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A comment on Sirum (YC W15) Recycles Unused Medicines to Save Money and Lives. Parent comment

Re:Sirum (YC W15) Recycles Unused Medicines to Save Money an... by Houshalter on Saturday March 21, 2015 @09:59AM (#9242740)
If only food irradiation was less restricted, perhaps they could irradiate everything and at least be assured its safe even if it was spoiled.
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Re:Sirum (YC W15) Recycles Unused Medicines to Save Money an... by cauterized on Saturday March 21, 2015 @02:06PM (#9243596)
IIRC, radiation doesn't help with botulism, which is a chemical rather than a virus or bacterium, and which is incredibly toxic.
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Re:Sirum (YC W15) Recycles Unused Medicines to Save Money an... by Houshalter on Saturday March 21, 2015 @08:29PM (#9244923)
It kills the bacteria that produces it, but that is a good point. Still, it might be possible to test for it, and its unlikely that restraunt food contains it just from getting spoiled.

As I understand it botulism is mostly a concern in canning. If you kill most of the bacteria but the botulism bacteria is hardy and survives and produces it for months in the can.

You won't get that from eating spoiled buffet or even garbage.

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