The Food That Would Last Forever: Understanding the Dangers of Food Irradiation

Soon, more of the food on your market shelves may indeed "last forever" - courtesy of an FDA-approved process called food irradiation. Our federal government has, without great fanfare, authorized exposing our food to radioactive material culled from nuclear reactors. The process destroys insects, kills disease-causing bacteria, and extends shelf life. Isn't science wonderful? Not in this case. While food irradiation may extend shelf life, it may also shorten human life. With each bite of irradiated food, we receive indirect exposure to ionizing radiation. The irradiation process creates new chemicals that can transform healthy foods into potential poisons. In fact, research has shown that consuming irradiated foods can cause cardiac and kidney damage, birth defects, chromosomal abnormalities, and even cancer. The Food That Would Last Forever presents the facts on food irradiation that the government doesn't want you to know. It examines research documenting the dangers of eating irradiated foods, and exposes the appalling abuses of the irradiation industry. It evaluates the history of food irradiation and the motives of those who promote it. It is a story of money, politics, and the embalming of the American diet.