FOOD IRRADIATION

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FOOD IRRADIATION Maria del Pilar
Solano, M.D. April 29, 2003
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What is Food Irradiation ?

• Process by which food is exposed to a
  controlled source of ionizing radiation to
  prolong shelf life, improve microbiologic safety,
  and/or reduce the use of chemical fumigants and
  additives

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Food Irradiation Uses

• Reduce insect infestation -grain, spices, fruits
• and vegetables
• Inhibit sprouting -tubers and bulbs
• Retard ripening -fruits
• Inactivate parasites -meats and fish
• Eliminate spoilage microbes -fruits, veggies
• Extend shelf life -poultry, meat, fish, shellfish
• Decontaminate -poultry and meat
• Sterilize foods and feeds

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FOOD-BORNE ILLNESS
Listeria Toxoplasma Hepatitis A
Salmonella Criptosporidium E.coli. Shiguella
Emer Inf Dis 19995 786
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• Irradiation Sources
• Gamma rays (cobalt 60 or Cesium 137)
• Electron-beam
• X ray

Dose for food irradiation 0.05-10 kGy
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Food Irradiation-Regulation

• 1958 Food Additives Amendment to the Federal
  Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938

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Food Irradiation - Safety

• Radiologic and toxicologic safety
• Neither the food nor the packaging become
  radioactive
• No concern for unique radiolytic products (FDA)
• Animal feeding studies since 1950 with metabolic,
  reproductive, teratogenic, mutageic endpoints.
  FAO, WHO, FDA food irradiation is safe under
  specified conditions

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Food Irradiation-Safety

• Microbiological Safety

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Microbiologic safety

• Viruses, spores, prions are resistant to
  radiation
• Gram(-)spoilage bacteria gt suceptible than
  pathogenic bacteria
• Clostridium botulinun type E is resistant
• ? Increase in mycotoxin after irradiation
• ? Radiation resistance and mutational changes

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Nutritional Adequacy

• Changes similar to those of cooking, canning,
  pausteurizing, heat processing
• Vitamin loss ThiaminegtVit C, B6gtB2gtniacin.
  Synergism with heat
• CHO and proteins relatively irradiation-resistant
• Fats can be oxidized rancidity, odor changes

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Consumer Issues
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Controversies

• Safety ?Chromosome damage in susceptible
  individuals. ?long-term effects
• Nutrition ? Effect of Vitamin loss in elderly,
  malnourished and children
• Environmental ?danger of transporting
  radioactive isotopes, new irradiation plants,
  worker exposure

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The Future ?