The U.S. government in the late 1960s debated the use of radiation to kill all or most of the bacteria that cause food spoilage. The army was interested in irradiating food because during war it is hard to keep providing the troops with fresh food. Irradiation makes this task much easier. The AEC was also interested in this peaceful use of radioactivity.The army and the AEC contracted with a company called Irradiated Foods, Incorporated, to provide irradiated ham that was sterilized before it was canned and could then be kept indefinitely without refrigeration. But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refused to approve irradiated ham for human consumption. They based their objection on studies showing that animals eating irradiated food died sooner, had fewer babies, and even weighed less than animals that ate regular food.

Studies and Results.

The...