Re: Food irradiation -"pseudo-science"

[Bob Hearn <rah@america.net>]

After opening his remarks by saying "somebody is not telling things
exactly", jep / magnus96196@aol.com procedes to use inexactness to
illustrate his hypothetical point!  His example uses the typical
"anti-anything" loose terminology, indicating a possible result (inoization
of salt in meat, as though it does not dissociate otherwise in water, etc.,
 and neglecting that irradiation may reduce the need to add salt in
processing) could introduce "free chlorine 'effects'" which are "associated
with" "things like"...  Free radicals ..."some 'bad products' generated"...
"alters nutient content of enzymes"!?!  

The rest of the diatribe is not exactly logically suppoted or
self-consistent. It is apparent that technical understanding is lacking,
but the most dangerous problem is the lack of concern for the necessity of
understanding the technical points which he uses to attempt to make his
case, or of clearly relating cause and effect. 

This is part of the stuff of which junk science is made and a technique
which allows detractors to bend public sentiment to serve unstated agendas.

Bob Hearn

At 12:08 PM 4/2/00 -0500, Magnu96196@aol.com wrote:
>
>Unfortunately, somebody is not telling things exactly.
>
>Irradiation does produce radiolysis products in foods----------this means 
>free radicals of many types that do alter the food to an extent.  Lytic 
>processes can alter the salt, NaCl in meats and introduce free chlorine 
>effects, which are associated with things like dioxin formation.  Free 
>radicals are involved in cell damage and connected to cancer processes and 
>there are some bad products generated-----that one does not find in just 
>heated foods.
>
>Unfortunately, since free radical inducement occurs in irradiated food, this 
>process does alter both the quality and nutient content of enzymes.   Many 
>folks these days like their foods uncooked, ie the raw veggie eaters and 
>others.    Spices that are irradiated don't taste quite as good as the 
>non-irradiated types.
>
>Irradiated food does come with a cost--------just like adding nitrates or 
>other preservatives to foods.   Don't think preservative methods or 
>insecticides change the tastes of foods---------compare an organically grown 
>tomato to one grown with fertilizers and pesticides----------most notice a 
>big difference.
>
>jep
>
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