CBE658

FOOD PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGY

ASSIGNMENT 1: IRRADIATION

NAME: MADIHAH BINTI ZAIMURI

STUDENT ID: 2015250034
GROUP: EH2205C
SUBMITED TO: MDM. NURUL ASYIKIN MD ZAKI
 ASSIGNMENT 1: IRRADIATION
1. Why is irradiation application is still limited in food industry?
Irradiation has been proven as an effective process in preventing or reducing the growth of
the microorganisms that causes food spoilage and foodborne diseases. However, this
method is still limited in food industry due to a few factors. One of the main factor is that
consumer concerned about the safety of the radiated food products. Most of consumers
nowadays did not realized the importance of irradiation process in food processing. In fact,
they also have a little knowledge about irradiated food products and this has caused
misconception of the safety of the irradiated food products. Consumers concern that
irradiation might causes chemical changes that are harmful and scared of consuming
products that are being exposed to the radioactive rays that are high possibly cause of
cancer. Another factor is caused by political objections. There are political groups or anti-
nuclear group that have raised the issue regarding the objection to food irradiation because
they totally opposed to nuclear power in food irradiation. The main reason is that they fear
of dependence on gamma ray will create a risk for the labor and the environment and also
will cause reliance on the nuclear power plants used to create isotopes. It seems much
more likely that the anti-nuclear groups are just exploiting a gap in consumer knowledge to
drum up public opposition to food irradiation.

2. Discuss the safety consideration when irradiation is involved.

The problem of food spoilage by the microbes, pesticides and parasites can be countered by
using the irradiation method. Irradiation have the same objectives as other food processing
method but the techniques and equipment employed to irradiate food need to have health
and safety requirements that must be taken into account. The most critical factor in food
irradiation is the radiation dose which is the quantity of energy absorbed by the food. The
desired effect will not be achieved if the amount of energy is less than normal and the food
product also may be damaged if the excessive amount of dose is absorbed. So, in order to
comply safety in food products, the specific and precise dose of energy is exposed to the
food during irradiation process. The food irradiation plants consisting of two types which
are batch and continuous. Both machine and radionuclide sources must be installed in a
shielded cell specially designed to prevent exposure of personnel to radiation. Danger to the
workers is minimal. At all times, the radiation source is shielded either by water, concrete or
metal. Irradiators are designed with several layers of overlapping protection to detect
equipment malfunctions and to protect personnel from accidental radiation exposure
3. How do you think we can increase the awareness of safe irradiation
and improve the safety aspects of irradiation process in food?
One of the main reasons why food irradiation is not yet in more general use is that
governments are uncertain of consumer acceptance of irradiated foods. Consumers are
genuinely afraid of anything that would appear to increase the risk of exposure to radiation.
A major misconception is that food processed by radiation becomes radioactive. Awareness
of safe irradiation to the numbers of people can be increased by exposing to them more
knowledge and education about advantages of irradiation process in diagnosing and
treating disease, sterilizing medical devices and pharmaceutical products, and producing
many kinds of manufactured goods. A campaign of irradiation food process can be held in
order to answers that address the most common concerns, fears and misconceptions about
food irradiation in consumers’ mind. This barrier of lack of consumer understanding and
acceptance of food irradiation can gradually decreased if governments, consumer
organizations and others provide information that helps consumers make informed
judgements about the value of food irradiation, and organize test marketing trials to enable
consumers to evaluate the quality and benefits of irradiated foods. The safety aspects of
irradiation process in food can be improve by making sure that irradiation facilities are
operated safely. In order to do this, the FDA and state authorities need to monitor electron
beam and x-ray facilities precisely and consistently according to their Nuclear Regulatory
Commission and their designated state authorities.