Q. What is the difference between pasteurization and food irradiation?

A. Pasteurization destroys food pathogens through a heat process, while irradiation is a cold process that uses ionizing radiation to kill microorganisms without affecting the temperature. The irradiation process can also extend the shelf life of foods by destroying or inactivating spoilage microorganisms and ripening enzymes.

The Food Safety Project of the Iowa State University Extension also provides a comparison of food irradiation to pasteurization on their Web site.

To learn more visit the following links on the FSRIO Web site: