Lessons from the food irradiation debate

The food irradiation debate it is seen as a very complex and the controversy itself, multi-faceted. Disputes over scientific facts are only one aspect of the debate and once this is recognized, the essentially political nature of the food irradiation debate can be acknowledged. Strategic positioning and rhetorical argument are indispensable, especially in the realm of public debate, since the misinformation promulgated by opponents are often left unanswered by experts in the field. 4 refs., ills