Irradiation does not cook the meat or make it safe to eat raw. The process doesn t replace proper cooking or food handling practices by producers, retailers, and consumers. Since irradiated meat is still raw and requires cooking, it is not safe to leave it out of the refrigerator more than 2 hours because any harmful bacteria that survive irradiation could multiply. Irradiated foods are wholesome and nutritious because irradiation does not significantly change the nutrient content of food. It changes the nutrient value of food about the same as cooking or freezing does.
Irradiation produces virtually no heat within food and changes flavor and texture very little.
The estimate is two to five cents more per pound. However, consumers may decide that the benefits from irradiation outweigh the extra cost. The irradiation plants themselves do not become radioactive. Medical sterilization facilities have operated in the U.S. for more than 30 years. There are now over 100 of these facilities and at least as many medical radiation treatment centers and bone marrow transplant centers which use radiation for certain treatments.