Food Irradiation propaganda help

[Chasmig@aol.com]

I buy some of my food at the local food co-op (health food store). They issue
a newsletter every month, and the last issue had an article about food
irradiation. As you may guess, it was very negative, with lots of charged
language, partial truths, and false (misguided) statements. I mentioned my
displeasure with the inaccuracies to the store manager, and she invited me to
write a rebuttal for the next issue. I could use some interesting "factoids"
to use in my article. I know the basics, but have a few holes in my knowledge.
Specific questions I have are:

1.Is salmonella present in ALL poultry, or just that poultry raised in
unsanitary conditions? I thought it was indigenous to their digestive systems.

2. How many people die from food poisoning each year that is preventable by
irradiation? How many get sick?

3. What is the strongest argument in favor of widespread (or at least
increased) food irradiation?

4. Any useful analogies to dissociate irradiation from bombs and power plants?
I know the napalm/gasoline anology for bombs/power, but what is a good way to
convince people that there is no relationship here? (besides 'radiation')

5.  I know that rotting is delayed by killing the bacteria that cause it, but
what inhibits eye formation in exposed potatoes? Does this contradict the
argument that the food is not significantly chemically altered?

I know this is not the national press, but I think every little step we take
to give folks the facts helps. This article was obviously written by an
amateur and "lay" person. There were gross misconceptions about radiation and
this application of radiation that many reading this newsletter may accept on
their face as fact.

thanks for your help 

Charles Migliore 
Chasmig@aol.com