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COUNCIL FOR AGF~ICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-e <br /> i ' <br /> PRODCCT FYCCEPTANCE the water when materials are [o be irradiated, and the <br /> An unfortuna[e misconception is [hat the Ameri- food is passed throush the radiation Held. A maze con- <br /> <br /> can public will no[ accep[ irradiated food. Bo[h atti[ude s[ructed of thick concrete walls, numerous safety inter- <br /> <br /> studies and market tests hate demonstrated the con[rary. lock systems. s[rict operating procedures. and proper <br /> i.e., when the consumer is trainins prorect workers from <br /> provided accurare informs- radiation. A typical commer- <br /> RECENT MARKET STL'D[ES HAVE <br /> tion about produc[s and a cial irradiation plant design is <br /> choice between irradiated and INDICATED THAT INFORMED shown in Fieure 2. <br /> nonirradiated food. In fact. Electron-beam and e- <br /> CONSUMERS ARE WILLING TO PAY A <br /> recent studies have indicated ray genera[in~ systems also <br /> that informed consumers are PREMIUM FOR IRRADIATED POULTRY can be used for food irradia- <br /> willin_ to pay a premium for tion. Several such plans in <br /> A;~ID PORK. <br /> irradiated poultry and pork. the United Stales are used pri- <br /> marily for the sterilization of <br /> TECHNOLOGY medical supplies. These systems also must provide sie- <br /> Technologies and types of equipment required to nitican[ a[nounts of shielding during operation. but re- <br /> irradiate food are identical to those used [o sterilize med- quire none when tamed off. Electron-beams. however. <br /> ical supplies. (See Table 3 for examples of medical items have eery low penetm[ion ability and cannot be used for <br /> and consumer roods currently sterilized by irradiation.) irradiation of thick materials. An electron-beam system <br /> Many commercial irradiation plants exist in the United is used commercially in France to irradiate minced <br /> Stales. and they have established an excellent safety chicken meat. Within an aseptic packagins system. losv- <br /> record. Commercial plants using cobalt-60 as the source power E-beam sycrPms may be suitable to treat such <br /> of radiation store it underwater when it is not in use. items as sinL~le patties of hamburger This technology <br /> Cobalt pellets are encapsulated twice in stainless steel may be practical because the mdia[ion dose can be de- <br /> tubes arraneed in racks. These rucks are withdrawn from livered to the product very rapidly. A new type of self- <br /> Table 3. Examples of items currently eterillzed with ionizing radiation <br /> MedicaVPharmaceuticalProdacts <br /> Airways and tubes Intravenous administration sets <br /> Alcohol wipes Liquid detergents <br /> Bandages Lubrication gels <br /> Slood Operating room towels <br /> Contact lenses Petri dishes <br /> Cotton balls Prostheses (arterial, vascular, orthopedic) <br /> Dental anchors, burrs. and sponges Surgical gloves <br /> Drug products Surgical drapes and gowns <br /> Drug mixing/dispensing systems Sutures <br /> Enrymes Syringes and needles <br /> Eye droppers and ointments Thennometerslcovers <br /> Fetal probes Tongue tleprossors <br /> Instruments Topieal ointments <br /> Consumer Products <br /> Adhesive bandages Disposablenurser bottles <br /> Animat vaccines Food packaging <br /> Baby bottle nipples Pacifiers and teething rings <br /> Contact lens cleaning solutions Pet food <br /> Cosmetics Rawhide dog toys <br /> Dairy and juice containers Tampons <br /> <br />