[Sca-cooks] Cookie exchange reminder

[Terry Decker]

It was one of in depth news reports from one of the cable news stations, CNN
or MSNBC, etc.  I caught by accident while channel surfing.  The major
contractor for the project is the same company that currently sells food
irridating equipment.  The primary difference is the scale of the equipment.

I can understand damage to electronic components (HERF and EMP damage are a
real threat) and the irridation of metal can create some very tricky
isotopes.  But damage paper?  One of the reasons mail irridation is being
discussed is because it doesn't damage paper.  If you can get the specifics,
I'd like to know.

Bear



>While in general, I don't like the idea of irradiated food, I admit that
>I don't mind for the little bit of food sent to me through the mail *if
>it's in fact the same process*.  I haven't heard any news report compare
>mail irradiation to food irratiation, and it's really not clear to me
>that the processes are identical.  I did, however, hear them talking
>about how it could damage non-food products like paper, electronics and
>metals.  That's why I'm concerned about damage to the cookies.  I
>suppose the most obvious thing based on those reports is not to wrap the
>cookies in aluminum foil...
>
>-Magdalena
>
>Terry Decker wrote:
>
>> According to the news reports, this is the same process used to eliminate
>> bacteria in packaged foods.
>>
>> The process has a number of detractors who don't like the idea irridated
>> food, although I've seen nothing to make me consider the irridated food
any
>> more dangerous than other packaged food.  The bioterrorism threat is
likely
>> to make the irridation process the lesser of two evils.
>>
>> Bear