Using electron beams to expand irradiation applications:
Major fruit exporting countries such as India, Thailand and Vietnam are using food irradiation, while countries such as the United States, Australia and New Zealand, use this method to ensure the safety of their food. Imported products.
Mr. Blackburn said: "Very mild irradiation of fruit may still not be harmful to pests. Therefore, treatment needs to be optimized to inactivate pests while still retaining most of the nutrients. and has the least effect on fruit flavour, texture and colour.
Vietnam started research on food irradiation in the late 1990s with the support of the IAEA. Currently, there are 11 irradiation facilities in the country. Gamma rays are most commonly used and can process about 1 ton of fruit per hour. In 2019, on average, Vietnam irradiated about 200 tons of fresh fruits for export each week with gamma rays and X-rays.
In 2020, a Vietnamese irradiation facility received a contract to process 100 tons of fresh litchi for export to Australia, and Vietnam is planning to expand its irradiation service of passion fruit, grapefruit, vegetables and seafood. frozen for export and domestic consumption.
Many countries have expressed interest in food irradiation of fruit, but according to Mr. Blackburn, the key point is to have sufficient capacity to ensure that seasonal fresh fruit irradiation services are available. competes with year-round irradiation of industrial goods and medical equipment at the same facility.
The use of portable irradiators can add to the convenience of using this method as they can be delivered directly to the factory packaging line. “Currently you have to bring food to the irradiation facility but in the future we hope to bring irradiation to food as part of routine operations,” Blackburn said. Portable electron-beam devices are about the size of a small car and are being tested for spice irradiation in several countries.
