Food irradiation: Current problems and future potential

Autor: D. Kilcast
Rok vydání: 1995
Předmět:
Zdroj: International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation. 36:279-296
ISSN: 0964-8305
DOI: 10.1016/0964-8305(95)00071-2
Popis: Food irradiation is one of a set of processing technologies that can be used to increase the microbiological safety and shelf-life of a wide range of foods. Ionizing radiation is used to generate highly active chemical species within the food, which react with DNA. Under normal usage conditions, the food receives a pasteurizing treatment that gives a valuable reduction in common food-spoilage organisms and food pathogens. This review describes how the process is used in practice, including the benefits and limitations. The nature of changes to food components are outlined, together with the development of detection methods practical that utilize these changes. The legislative position of food irradiation is outlined, with the specific example of the introduction of the technology within the UK. The reasons for the slow uptake in the use of the technology are discussed, and the problem of consumer acceptance is addressed.
Databáze: OpenAIRE