Food Irradiation Technologies

Food preservation by irradiation is gaining recognition as a technology that is more environmentally benign than other current processes such as post-harvest 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. As the technical and economic feasibility, as well as the level of consumer acceptance, have increased its use has been growing fast. International organizations including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have coordinated and worked with others to develop norms and review the safety and efficacy of irradiated foods. Commended in the Foreword by Carl Blackburn, Food Irradiation Specialist, Joint FAO / IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, this book makes a strong case for the use of this overwhelmingly safe food processing technique. This comprehensive book is a useful reference for food technologists, analytical chemists and food processing professionals, covering all aspects of gamma, electron beam and X-ray food irradiation, its impact on food matrices and microorganisms, legislation and market aspects. It is the first book to cover control and structural analysis in food irradiation and, being written by leading experts in the field, addresses the current global best practices. It contains updated information about the commercial application of food irradiation technology, especially regarding the type of radiation based on food classes and covers dosimetry, radiation chemistry, food decontamination, food quarantine, food processing and food sterilization.

This comprehensive book is a useful reference for food technologists, analytical chemists and food processing professionals, covering all aspects of gamma and electron beam irradiation for the preservation of food.

The benefits of food irradiation to the public health have been described extensively by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. and the World Health Organization. The American Medical Association and the American Dietetic Association have both endorsed the irradiation process. Yet the potential health benefits of irradiation are unknown to many consumers and food industry representatives who are wary of irradiated foods due to myth-information from “consumer-advocate” groups. Food Irradiation Research and Technology presents the latest scientific findings of researchers at the leading edge of food irradiation. In this book, experts from industry, government, and academia: define the basic principles of irradiation and the public health benefits of irradiation describe advances in irradiation technology, detection technology, and radiation dosimetry review the regulations pertaining to food irradiation and the toxicological safety data provide food industry representatives and public health officials with effective methodologies to educate consumers and counteract misinformation review recent advances in the irradiation of meat and poultry, fruits and vegetables, seafood, and the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment Food Irradiation Research and Technology appeals to a broad readership: industry food scientists involved in the processing of meat and fish, fruits and vegetables; food microbiologists and radiation processing specialists; government and industry representatives involved in the import and export of food commodities; and industry, local, and state officials involved in educational efforts regarding food irradiation. Food scientists and technologists share a responsibility to ensure that educational materials provided to the public regarding food safety and processing technologies are based on sound science and fact, not on misconceptions. Food Irradiation Research and Technology meets that goal.

Food irradiation, the use of ionizing radiation to destroy harmful biological organism in food, is a safe, proven process that has many useful applications. It has been endorsed by numerous health organizations and has now been approved for many applications by governments around the world. Electronic Irradiation of Foods describes all the key aspects of electron accelerator technology in detail. It emphasizes the physical science and technology aspects of food irradiation using machine sources of ionizing radiation. The book provides significant technical depth for interested workers and present descriptive, introductory material that should help demystify technology for businessmen to make informed choices regarding important investments decisions. Introductory chapters summarize the effects of ionizing radiation on biological organisms and the organic compounds comprising foods, and give an overview of the food irradiation process. Subsequent chapters cover the details of the electron beam and x-ray energy deposition, electron accelerator technologies, beam scanning systems, material handling systems, shielding design, and process control considerations. Important appendices cover radiation dosimetry, induced radioactivity, and ozone generation.

Food irradiation is increasingly used worldwide as a proven and effective method of food preservation, as well as for improvement of food safety and quality. The International Conference on Ensuring the Safety and Quality of Food through Radiation Processing convened for the presentation of new irradiation technology, and to assess the role of irradiation in ensuring the safety and nutritional adequacy of food of plant and animal origin. This new book presents the complete texts of all twenty reports from the conference. Examined are applications of the technology in produce, animal products, and prepared foods, the economics of various irradiation technologies, international regulations, the marketing of irradiated products to consumers and retail outlets, and irradiation's implications for the global trade in food and agricultural commodities. Also included is new information on the scientific, regulatory, and consumer acceptance status of food irradiation and the role this technology will play in the 21st century. The new information in this book will be useful to all those involved in the processing, preservation, and distribution of food, as well as food industry managers and regulatory personnel. To receive your copy promptly, please order now. Information on ordering follows the complete table of contents. Conference Sponsors and Speakers This conference was sponsored by three U.N. Agencies: IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), and the WHO (World Health Organization). All authors are leading experts in aspects of food irradiation. From the Editor's Foreword "Significant developments on the acceptance and application of food irradiation as a method to ensure food safety and quality and to facilitate food trade have occurred in recent years. Regulations on food irradiation in many countries either have been or are being harmonized based on the Codex General Standard for Irradiated Foods and relevant recommendations of the International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI). The number of irradiation facilities for treating food is increasing and many more are under construction or being planned. The consumers are getting accurate information and are beginning to appreciate the benefit of irradiated foods.... The potential of irradiation as a method to ensure the hygienic quality of food, especially those of animal origin, as a quarantine treatment of fresh horticultural commodities, and as a substitute for fumigants, is being realized... The Conference reaffirmed the view that the safety and nutritional adequacy of irradiated food produced under conditions of Good Manufacturing Practice is no longer in question, regardless of the absorbed dose."

The series Topics in Current Chemistry Collections presents critical reviews from the journal Topics in Current Chemistry organized in topical volumes. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience. Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field.

Bestrahlung von Lebensmitteln - dieser Band beschreibt Wirkungen, Anwendungsgebiete und Grenzen. International renommierte Fachleute konzentrieren sich in ihren Beiträgen auf wissenschaftliche und technologische Details, weniger auf die Streitfrage, ob Lebensmittel überhaupt bestrahlt werden sollten. Die Diskussion ist eingebettet in die Bestimmungen des Kontrollsystems HACCP, das in der fleisch- und fischverarbeitenden Industrie der USA und Europas mittlerweile Pflicht ist.

Genetically Modified and Irradiated Food: Controversial Issues: Facts versus Perceptions explains the technologies used in these processes so they can be understood by those in general public health, scientific organizations, politicians and opinion makers/policymakers. The facts presented include a massive amount of scientific evidence that these technologies are safe and can be beneficial. Because the world is facing a future with an increasing number of people, new technologies are needed to ensure enough safe and healthy food, thus technologies that have the potential to dramatically increase the availability of safe and healthy food should be welcomed by everybody. Includes references to science based research on GMOs Explains the technologies in a clear way that can be understood by the general public Includes a massive amount of scientific evidence that these technologies are safe and can be beneficial