The international unit for the dose of radiation absorbed is the gray gy, which is equal to 100 rads or 10,000 ergs per gram. In two reports from 1980 and 1997, joint expert groups from the world health. Food irradiation is a technology that can be safely used to reduce food losses due to deterioration and to control contamination causing illness and death. Food irradiation food science and technology academic. The international facility for food irradiation technology iffit was a research and training centre at the institute of atomic research in agriculture in wageningen, netherlands, sponsored by the food and agriculture organization fao of the united nations, the international atomic energy agency iaea and the dutch ministry of agriculture and fisheries. Ensuring that the process of irradiating food consistently delivers the desired result is essential for the correct application of the technology and will help to inspire stakeholder, and ultimately consumer, confidence in irradiated food.
The history of food irradiation introduction food irradiation is a technology. Food irradiation research and technology presents the latest scientific findings of researchers at the leading edge of food irradiation. Radiation technique makes the food safer to eat by destroying bacteria which is very much similar to the. Food irradiation gained significant momentum in 1947 when researchers found that meat and other foods could be sterillized by high energy and the process was seen to have potential to preserve food for military. Gamma radiation, xray, and ebeam radiation are examples of ionizing radiation. Food irradiation food science and technology academic press by walter urbain free pdf d0wnl0ad, audio books, books to read, good books to read, cheap books, good books, online books, books online, book. Mds nordion reviss servicespuridec sadex corporation securefoods inc. The potential benefits of food irradiation are yet to be realized due to. More than 40 years of research has shown conclusively that there are no adverse effects from the consumption of irradiated food. Food irradiation questions and answers food irradiation processing alliance benebion. Introduction to electronbeam food irradiation aiche. Food irradiation research radiation effects on seafood and produce pathogens the first rs 2400 was installed in 2003 at mississippi state university for the evaluation of radiation effectiveness in the reduction of dangerous bacteria, such as salmonella, e. In comparison with heat or chemical treatment, irradiation is more effective and appropriate technology to destroy food borne pathogens.
It has been thoroughly researched over the last four decades and is recognized as a safe and wholesome method. The technology of food irradiation is gaining more and more attention around the world. The future of food irradiation technology emily craven mevex chapman phytosanitary irradiation forum june 14 th, 2018. Food irradiation research and technology, 2nd edition. Irradiation can extend the shelf life of many perishable foods, increase the quality of fruits grown in areas that require insect quarantine measures. Sommers and fan were comoderators of the ift symposium from which this book arose and have over twentyfive years. Foods are exposed to radiation to kill insects, moulds and microorganisms, but no detectable levels of radiation are left behind in the food. Irradiation, carried out under conditions of good manufacturing practice, is an effective, widely applicable food processing method judged to be safe on extensive available evidence, that can reduce the risk of food poisoning, control food spoilage and extend the shelflife of foods without detriment to health and with minimal effect on nutritional or sensory quality. Food irradiation research and technology christopher h. Introduction phytosanitary irradiation is one of the fastest growing applications for irradiation technology growth due to increased consumer demand for imported produce and the desire of. This publication aims to help operators of irradiation facilities to appreciate.
Food irradiation technology is outstanding food preservation method after 1980s. Normalizing the surface dose to 100%, the maximum dose d max of % occurs at a depth r max 2. Although regarded as a new technology by some individuals, research on food irradiation dates back to the turn of the century with the first usa and british patents being issued. This can inactivate the dna of microorganisms without. Irradiation of food can control insect infestation, reduce the numbers. It is a physical process that exposes food to a highly penetrating form of energy gammarays, xrays and high energy electrons. Although a relatively new commercial process, food irradiation has been studied more thoroughly than any other food technology.
Nonthermal food processing technologies, such as xray and electronbeam irradiation, may be used to eliminate pathogens in raw foods, pasteurize delicate food products such as fresh produce, and. Consumers acceptance of novel agrifood technologies. Food irradiation is a physical method of processing food e. The technique controls spoilage and foodborne pathogenic microorganisms or insect pests without significantly affecting taste or. Pdf food irradiation research and technology, second edition. Food irradiation research and technology wiley online books. Gamma ray processing facility gamma ray processing facility electronbeam levels of food irradiation radurization low 10kgy can. Like pasteurization of milk, and pressure cooking of canned foods, treating food with ionizing radiation kills bacteria and parasite s that would otherwise cause foodborne diseases, a.
Food irradiation is a food safety technology that eliminates pathogens, including diseasecausing germs, from foods. Advantages and disadvantages of the use of irradiation for. Food irradiation the application of ionizing radiation to food is a technology that improves the safety and extends the shelf life of foods by reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects. Food irradiation is an energyefficient, nonchemical method of food processing that can help reduce those huge losses occurring due to spoilage or contamination by harmful bacteria and other. Manual of good practice in food irradiation publications iaea. Food preservation by irradiation is gaining recognition as a technology that is more environmentally benign than other current processes such as postharvest chemical fumigation, it has less impact on thermally sensitive compounds than thermal decontamination technologies such as hot water or steam, and the technology is more accessible and cheaper. Food irradiation research and technology by xuetong fan. Review article food irradiation technology and application.
Module 4 science and application of electron beam irradiation technology. Food irradiation is the process of exposing food and food packaging to ionizing radiation. Irradiation is one of the few food technologies that can maintain food quality and address food safety and security problems without significantly affecting a foods. Plant pathology, co llege of agriculture, tarbiat modares university, tehran, iran 1. Food preservation by irradiation is gaining recognition as a technology that is more environmentally benign than other current processes such. Food safety issues and electron beam technology food. These rays contain sufficient energy to break chemical bonds and ionize molecules that lie in their path. Food irradiation is a form of food processing that can extend shelf life and reduce spoilage. Irradiation and its potential to food preservation international. Fipa is an affiliate of the international irradiation association radura.
International facility for food irradiation technology. Food irradiation technologies by blackburn, carl ebook. Food irradiation technology is safe to such a degree that as long as the sensory qualities of food are retained and harmful microorganisms are. Food preservation food preservation food irradiation. History of food irradiation center for consumer research. The interest in this technology and the number of irradiation facilities is increasing, mainly as a consequence of the increase in the international trade of foods. Pasteurization or sterilization of food by irradiation is a technology useful for all classes of food, especially meat and poultry. Food irradiation involves the use of either highspeed electron beams or highenergy radiation with wavelengths smaller than 200 nanometres, or 2000 angstroms e. Because of the seriousness of the food safety issue and the lack of adequate control measures to ensure 100% bacteria free food, irradiation is seen as an additional tool that can be used for improving food safety. Food irradiation uses radiant energy electron beams, gamma rays or xrays to rid food of harmful microorganisms, insects, fungi and other pests, and to retard spoilage. Benefits and limitations hossein ahari mostafavi 1, seyed mahyar mirmajlessi 2 and hadi fathollahi 1 1nuclear science and technology research institute, agricultural, medical and industrial research school, karaj, 2dept.
Similar technology is used to sterilize medical devices so they can be used in surgery or implanted without risk of infection. Radiation from this region of the electromagnetic spectrum is called ionizing radiation, because it can ionize materials and molecules that it encounters. Food irradiation technology is approved in approximately 60 countries, but its use is limited to a handful mostly in asia and north america. Food irradiation is a technology for controlling spoilage and eliminating foodborne pathogens. The company owns and operates an irradiation facility located in mulberry, florida, that uses gamma radiation produced by cobalt 60 to treat or process various food and nonfood items for insect disinfestations, shelf life extension and reduction of microorganisms. Research on food irradiation dates back to the turn of the century. Bruhn, ift press, blackwell publishing, 2006 american council on science and health. Experts from industry, government, and academia define the basic principles and public health benefits of irradiation. Principles, commercial advantages, and limitations by tatiana koutchma ph. Sterigenics food safety steris isomedix services,inc. It has the potential both of disinfesting dried food to reduce storage losses and disinfesting fruits and vegetables to meet quarantine requirements for export trade.
Treating food with ionizing radiation can kill bacteria and parasites that would otherwise cause foodborne disease. Proven as wholesome and toxicologically safe over many years, global. Food irradiation in asia, the european union, and the united states pdf. Irradiation and food safety answers to frequently asked. Why was food irradiation approved by the food and drug administration fda. Food irradiation has been identified as a safe technology with numerous advantages for the consumer and the agricultural industry. In this book, experts from industry, government, and academia. Irradiating food has the same benefits as when it is heated, refrigerated, frozen or treated with chemicals, but without changing the temperature or leaving residues. Radiation processing of fooda shelflife extension of pumpkin samplesb meat products samples on the left arecontrols and on the right are irradiated.