However, irradiation also kills beneficial vitamins, healthy
bacteria and other nutritional elements found naturally in fresh
foods. In addition, irradiation promotes cancer-causing free radicals,
destruction of vitamins, and alteration of fatty acids and proteins.
Long-term impact of irradiated food consumption on human health
remains unknown. No surprise, then, that 73 percent of consumers
surveyed nationwide oppose irradiation, and 77 percent say they
would not eat irradiated food.
Agribusiness’ push to irradiate food presents a serious
obstacle to farmers and consumers who want a fresh and safe food
supply. Large food processing companies support irradiation as
a cheap fix. It allows the sources of meat and other food contamination
to flourish, while giving the false appearance that the causes
of food-borne illnesses are being eradicated. Unhealthy practices
such as poor hygiene in food production and industrial speed-up
in processing plants can continue hidden behind irradiation.
In addition, agribusiness wants to use food irradiation technology
to dismantle barriers to global food trade expansion. Industrialized
agriculture prioritizes growing cash crops for export over growing
food for domestic consumption. This takes control away from family
farmers around the world and forces them off the land.
Finally, facilities that use radioactive materials to irradiate
food produce toxic waste and create potentially unsafe conditions
for workers. Communities near major highways are further endangered
during nuclear material transport.
