Food irradiation - what survival levels are aimed for?

["DR MW CHARLES" <charlemw@novell1.bham.ac.uk>]

I note the recent interest in food irradiation and wonder what levels 
of survival (presumably of  noxious bacteria) are aimed for?   I know 
that different bacteria have quite different radiation sensitivities 
so it must be quite difficult to stipulate what doses will be 
effective in general situations.  I am interested in the 
underlying radiation biology to support recommendations regarding 
foiod irradiation. Is there any scientific/technical documentation 
which stipulates the required radiation dose in terms of the 
effectiveness of sterilisation?
Dr Monty Charles, Reader in Radiation Physics
School of Physics & Space Research
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham B15 2TT
England
TEL +44  0121 414 3483
FAX +44  0121 414 4725