Food Irradiation Click on the image above to download a complete copy of this publication in PDF format. Download a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader. This food preservation method is not widely used in the United States food industry. Recent outbreaks of food-borne illnesses, however, have provided impetus for wider acceptance of this technology.
Radiation is a form of energy.
We receive natural radiation from the sun and other natural components of the environment. Like other forms of radiant energy, the radiant energy waves used to irradiate food make up part of the electromagnetic spectrum. In the 1890s, radioactive substances and x-rays were discovered. Intense research on the biological effects of these radiations began immediately, and beneficial uses were soon found. History of Food Irradiation Food irradiation, a processing technology, has been proven to be a wholesome process through many years of scientific study.