In the 80’s husband ran a company in San Marcos, CA which used irradiation on wire. When the idea of irradiated food came out there was much hope that irradiation would help problems with meat and possibly fruit and veggies. Yes, locating irradiation machines close to food source could have been worked out especially at slaughterhouses.
Ten year’s since that discussion certainly could have found many advancements in the problems of location and machinery. Irradiation equipment has shriveled to nothing and it is a shame as some lives could have been saved.
As for the meats, a protest was cried @ 3 cents a pound. Many grocers signed on for ground beef at those prices, but the installations never took place due to inability to raise capital and some very questionable accounting practices on the part of Surebeam and Titan.