7 ms·

"Irradiated" and "radioactive" are not the same thing. An irradiated sandwich poses absolutely no threat to its consumer.

by DugFin 11y ago

DonHopkins 11y ago
But eating radioactive sandwiches and sipping radioactive coffee does cause you to develop superpowers?
- TeMPOraL 11y ago
  Only if you count sudden cancer as a superpower. That said, GP's point is that unless there are radioactive substances flying in the air / otherwise contaminating the store next door, things bought there should be safe. They'll be irradiated (affected by radiation), but not radioactive themselves. Contrary to popular opinion, getting irradiated doesn't cause you to become radioactive.
  - pvaldes 11y ago
    > unless there are radioactive substances flying in the air things bought there should be safe I'll think rather in a ROG [1] event [1] Rodent Olympic Games.
  - the8472 11y ago
    > getting irradiated doesn't cause you to become radioactive. Well, actually... Neutron activation and photodisintegration via high energy gamma rays can produce radioactive isotopes via irradiation. But this generally requires a high flux or high energy to produce noticeable secondary radioactivity. So depending on the type and energy spectrum of the radiation the sandwich is exposed to it might pick up tiny tiny amounts of radioactivity. But yeah, that's probably going to be drowned out by any kind of radioactive dust.
    - TeMPOraL 11y ago
      I didn't know that, thanks!
    - thrownaway2424 11y ago
      What if I had put a banana in the sandwich? Then can I get superpowers? Is the form of the sandwich even relevant?
      - DonHopkins 11y ago
        The type of sandwich determines your costume colors and decoration.
GrinningFool 11y ago
Indeed, the threat comes when the sandwich is radioactive - and even then, it depends on the personality of the person consuming it. Will he use his newfound powers for good or ill?
pvaldes 11y ago
Except if prepared in a table seasoned with a salt of our special dust, courtesy of that place at 10 m that is so peculiar that if you want to rest for an entire night there you need to be... ehum... a beer tin or a cereal packet?. This would be the place serving the best sparkling donuts in NY probably, and also having the laziest sanitary inspectors in the entire city.
Someone1234 11y ago
And from my understanding a lot of packaged food is intentionally irradiated after it has been sealed. Here's an FDA article about the process: http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm261680.htm http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm261680.... So aside from contamination, those sandwiches are likely slightly safer than from other places since the radiation in the area will help sanitise surfaces and foods. My only concern would be if the water staff used to wash up was contaminated from the soil. But assuming the water is good the food is likely good too.

"Irradiated" and "radioactive" are not the same thing. An irradiated sandwich poses absolutely no threat to its consumer.

by DugFin 11y ago

"Irradiated" and "radioactive" are not the same thing. An irradiated sandwich poses absolutely no threat to its consumer.

DonHopkins 11y ago

But eating radioactive sandwiches and sipping radioactive coffee does cause you to develop superpowers?

TeMPOraL 11y ago
Only if you count sudden cancer as a superpower. That said, GP's point is that unless there are radioactive substances flying in the air / otherwise contaminating the store next door, things bought there should be safe. They'll be irradiated (affected by radiation), but not radioactive themselves. Contrary to popular opinion, getting irradiated doesn't cause you to become radioactive.
- pvaldes 11y ago
  > unless there are radioactive substances flying in the air things bought there should be safe I'll think rather in a ROG [1] event [1] Rodent Olympic Games.
- the8472 11y ago
  > getting irradiated doesn't cause you to become radioactive. Well, actually... Neutron activation and photodisintegration via high energy gamma rays can produce radioactive isotopes via irradiation. But this generally requires a high flux or high energy to produce noticeable secondary radioactivity. So depending on the type and energy spectrum of the radiation the sandwich is exposed to it might pick up tiny tiny amounts of radioactivity. But yeah, that's probably going to be drowned out by any kind of radioactive dust.
  - TeMPOraL 11y ago
    I didn't know that, thanks!
  - thrownaway2424 11y ago
    What if I had put a banana in the sandwich? Then can I get superpowers? Is the form of the sandwich even relevant?
    - DonHopkins 11y ago
      The type of sandwich determines your costume colors and decoration.

GrinningFool 11y ago

Indeed, the threat comes when the sandwich is radioactive - and even then, it depends on the personality of the person consuming it. Will he use his newfound powers for good or ill?

pvaldes 11y ago

Except if prepared in a table seasoned with a salt of our special dust, courtesy of that place at 10 m that is so peculiar that if you want to rest for an entire night there you need to be... ehum... a beer tin or a cereal packet?. This would be the place serving the best sparkling donuts in NY probably, and also having the laziest sanitary inspectors in the entire city.

Someone1234 11y ago

And from my understanding a lot of packaged food is intentionally irradiated after it has been sealed. Here's an FDA article about the process: http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm261680.htm http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm261680.... So aside from contamination, those sandwiches are likely slightly safer than from other places since the radiation in the area will help sanitise surfaces and foods. My only concern would be if the water staff used to wash up was contaminated from the soil. But assuming the water is good the food is likely good too.