The Effect Of Nuclear Explosions On Semipherishable Foods And Food Packaging

Semiperishable foods were exposed to two atomic shots. Ten types of semiperishable products (apples, oranges, potatoes, onions, raisins, dry beans, dry milk, cereals, flour, and candy) were exposed at distances of 1/4 mile to 2 miles from the blast. Foods were placed in trenches at approximately 1270 and 2750 ft and were covered with 1 to 2 in. of soil. At the close-in buried positions many types of food packages were partially crushed; some were broken, and their contents were contaminated with radioactive dirt. A high percentage of the apples, potatoes, onions, and oranges were severely crushed and bruised at the 1270-ft location, greatly reducing their possible food value in an emergency. As a result of the mechanical damage to the produce, decay during subsequent storage was much higher than in nonexposed produce. Many of the semiperishable foods recovered from the 1270- and 2750-ft trench positions were radioactive from the initial neutron bombardment. This was mostly induced radioactivity, rather than the surface type of contamination from fall-out. Most of this induced radioactivity decayed within 3 to 4 days, and food in intact packages could then be used, if needed in an emergency.