Irradiation helps to keep our food safer, and also helps to prevent it from spoiling or sprouting. It destroys some insects, fungi and bacteria that can make people ill. That makes it possible to keep food longer and deliver it to the consumer in better condition. Because irradiation does destroy many disease-causing organisms in food, people needing the safest food, such as patients receiving bone marrow transplants, are given irradiated foods. American astronauts on missions have eaten irradiated food since 1972.
Irradiated foods are both wholesome and nutritious.
Unlike cooking, irradiation does not change the fresh character of foods. And, the process has the same or less impact on the nutrition of foods than cooking, canning, freezing or simply storing. Irradiation does NOT make food radioactive. When food is irradiated, energy passes through the food like light through a window. The radiation levels used for food processing simply aren't high enough to contaminate food, and the food itself never touches the energy source.