ISSN: 2574-2701
Authors: Edae BN*
This review will look at the irradiation-based food preservation method. A country’s ability to successfully adopt new technologies hinges on the availability of a suitable infrastructure. Irradiation has a low operating cost and utilizes minimal energy, but it requires significant capital investments and a minimum output volume to be economical. Over a specific threshold concentration, off tastes might develop and organoleptic changes can occur. At low quantities, however, not all pathogens and their poisons will be eliminated. Radiation therapy can be difficult to standardize because the results vary. How effectively the therapy works depends on several factors, including the commodity and cultivar, radiation dose, level of maturity, physiological status, temperature and environment before and after treatment, pre-and post-harvest treatments, and the sensitivity of the microorganisms to be controlled. Tolerance varies with the maturity level. Depending on public perception, regulatory actions, economics, and logistics associated with specific conditions, irradiation as a method of reducing foodborne diseases will be used. Not all foods can be irradiated in all situations due to technological and financial restrictions. Irradiation cannot indefinitely extend the shelf life of fresh food because the enzymes in foods like fruits, vegetables, fish, shellfish, meat, and poultry are still active and resistant to even high-dose radiation. If foods are exposed to too much radiation, they may lose flavor, especially if they are high in fat. Irradiated grains and legumes must be packaged carefully to prevent insect infestations because irradiation does not leave behind any harmful residue that would deter insects. Irradiation produces very little chemical changes in food, and the changes are similar to those by other preservation methods like heat. The application of irradiation technology will benefit farmers whose post-harvest grain lost value as a result of food spoilage, consumers who experience health problems as a result of virus exposure, exporters of such cereals, and ultimately the government, which gains economically from the hard cash generated. It will also benefit firms that package food, extension agents, technical assistants, and researchers. Radiation processing of food has been approved by various international statutory bodies and organizations to ensure ‘Food Security & Safety’, and overcome ‘Technical barrier to International Trade’ and currently is being practiced in more than 60 countries worldwide.
Keywords: Irradiation Technology; Food Preservation; Microorganisms; Shelf Life; Food Spoilage; Health Problems
