1.  Irradiated food must carry labels acknowledging the fact.

2.  Although some advocates for safer foods question the wholesomeness of irradiated food, e-beam researchers insist the food is safe.

3.  Astronauts and hospital patients with depleted immune systems have eaten irradiated food for years.

4.  But years of study have not found that eating irradiated food poses any health risk.

5.  Consumers, however, still would have to handle and prepare irradiated foods as they would other products.

6.  Even though cooking and irradiation would destroy salmonella, mishandling even of irradiated food can cause the reintroduction of harmful bacteria.

7.  If irradiated food is subsequently mishandled and becomes contaminated with a disease-causing organism, the food would lack competing beneficial organisms that could inhibit its growth.

8.  Lee predicted that with a little education, consumers will prefer irradiated food products and will be willing to pay the few cents more the products will cost.

9.  Ms. Foreman says irradiated food itself is not unsafe, but she and some consumer groups say there are other concerns.