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From: dgary@ecsvax.UUCP (D Gary Grady)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: sterilizing food with radiation
Message-ID: <761@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 18-Nov-85 08:45:12 EST
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.761
Posted: Mon Nov 18 08:45:12 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 20-Nov-85 07:55:34 EST
References: <6202@amdcad.UUCP>
Organization: Duke U Comp Ctr
Lines: 14

> I understand that preliminary tests are being done on the use of
> radiation to sterilize food. . .
> . . . My question is, are the results of breaking large molecules
> at random places likely to be completely innocuous?  I guess the final
> 
>  Phil Ngai +1 408 749-5720
>  UUCP: {ucbvax,decwrl,ihnp4,allegra}!amdcad!phil
>  ARPA: amdcad!phil@decwrl.dec.com

There's been research underway on this for some time (I remember hearing
about it in the 60s).  I've no idea whether it's safe (not being gifted
with superhuman intelligence), but it's worth noting that food has been
preserved and chemically altered by exposure to NON-ionizing radiation
for a long time --- we call it cooking.