THE EFFECT OF NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS ON SEMIPERISHABLE FOODS AND FOOD PACKAGING
: < < ; ; 6 : : 5 < : 6 of Operation Teapot. The yield of Shot 1 was approximately nominal (a nominal atomic bomb has an energy release equivalent to 20 kt of TNT). The yield of Shot II was approximately 50% greater than nominal. Ten types of semi-perishable producta (apples, oranges, potatoes, onions, raisins, dry beans, dry milk, cereals, flour, and candy) were exposed at distances of 0.25 mile to 2 miles from the blast. Foods were placed in trenches at approximately 1270 and 2750 ft and were covered wtth 1 to 2 in. of soil. At these locations foods were subjected to high initial radiation and blast overpressures. Foods also were placed on shelves in kitchens and basements of houses constructed at the test site at distances ranging from 4700 to 10,500 ft. 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 in 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. Dry milk, dry beans, raisins, and ready-mixed cake and biscuit flours were types of semiperishable staples which were found to have high levels of induced radioactivity. Potatoes showed higher levels of induced activity than onions, apples, or oranges. The initial radiation caused no visible effect on the foods or packages other than to cause a slight darkening of glass containers. However, potatoes exposed at 1270 and 2750 ft from the explosion failed to develop normal sprouts during subsequent storage. The high initial radiation from neutrons or gamma rays is assumed to have inhibited sprouting. The type of package, whether glass, tin, chipbeard, or plastic film, appeared to have no protective effect on the extent of induced radioactivity of the contents. For example, rolled oats in a tin can or in a chipboard carton showed a similar amount of radioactivity, and raisins in aluminum-foil packages or in transparent film packages showed similar radioactivity. Foed products in houses as close as 4700 ft were substantially free of induced radioactivity. No induced radioactivity was present in foods exposed in the houses at 5500, 7800, or 10,500 ft. Damage to foods in kitchens of houses at lodgment from cupboards by the blast or from secondary missiles such as glass or woed splinters. The amount of bruising from the blast to perishable fruits and vegetables in these houses was negligible. There was no bursting of food packages at any exposure location. As expected, houses provided considerable protection from the blast for packaged foods. Most types of consumer packages withstood the physical shock of falling from cupboards to the floor. Chipboard cartons with film windows and cellophane bags were two types of containers that broke most frequently on fulling. Generally, foods fared much better when stored on basement shelves than on kitchen shelves as far as blast damage from dislodgment was concerned. Foods did not fall from basement shelves even in houses where the above-ground portion of the house was destroyed. A basement food storage cabinet should be a relatively safe place for a family's emergency food supply. The flavor of a few products was damaged when exposed in the forward trench positions. The nonfat dry milk samples from the 1270-ft position had a very strong stale flavor and odor when re
- Research Organization:
- Food and Drug Administration, Washington, D.C.; Federal Civil Defense Administration, Battle Creek, Mich.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-12-007096
- OSTI ID:
- 4329192
- Report Number(s):
- WT-1214
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Project 32.4 of OPERATION TEAPOT. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-58
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ALUMINUM- BUILDINGS- EFFICIENCY- FOOD- GLASS- MILK- ODOR- PACKAGING- PAPER- POLYMERS- RADIATION PROTECTION- SAMPLING- TIN os
BUILDINGS- CEREALS- CONTAMINATION- DECAY- FALLOUT- FOOD- FRUIT- GAMMA RADIATION- MILK- NEUTRON BEAMS- NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS- PACKAGING- POTATOES- PROJECT TEAPOT- RADIATION EFFECTS- RADIATION INJURIES- RADIOACTIVITY- SHOCK WAVES- SOILS- STORAGE- VEGETABLES