Atomic Radiation Preserves Food, Illinois

Description

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INDEX OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION THE PENTAGON, WASHINGTON 25, D.C. - LIBERTY 5-6700 (A) RADIO - TV BRANCH, TELEVISION SECTION Release No. 154-56 PICTORIAL BRANCH, NEWSREEL SECTION ROOM 2E-791 EXT. 72902 75061 Footage: 275 ROOM 2D-780A EXT. 75111 2 August 1956 NBC TV UNIVERSAL DUPE NEGATIVE TO: FINE GRAIN TO: ATOMIC RADIATION PRESERVES argonne national FOOD Laboratories, Illinois (Official Army footage released by Department of Defense) Another peace time use of atomic energy is demonstrated in the preservation of food by radiation. Startling results shown with bread packaged in polyethylene wrapping illustrate what happens to non=irradiated slices in a three month period compared to the wholesome appearance and condition of those preserved by radiation. Testing facilities at Argonne National Laboratories in Illinois, General Electric's X-Ray Department and the Army's Food and Container Institute have developed methods of treating foods by radiation that greatly prolong the life of such foods without any loss of nutritional value. One of the advantages of treating foodstuffs by radiation is that once treated, little, if any, refrigeration is required to maintain the quality of the food. Some meats including pork have been tested and show no noticeable change in appearance or taste after nine months storage at room temperature. Equipment used in these tests is still in the experimental stage and its feasibility for commercial production is not yet known. Foods that have been tested and found acceptable under conditions involving the amount of radiation and time of storage are meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits and flour. The atomic world of tomorrow moves one step closer as we harness radiation for the peaceful enterprise of protecting the things we eat. Scenes show: (a) Thirty=four ton door being opened to one of the test cells for supervoltage electron beam generators. (b) Transferring of supervoltage electron beam tube to transformer tank. (c) Placing sample urn in urn basket which is used to drop urns to the bottom of the irradiation facility canal, canal tank contains about 55,000 Over NOTE TO EDITORS: PLEASE CREDIT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IN TITLE OR COMMENTARY The fine grain master positive, released to the company designated above, is for duplication and distribu- tion to interested TV and Newsreel pool members. It is then to be returned within 7 days to the Film Library, Army Pictorial Center, 35-11 35th Avenue, Long Island City 1, New York. The master positive must not be cut in any manner. A dupe negative is also for release to the company designated above for distribution to pool members so desiring for duplication purposes. Within 24 hours it will be delivered to DeLuxe Laboratories, 850 Tenth Avenue, New York, N. Y., telephone Circle 7-3220 where it will be available to non-pool members and other authorized organizations which make satisfactory financial arrangements with DeLuxe Laboratories. The DUPE NEGATIVES must not be cut in any manner. B-30102

Collection

Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

Series

Filmed News Releases