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needed, how long the prserved food could be stored without refrigeration,
what changes would occur in taste, odour and nutrient value of
the food. Most important of all, no one knew whether the atomicprocessed
food would be harmful to human beings.
The results today are encouraging. Atomic energy has been
found extremely useful in many different ways. Radiation can be
used to sterilize food so that it can be stored for weeks, months and
even years without refrigeration. It can be used to pasteurize food,
which increases storage life, so necessary in marketing perishables.
The sterilizing power of atomic radiation also can be used to destroy
food parasiies; insects in dry foods, such as wheat, peas and beans; or
to prevent sprouting of tubers, such as potatoes and onions. Several
different tyres-of atomic equipment using the waste products from
atomic reacors, atomic rays produced by high-voltage machines, and
radio-isotopes have proved highly effective. Through eating tests,
atomic-processed foods have been found as nutritious as untreated
foods and safe for consumption.
The purpose of these comments is to indicate that not only
should put health workers now include radiation in their basic
training but orkers in the food industry should likewise be taught
to think of radio-activity as part of our present daily hazards.
Help yourself service stores continue to increase in number, and
are proving be a helpful contribution to the presentation of food in
an attractiv and safe manner to the housewife.
This sa method brings with it problems, particularly relating to
correct labe .

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