-life

Irradiation causes less damage to vitamins and minerals than cooking alone

Changes in color, smell, and taste mainly occur in foods such as raw meat

If the meat about to be irradiated, is frozen before-hand and kept in a oxygen free environment, these changes are minimal

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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

Types of IrradiationTypes of Irradiation

Gamma Rays:Gamma Rays:

Are emitted by either radioactive Are emitted by either radioactive cobalt or cesiumcobalt or cesium

Have a long half-lifeHave a long half-life

Must be stored in a pool of water Must be stored in a pool of water that absorbs irradiation, when not in that absorbs irradiation, when not in use, “turning the rays off”use, “turning the rays off”

Can deeply penetrate food, making Can deeply penetrate food, making bulk treatment possiblebulk treatment possible

Food can even be irradiated while Food can even be irradiated while still in the cratestill in the crate

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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

Types of Irradiation

Electron Beams (Beta Electron Beams (Beta Beams):Beams):

Are emitted from an Are emitted from an electron gun, such electron gun, such as one found in a as one found in a television only more television only more powerfulpowerful

Penetrates only a Penetrates only a few cm of foodfew cm of food

Can be switched off Can be switched off while not in usewhile not in use

No radioactivity is No radioactivity is involvedinvolved

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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

Types of Irradiation

X-irradiation:

Is the most recently developed

Produces x-rays by making an electron beam hit a metal foil target

Penetrates deeper than electron beams and requires more shielding and insulation

Also has the ability to be switched off at will

Also does not have a radioactive source

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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

So What?

Irradiation can be used to nearly rid foodborne illnesses from society

Irradiation has little to no affect on aspects of food such as color, smell, and taste

Two of the three forms of irradiation do not come from a radioactive source

Irradiation is considered safe by most scientists and has been in use in many government run organizations, such as NASA for over 25 years

Irradiation nearly doubles the shelf-life of food

The question is: “Is society willing to accept ‘irradiation’, a term so close the familiar ‘radiation’, as a possible freedom from foodborne illness?”

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Hamilton Mercer University – Engineering Dr. Davis Spring 2008

ResourcesHosansky, D (2002 November 1). Food safety: Is our food as safe as it could be?. CQ Researcher, 12, Retrieved

March 15, 2008, from http://library.cqpress.com.tarver-proxy.mercer.edu/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2002110100&type=hitlist&num=0

Skerrett, P. J. (1997, November). Food irradiation: Will it keep the doctors away?. Technology Review, Retrieved March 15, 2008, from http://www.technologyreview.com/Biotech/11621/

Belli, B. Nuking food: Contamination fears and market possibilities spur at irradiation revival. E Magazine, Retrieved March 15, 2008, from http://www.emagazine.com/view/?3790

Mikhail, M. (2003, December, 06). Irradiated meat: A sneak attack on school lunches. Weston A. Price Foundation, Retrieved March 15, 2008, from http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/irradiatedmeat.html

Tauxe, R. V. (2003, April, 21). Food safety and irradiation: Protecting the public from foodborne infections. Center for Disease Control, Retrieved March 15, 2008, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no3_supp/tauxe.htm

Brown, J. Lynne (2002). What Does Irradiation Do to Food?. Penn State, Retrieved March 15, 2008, from http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/uk107.pdf

Pictures:

http://www.chazography.com/wp-content/uploads/12-09-2005_raygun.jpg

http://www.beefretail.org/uDocs/1369T-Bone%20Steak.jpg

http://images.ibsys.com/2002/0710/1552804.jpg

http://whyfiles.org/020radiation/images/mushroom.jpg

http://ccr.ucdavis.edu/irr/what2.shtml

http://blogs.menupages.com/boston/Steak.gif

http://www.aboutnuclear.org/i/food/radura.gif

http://www.crou-ems.eu.dodea.edu/images/lunch.jpg

www.stoptheride.net/2007_07_01_archive.html

http://www.twi.co.uk/j32k/twiimages/eb_equipf1.jpg

http://www.ashaindustries.com/images/asha-2.jpg

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