Re: food irradiation stuff (radiation biology lesson?)

[Martin_Haas@notes.ymp.gov]

There may be a potential fly in the ointment /food with the current round
of explanations.  This has to do with the germination potential of seeds
within food.  If the food radiation levels are sufficient to kill bacteria,
and higher organisms, won't it also kill whatever germ cells are in  seeds
that may accompany fruit.  To the public, the inability of seeds to
germinate may constitute some form of death to the food in question.  The
logical explanation for this of course is that this is not dissimilar to
the effects of heating.

I only bring this up as a devil's advocate  in order to help the collective
we fully think the explanation through before this is presented to the
public .


Martin_haas@notes.ymp.gov