Question

The bacteria in some foods are sterilized by placing the food near a source of ionizing radiation does that mean that the food becomes radioactive?

Answer 1

Normally sterilizing food using radiation does not induce radioactivity but sometimes it may change the taste, texture of the food and it may also destroy the nutrients. radiation is used to kill the harmful bacteria and to increase the shelf life. when the radiation is very energetic it alters the food structure but it does not make it radioactive. To become radioactive one has to make a nucleus unstable. ionizing radiation normally cannot do this. FDA has established maximum energy levels for radiation to prevent the treated foods from becoming radioactive. The energy levels of the rays are too low to induce radioactivity in the food. So there is no harm in consuming treated foods.