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S E A R C H
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The Process
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H O M E >>
P R O C E S S >>
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<p><br><br><!-- <img src="elements/box.gif" valign=center> --><font face="helvetica,arial" color="#006600" size=""> <B>Step 1</B></font><hr size=1 color="#999999">
First, food is brought to an irradiation center-usually in bulk and packaged-and placed in metal cases.
<p><br><br><!-- <img src="elements/box.gif" valign=center> --><font face="helvetica,arial" color="#006600" size=""> <B>Step 2</B></font><hr size=1 color="#999999">
The metal cases travel along a monorail, and enter the food irradiation chamber.
<p><br><br><!-- <img src="elements/box.gif" valign=center> --><font face="helvetica,arial" color="#006600" size=""> <B>Step 3</B></font><hr size=1 color="#999999">
When food enters the food irradiation chamber cobalt-60 rises from a water pool with the help of a hydraulic lift.
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The food is bombarded with gamma rays breaking apart genetic information in cells. Bacteria are destroyed-toxins are no longer produced, and bacteria can no longer multiply. Without bacteria, spoilage is delayed. Depending on the type of food, the time spent in the irradiation chamber varies-up to 20 minutes for frozen foods, and even longer for raw meat.
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Cobalt-60 submerges into the water pool, and the food leaves the chamber.
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Food is removed from the metal cases, and placed back on trucks for distribution.
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Created for the ThinkQuest competition
(c) Copyright 1999 Jason Surovy & Shruti Grupta
