Market Farming

["John Wages" <jwages AT earthlink.net>]

For the record:  microwave radiation is "radiation" like visible light,
ultraviolet light, x-rays, or gamma rays.  Even though it's not as
high-energy as "ionizing radiation" like alpha, beta, or gamma radiation,
it can cause chemical reactions, just as UV light or x-rays can be damaging
to the skin and to other tissues.  Among other effects, microwave radiation
creates free radicals and active oxygen species that can initiate a cascade
of chemical reactions affecting molecules (such as vitamins and amino
acids) in the food material.  Recently, I read a report that claims
microwaves promote the movement of trace components (like plasticizers and
preserving agents) in plastic wraps into foodstuffs.  To my knowledge,
neither effect has been thoroughly investigated, and there is no
significant debate on the public health consequences.

Such are the unintended consequences of fast-and-easy microwave cooking.  

Personally, I have a microwave.  I never cook in it.  We use it for
re-heating, never with plastic in contact with food.

John Wages
Calceterra Farm
Tupelo, MS

----------
> From: Matt Cheselka <cheselka AT theriver.com>
> To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> Subject: Re: [Market-farming] microwave (was delicata)
> Date: Thursday, August 26, 2004 5:59 PM
> 
> On Thu, 26 Aug 2004, Marie Kamphefner wrote:
> 
> > Is putting food in a microwave the same as irradiation?
> 
> "Irradiation" usually means passing things other than photons through
food
> (and whatever else).  For example, irradiating with alpha particles
> (helium atom nuclei) or beta particles (free electrons), is done I'd
think
> with these kinds of things.  One can also "irradiate" with high-energy
> photons, like X-rays or gamma rays.  The difference between the two is
> that the alpha and beta particles do what billiard balls do -- they bang
> other atoms around and break up molecules.  Photons will add energy to
> atoms that can break up molecular structures by something *like* heating
> the molecules up until they explode.  Microwave light is actually
> long-wavelength light (between infrared and radio) but makes
> atoms/molecules resonate, but very rarely break up or explode (an
> exploding hot dog in the microwave oven is caused by water turning to
> steam -- in fact, usually when you "heat up" something in the microwave,
> you're usually just heating up the water in whatever you have in there). 

> This resonance we see as heat, which is actually just infrared light.
> 
> Irradiating food is advertized as having the ability to bust up all kinds

> of nasty things without creating heat (which generally takes more
energy).
> 
> Sorry this is not written very well -- does it make sense?
> 
> Matt Cheselka
> Cosmic Lettuce
> 
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