Radiation Pasteurization of Foods

• Submitted to

Dr.N.S.Rathore

Dean

CDFST,Udaipur

• Submitted by

Bhanu Pratap

Singh Choudhary

IIIrd year, F.T.

Radiation

• Radiation is an energy form travelling through space (radiant energy) in a wave pattern and can be :-

1. naturally occurring (e.g. from the sun or rocks)

2. man made objects (e.g. microwaves and television sets).

Ionising & Non Ionising• sufficiently high

frequency that it results in the production of charged particles (ions) in the material in contact (gamma rays and X-rays)

• does not produce ions but can create heat under moist conditions and is routinely used for purposes such as cooking and re-heating of foods (microwaves)

Radiations

How Does Irradiation Work?

The International Food Irradiation Symbol – The Radura

Radurisation (prolonging shelf life)

“Low” doses, < 1 kGy

Control insects in grains and fruits

Inhibit sprouting in tubers

Delay the ripening of some fruits/vegetables

Reduce the problems of parasites in products of animal origin, (e.g., trichinella spiralis in pork)

Radcidation (reduction of pathogens)

“Medium” doses, (1-10 kGy)

Control Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, Listeria and E. coli in meat, poultry, and fish.

Delay mold growth on strawberries and other fruits.

Radappertisation (sterlisation)

“High” doses, (> than 10 kGy)

Kill microorganisms and insects in spices

Commercially sterilize foods, destroying all microorganisms of public health concern (i.e., special diets for people with weakened immune systems)

Radiation sources

1. Accelerated electron machines having a maximum energy of 10 MeV.

2. Gamma rays using the radionuclides cobalt-60 (used commonly) or cesium-137(water soluble)

3. X-ray machines having a maximum energy of 5 MeV.

Accelerated Electron machines

Mold on

Strawberries after 6 days

Control

e-Beam

Co-60 Gamma radiation• The most common source of ionizing energy.

• The radioactive material is contained in two sealed stainless steel tubes called "source pencils.“

• These are placed in a rack which is immersed in a water chamber underground when not in use. When irradiation takes place, the rack is raised.

• Packaged food products move along the conveyer belt and enter an inner room where they are exposed to the rack containing source pencils.

Co-60 Gamma radiation

X-ray radiation unit

• In this system an electron beam accelerator targets electrons on a metal plate.

• Some energy is absorbed and the rest is converted to X-rays.

• Like gamma rays, X-rays can penetrate food boxes up to 15 inches thick or more, thus permitting food to be processed in a shipping container.

Are irradiated foods safe to eat?

• Foods cannot become radioactive at energies used in irradiation.

• Below 10 kGy there are no known toxicological, microbiological, or nutritional problems.

Long Term Effects on consumption of “Unique Radiolytic Products" (URPs)

• Lethal effects in mice,

• reduced growth,

• change white blood cells,

• kidney damage,

• Polyploidy - a chromosome defect.

Which Foods can be irradiated ?

Worldwide, almost 40 countries permit the use of irradiation on over 50 different foods, and an estimated 500,000 tons of food are irradiated annually.

The “radura.”

Cost of Irradiated Food

From Rs 0.25 to 0.50 per kg. for a low dose application

Rs 1-3 per kg for high dose application (microbial decontamination treatment of spices)

The cost of plant could be between Rs 50-100 millions

[US$= Rs 48; 1Re= 100 paise]

Food Irradiation in India

Regulatory bodies:-• The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and • The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)

Facilities licensed for irradiating food items:-• Food Package Irradiator in Food Technology

Division, BARC.• Defense Laboratory, Jodhpur.

Food Irradiation in India: Technology/assistance available

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI):

• financial assistance in the form of a loan is provided to private sector organization to the extent of 50% of the cost of capital equipment and technical civil works up to Rs.5 millions in general areas and up to Rs7.5 millions in difficult areas.

• Financial assistance in the form of grant is provided to the entrepreneurs up to Rs.40 millions for creation of common facility in a food park.

Agricultural & Processed Foods Export Development Authority (APEDA):

• Under the Plan Scheme of APEDA, financial assistance to the extent of 50% of the cost subject to a ceiling of Rs 5 million per beneficiary is given for setting up of irradiation facilities.

Table–1: Food items approved for radiation preservation by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under

Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955

Name of food PurposeMinimum Dose (kGy

Maximum Dose (kGy)

Onion   Potato  Ginger  Garlic  Shallots (Small onion)

Sprout inhibition

0.03  0.06  0.03  0.03  0.03

 0.09  0.15  0.15  0.15  0.15 

Mango Disinfestation  (Quarantine)

0.25 0.75

Rice  Semolina (sooji, rawa),  Wheat atta, maida  Raisin, figs, dried dates

Disinfestation0.25  0.25  0.25

1.0  1.0  0.75

Meat and meat products including chicken

Shelf-life extension and pathogen control

2.5 4.0

Spices Microbial decontamination

6.0 14.0

Table–2: Additional food items recommended by the

Central Committee for Food Standards for approval Name of

foodPurpose

Minimum Dose (kGy

Maximum Dose (kGy)

Pulses  Dried sea-

foodsDisinfestation

0.25 0.25

1.0 1.0

Fresh sea-foods

Shelf-life enhancement 1.0 3.0

Frozen sea-foods

Pathogen control 4.0 6.0

Companies manufacturing irradiated foods

• Wegman's, • Kroger's, • Omaha Steaks • Schwan's • Lowe’s Foods• MDS Nordion• REVISS Services/Puridec• Sadex Corporation• Securefoods Inc.• Sterigenics - STERIS Isomedix Services,Inc.

Thank you