But even after berries were soaked for 10 minutes, researchers still detected bacteria. On the other hand, when berries were subjected even to light levels of irradiation, no bacteria was detected on the surface. Irradiation, which is used on a wide array of foods in Western Europe, has been used on a limited scale in the United States. It doesn't make food radioactive, it just destroys food pathogens. The process is so simple that truckloads of a product can be irradiated at one time with no loss in quality, Weese says.
Most scientists agree gamma radiation of products poses no threat to humans.
Dr. David Kessler, former administrator of the federal Food and Drug Administration who now serves as dean of Yale University Medical School, has expressed public support for speedy implementation of the procedure. The Food and Drug Administration approved irradiationof red meat more than 10 years ago, but the process couldn't be implemented until the USDA established rules. Until now, efforts to finalize rules have faced bitter opposition from anti-nuclear and consumer groups.