You Can Survive

You Can Survive

People sometime* wonder if food in their homes would be safe to eat after a nuclear attack. The answer is “yes”.

Fresh radioactive fallout contains gamma rays and beta particles which are injurious to humans and livestock. But this radiation has no harmful effects on non-living materials or plants. It would pass right through foods and feeds, which would become Eradicated. If radioactive dust particles did not come into. actual contact with the foods, they would not become radioactive. They would be safe to eat. ^ It would be necessary to decontaminate food if fallout dust were to come into direct contact with them. If not washed off, beta particles could burn the skin of persons handling contaminated foods. Food and feeds should be kept under cover during emergency and any covering that prevents dust from coming in would be adequate protection. If fallout particles did get on feed, it can be removed in the same way as any other dust, by washing, vacuum cleaning or brushing. If uncovered, supplies become contaminated. usually o^lyportion "wolild be 'affect^ which would be removed and the underneath portions would be usable. Cooking does not destroy radioactivity.

Contaminated potatoes and other root crops would be safe to use after washing and peeling. You would have to be careful that your hands or utensils did not contaminate the parts to be eaten. You should wear rubber gloves and wish your hands frequently, preferably with well water, then bury the refuse. The washwater should be poured into a pit.

Meat or meat food products in home or commercial storage would be most effectively protected if they were in a refrigerator or deep freeze, or were canned. Fallout on unprotected meat would present a salvage problem since it is extremely difficult to remove the outer surface of meat without carrying contamination into the other parts. Washing is not an effective method of decontaminating it Obviously, fresh meat cannot be kept very long;