In class, we had a debate about food irradiation. Half of the class had to argue that it was bad, and half of the class had to argue that it was good. We had about 30 minutes to research and prepare our arguments. I was assigned to argue that Irradiation is good, which is lucky for me because that is the opinion I had before the debate. The debating was fierce, but I think that both sides made some valid arguments. Our final conclusion at the end is that foods such as eggs and meat that commonly transmit harmful bacteria should be radiated, but foods that do not should not be irradiated.
Our arguments included:
Our arguments included:
- The FDA, CDC and UNWHO all conclude that food irradiation is safe
- Food irradiation is a safer method than pesticides of removing bacteria from some food
- Food irradiation can make some food last longer
- Food irradiation can destroy some vitamins in food
- Food irradiation, just like anything involving radiation, may cause cancer
I was also supposed to answer question #3 from page 89 in my textbook, "Science Explorer - Sound and Light". The question was:
You see two containers of a food at the supermarket. One is irradiated; one is not. The price is the same. Which would you buy? Explain why.
I would choose the irradiated food, because there is a lower chance of harmful bacteria being in the irradiated food than in the non-irradiated food.
