530 likes | 567 Vues
Irradiation for Reducing Pathogens in Meat and Poultry. William R. Henning. Extension Meat Scientist. Use of Ionizing Radiation for Reducing Pathogens in Meat and Poultry. NEW FRONTIERS FOR FOOD SAFTEY. What we hope to show you. Science of the technology Current uses of Irradiation
E N D
Irradiation for Reducing Pathogens inMeat and Poultry William R. Henning Extension Meat Scientist
Use of Ionizing Radiation for Reducing Pathogens inMeat and Poultry NEW FRONTIERS FOR FOOD SAFTEY
What we hope to show you • Science of the technology • Current uses of Irradiation • Plants in operation • Why it is used • Safety and efficacy • How it affects pathogens • What consumers think • How it tastes
Why get involved? • Irradiated ground beef is coming to a city near you, SOON • Consumer activists will likely oppose it • Fore-warned is fore-armed • Educate consumers before it is on the market • Don’t want another GMO debate
What is the Role of an Extension Educator? Educator or Advocate
What is Food Irradiation? • Provide energy which destroys DNA in bacteria, parasites, insects, molds • SOURCE • Gamma Rays from radioactive material • Cobalt 60 • Cesium 137 • Accelerated electron beams • X-Rays
Ionizing Radiation When radiation strikes other material, it transfers energy this can cause HEATING, as with microwave cooking or, if there is enough energy, it can knock electrons out of of the material bombarded, breaking the molecular structure - thus leaving ions (free radicals) hence the name - Ionizing Radiation --
Terms to describe energy level • Dose - amount of energy transferred • rad - old unit • gray (Gy) - new unit • very large dose = 1 million rad = 10kGy • or 1kGy = 100,000 rad • 1 chest X-ray = .01 rad • natural background = 0.1 rad/year
Levels of Food Irradiation • Radurization (low) < 1 kGy • vegetable sprouting, fruit ripening, insect sterilization • Radicidation (medium) 1-10 kGy • kills most pathogens and many food spoilage organisms, kills insects and parasites • Rappertization (high) > 10kGy • can sterilize by killing all bacteria and viruses
History of Use of Radiation • 1895 - first work with ionizing radiation • 1921 - first US patent for use of irradiation • 1930’s - US Army commissions MIT to determine if irradiation preserves meat • 1953 - US Army opens Natick Laboratory to be one of the “Atoms for Peace” technology • 1965 - Office of Surgeon General concludes that foods irradiated (<65kGy) are safe • 1983 - FDA approved irradiation of Spices
Current Uses of IR • Medical/Pharmaceutical Products • Airways and tubes • Alcohol wipes • Bandages • Blood • Contact Lenses • Cotton Balls • Dental anchors, burrs and sponges • Drug mixing/dispensing systems
Enzymes Eye droppers and ointments Fetal Probes Instruments IV Administration sets Liquid detergents Lubrication gels OR towels Petri dishes Prostheses Surgical Gloves Surgical gowns Sutures Syringes and needles Thermometers/covers Tongue Depressors Topical Ointments More...
Adhesive bandages Animal vaccines Baby bottle nipples Contact lens cleaning solutions Cosmetics Dairy and Juice containers Disposable nurser bottles Food packaging Pacifiers and teething rings Pet food Rawhide dog toys Tampons Consumer Products ...
Current Food Applications • Spices, Herbs, Dehydrated Vegetables and Seasoning Mixtures • Strawberries • Papayas • Mangos • Poultry • Mushrooms
Spices, Herbs, Dehydrated Vegetables & Seasoning Mixtures Irradiated in N. America
Why are we interested in Meat Irradiation? • E. coli and other pathogens • can’t eliminate with multiple hurdles • HACCP • intervention strategy • improved dressing procedures • close visual inspection • lactic acid rinse • hot water • steam pasteurization
Current Regulatory Changes • 1987 - FDA approved irradiation of pork for Trichina control (0.3-1.0 kGy) • 1992 - FDA approved irradiation for fresh or frozen packaged poultry to control bacteria (1.5-3.0 kGy) • 1998 - FDA approved use in fresh or frozen beef to control pathogens- (1.5 - 4.5 kGy) • 1999 or early 2000 - USDA final rule for beef...
Levels approved for meats • 0.3 - 1.0 kGy for control of Trichina in pork • up to 3.0 kGy for control of pathogens in fresh or frozen packaged poultry • up to 4.5 kGy for pathogen control in uncooked/refrigerated meat • up to 7.0 kGy for pathogen control in uncooked/frozen meat
Levels approved in other foods • Wheat 0.2-0.5 kGy (insect disinfestation) • Potatoes 0.05-0.15 kGy (sprout inhibition) • Fruit 1 kGy max (ripening delay) • Vegetables 1 kGy max (disinfestation) • Spices 30 kGy max (microbial control) • Animal and Pet food (2-25 kGy) (Salmonella control)
Source vs. Electron Beam • Source • costly to build • source loses power (disposal) • worker safety and environmental concerns • better penetration (but slower) • Electron Beam • safer for workers and environment • faster • more costly to build and operate
Irradiation Facilities in Use • 36 countries approved irradiation • 140 irradiation facilities • 115 for medical products • US • 40 irradiation facilities • 2 for food treatment • FOOD TECHnology Service, Plant City, FL • Titan, Sioux City, IA (to be open soon)
Titan Plant Commitment • IBP • Cargill (Excel) • Emmpak Foods • Hawaii Pride • Huisken Meats
Uses and Limitations • Use on finished, packaged product • Fresh or frozen • E-beam penetration 2 ½ - 3 inches • May have to treat both sides • Source is slower • Need to change source in 5 years
Drawbacks • Consumer perception • is food safe to eat • is the environment safe • nutrient loss • off flavor, aroma, color
Cost:Benefit • Costs • Benefits • Drawbacks • Dangers
Costs • Not enough being done to get true cost • estimated cost • $.05 - $.10 / lb • plus cost of transportation • One retailer was charging a premium of $.75/lb
Public Concerns?? • Will new potentially harmful, chemical compounds be created in irradiated foods? • Would nutrients be lost if foods were irradiated? • Can unscrupulous processors use irradiation to conceal contamination of spoiled foods? • Will workers or others be exposed to dangerous levels of radiation?
Human Health (potential) • Unique radiolytic products (URP) • Cancer • polyploidy • Spoiled/decaying food • Environmental contamination
Sensory and Physical Aspects of Irradiated Muscle Foods • Off-odors/off-flavors • changes relative to dose • < 4kGy - not detectable • 4-10 kGy - sulfurous odors (wet dog hair) • pork and chicken - little off odors • minimized by irradiating at subfreezing temp. • minimized by irradiating in absence of O2 • reduces peroxides
Sensory and Physical Aspects of Irradiated Muscle Foods • Color changes • raw and cured meats turn brown • cooked meat turns pink (converts back after exposure to oxygen) • Dependent on dose
Will they buy it?? • Strawberries - 1992, over 1000 pints sold in 5 days in North Miami Beach • Poultry - 1993, sold out of boneless breasts in 2 days in Northbrook, IL • Poultry - has sold irradiated poultry since 1993
What do Consumers Think? • Gallop interview • 54% would buy (after irradiation was explained) • University of GA • 45% would buy (if labeled) • 17% would not • 38% undecided • Kansas State (preceded by educational material) • 75% would buy • 70% DID buy
I hope this has helped you understand more about the application of irradiation in meat. • Thank you • Questions?
Consumer education will work • There is no health risk • There is no environmental risk • It will reduce pathogens • It will not replace other food safety procedures • Low levels will not affect palatability • We will produce a safer product