# Is mailing Pumpkin Seeds inherently dangerous? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 8, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mailing-pumpkin-seeds-inherently-dangerous/273699 "2004-11-08T19:28:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mailing-pumpkin-seeds-inherently-dangerous/273699/1 "2004-11-08T19:28:06Z")
I have a relative who has made an unusual request. He lives in an area where pumpkins go bad very quickly when left outside…Florida. He happens to love Pumpkin Seeds…as do I. I told him that I had a suprlus of the seeds all cooked and salted and ready to go. Can I send him to him in a sealed container? I am slightly worried about the radiation they may encounter on their journey south…Not knowing much about sending perishable foods, need I be worried about the pumpkin seeds glowing or becoming otherwise tainted on their trip south of the border? Thanks folks! ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mailing-pumpkin-seeds-inherently-dangerous/273699/2 "2004-11-08T20:24:52Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > I have a relative who has made an unusual request. He lives in an area where pumpkins go bad very quickly when left outside…Florida. He happens to love Pumpkin Seeds…as do I. I told him that I had a suprlus of the seeds all cooked and salted and ready to go. Can I send him to him in a sealed container? I am slightly worried about the radiation they may encounter on their journey south…Not knowing much about sending perishable foods, need I be worried about the pumpkin seeds glowing or becoming otherwise tainted on their trip south of the border? Thanks folks! I take it that you are in Canada? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mailing-pumpkin-seeds-inherently-dangerous/273699/3 "2004-11-08T20:26:08Z")
No, I’m in Connecticut. 5 hours from the Canadian Border. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mailing-pumpkin-seeds-inherently-dangerous/273699/4 "2004-11-08T20:37:23Z")
What radiation are you talking about, here? Is there something that would cause you to become green and glowing if you flew to Florida personally? And the reason for the border question, I presume, is your comment about “south of the border”. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mailing-pumpkin-seeds-inherently-dangerous/273699/5 "2004-11-08T20:46:02Z")
Right you are regarding the border bit. I meant [this](http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/SCDILsob.html) “south of the border”, in South Carolina. I was wondering about any radiation from packages being irradiated when being checked. Homeland Security stuff…Sorry I do not knwo the proper nomenclature for what happens to packages before being shipped. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mailing-pumpkin-seeds-inherently-dangerous/273699/6 "2004-11-08T21:10:00Z")
Firstly, the type of radiation that is used is (most likely, it’s not like I work there) X-rays. The same thing you get when your doctor suspects a cavity. Secondly, irradiated food is [generally considered safe.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a950217a.html) Finally, [being radiated doesn’t even make things glow](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990430a.html) (with a few minor exceptions). ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mailing-pumpkin-seeds-inherently-dangerous/273699/7 "2004-11-08T21:15:11Z")
Unless you are send mail to a government office, your mail isn’t irradiated, or scvreened at all for that matter. [http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/ar02/ar02\_10.htm](http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/ar02/ar02_10.htm) > [@](#): > > The U.S. Postal Service will continue for the foreseeable future to irradiate letters, flats, Express and Priority Mail with stamps for postage and other packages with stamps for postage destined to government agencies in the ZIP Code ranges 202-205. > > Mail from known mailers - such as Express with meter strips or corporate accounts, Priority mail with meter strips or permit indicia and registered mail - is not irradiated. At this time, irradiation is the only process used by the Postal Service to sanitize the mail. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mailing-pumpkin-seeds-inherently-dangerous/273699/8 "2004-11-08T21:16:21Z")
Third, [The only mail being irradiated at this time is mail addressed to federal government agencies in Washington DC.](http://hdusps.esecurecare.net/cgi-bin/hdusps.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1632&p_created=1053133053&p_sid=LXAuA*ph&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MjUmcF9wcm9kX2x2bDE9NDAmcF9wcm9kX2x2bDI9MTM3JnBfcGFnZT0x&p_li=) ---
**Author:** ![gfloyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d2c977/32.png) [@gfloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gfloyd)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mailing-pumpkin-seeds-inherently-dangerous/273699/9 "2004-11-09T01:00:52Z")
I’m mail cookies all the time with no noticably bad effects to either the cookies or those that consume them. ---
**Author:** ![NadaHappyCamper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/278dde/32.png) [@NadaHappyCamper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NadaHappyCamper)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mailing-pumpkin-seeds-inherently-dangerous/273699/10 "2004-11-09T01:20:51Z")
tell your couz to check the snack food section of his local grocery store or gas station for that matter.I have seen salted pumpkin seeds practically everywhere in these United States, look for the brand name “David” they are usually in orange and green bags,if my memory serves. NadaHappyCamper 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mailing-pumpkin-seeds-inherently-dangerous/273699/11 "2004-11-09T20:46:55Z")
Irradiation does not make stuff radioactive. Nor will eating irradiated food make you look like this —\> 😛 ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mailing-pumpkin-seeds-inherently-dangerous/273699/12 "2004-11-09T22:19:22Z")
Don’t do it! [Crazy shit happens](http://www.pumpkinnook.com/giants/pics2003/1458whittier02.jpg) when you mess with pumpkin seeds!