Introduction
Food irradiation has been called “today’s pasteurization,” as the safety and quality benefits it offers are similar to those of pasteurization for milk in the early 1900s. (Palmer). However, there have been pros and cons associated with this process, and its increased use has also increased the debates over its benefits and safety.
Economic impact (Pros/Cons)
Food irradiation could potentially have a huge positive impact of lowering the costs of food. One of the benefits is a longer “shelf-life,” allowing food to be sent greater distances to a larger number of consumers before it goes bad. This longer shelf-life would create a larger supply of food and drive prices down, allowing more people to be fed with less food due to decreased waste (Prakash). Another benefit in the area of economic impact is …show more content…
These costs are lowered when food is irradiated on large doses due to economies of scale, but it still leads to the end consumer needing to pay more for their food.
Widespread use (Pros/Cons)
One of the pros for increasing widespread use is that irradiation destroys dangerous disease-causing organisms on food, leading to fewer deaths and sicknesses (APECSEC). Another potential benefit to food irradiation is it can decrease the need to rely on other forms of food quality control, such as chemicals used when growing and storing food. These chemicals can have more significant negative impacts on humans than food irradiation.
Another frequently cited group of arguments against widespread use has been termed by one author as “scientific concerns” (e.g., irradiation destroys food nutrients or may create “mutant” pathogens) (Prejean). However, all of these arguments have been demonstrated to be either incorrect or exaggerated (Prejean).
My view as educated consumer who consumes irradiated
Food irradiation has been called “today’s pasteurization,” as the safety and quality benefits it offers are similar to those of pasteurization for milk in the early 1900s. (Palmer). However, there have been pros and cons associated with this process, and its increased use has also increased the debates over its benefits and safety.
Economic impact (Pros/Cons)
Food irradiation could potentially have a huge positive impact of lowering the costs of food. One of the benefits is a longer “shelf-life,” allowing food to be sent greater distances to a larger number of consumers before it goes bad. This longer shelf-life would create a larger supply of food and drive prices down, allowing more people to be fed with less food due to decreased waste (Prakash). Another benefit in the area of economic impact is …show more content…
These costs are lowered when food is irradiated on large doses due to economies of scale, but it still leads to the end consumer needing to pay more for their food.
Widespread use (Pros/Cons)
One of the pros for increasing widespread use is that irradiation destroys dangerous disease-causing organisms on food, leading to fewer deaths and sicknesses (APECSEC). Another potential benefit to food irradiation is it can decrease the need to rely on other forms of food quality control, such as chemicals used when growing and storing food. These chemicals can have more significant negative impacts on humans than food irradiation.
Another frequently cited group of arguments against widespread use has been termed by one author as “scientific concerns” (e.g., irradiation destroys food nutrients or may create “mutant” pathogens) (Prejean). However, all of these arguments have been demonstrated to be either incorrect or exaggerated (Prejean).
My view as educated consumer who consumes irradiated