"The Cobalt-60 Incident" Raises Doubts About "Irradiated" Food
Irradiation, a new sterilization and preservation technology, has already been applied in the fields of grains, vegetables, fruits, meat, seasonings, Chinese medicine, etc., and the output of related food products in our country accounts for one third of the global total. However, for most consumers, the term "irradiation" is still quite unfamiliar.
News Background
The "Cobalt-60 Incident" in Qixian County, Henan Province
The Qixian Limin Irradiation Center in Kaifeng City, Henan Province, was established in 1997, and its business involves using cobalt-60 radiation sources to irradiate and sterilize seasoning packs of instant noodles, chili powder, etc.
The radiation source is usually placed in an irradiation room that is a water well with walls up to 2 meters thick, taken out when needed, and returned after use.