Irradiation Induced Headspace Cases in Packaged Radiation Sterilized Foods

摘要

A series of studies were conducted to determine the influence of readappertization on induced headspace gases from the sterilized foods. Experiments were performed to identify the gases, Hydrogen gas is the dominant gas produced by the radiation process. Other gases, such as CH4, CO and CO2, may also be present in small amounts. In Model systems, the amount of induced gas was found to vary directly with irradiation dose, and to a lesser extent with the concentration of particular food components. Gas production varies inversely with pH. In a study of packaging materials, tinplate and glass had no effect on the type or quantity of gas produced. Packaging in a polyolefin plastic material caused a small increase in H2. Product temperature during irradiation has a pronounced effect on gas production: approximately half as much as was produced by irradiation at temperatures below 0C as by irradiation above this temperature. Type or radiation (cathode vs. gamma), initial can vacuum, or extended periods of storage had no effect on amount of gas produced. A mathematical model for estimating the production of induced gases from proximate analysis successfully predicted gas productions in the five food products investigated. (Author)