Effects of gamma ray, electron beam, and X-ray on the reduction of Aspergillus flavus on red pepper powder (Capsicum annuum L.) and gochujang (red pepper paste).

Aspergillus flavus is the potential pathogenic mold in red pepper powder (Capsicum annuum L.) and gochujang (red pepper paste), which can produce mycotoxins. This study investigated the effects of gamma ray, e-beam, and X-ray irradiation on the reduction of A. flavus on red pepper powder and gochujang and physicochemical and sensory quality changes. Gamma ray and e-beam at 3.5 kGy reduced A. flavus effectively (>4 log), without deteriorating the physicochemical quality. Same dose of X-ray did not cause any deterioration of the physicochemical quality. However, reduction effect of A. flavus in red pepper powder and gochujang by 3.5 kGy X-ray was under 2 log. Further, sensory quality analysis showed no significant difference in color, appearance, texture, and overall acceptability after three irradiations. However, flavor changes of red pepper powder and gochujang after three irradiations were mentioned by panelists. In this study, gamma ray and e-beam irradiation were effective in eliminating A. flavus present in red pepper powder and gochujang, but X-ray irradiation was not effective. The results indicate gamma ray and e-beam are effective in controlling microorganisms present in powdery or paste foods, but the X-ray was not effective.

Light based technologies for microbial inactivation of liquids, bead surfaces and powdered infant formula.

This study evaluates the potential of continuous wave Ultraviolet C light (UV-C) and broad-spectrum intense pulsed light (in this study referred to as High Intensity Light Pulses, HILP) for the inactivation of pathogens of public concern in powdered infant formula (PIF) producers. To achieve this goal a sequential set of experiments were performed, firstly in clear liquid media, secondly on the surface of spherical beads under agitation and, finally in PIF. L. innocua was the most sensitive microorganism to both technologies under all conditions studied with reductions exceeding 4 log10 cycles in PIF. In the clear liquid medium, the maximum tolerance to light was observed for C. sakazakii against UV-C light and for B. subtilis spores against HILP, with a fluence of approximately 17 mJ/cm2 required for a 1 log10 cycle inactivation (D value) of each species. In PIF it was possible to inactivate >99% of the vegetative cell populations by HILP with a fluence of 199 mJ/cm2 and of B. subtilis spores by doubling the fluence. By contrast, for UV-C treatments a fluence of 2853 mJ/cm2 was needed for 99.9% reduction of C. sakazakii, which was the most light-resistant microorganism to UV-C. Results here obtained clearly show the potential for light-based interventions to improve PIF microbiological safety.

Understanding the dosimetric powder EPR spectrum of sucrose by identification of the stable radiation-induced radicals.

Sucrose, the main component of table sugar, present in nearly every household and quite radiation sensitive, is considered as an interesting emergency dosemeter. Another application of radiation-induced radicals in sugars is the detection of irradiation in sugar-containing foodstuffs. The complexity of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of radicals in these materials, as a result of many hyperfine interactions and the multi-compositeness of the spectra of individual sugars, complicate dose assessment and the improvement of protocols for control and identification of irradiated sugar-containing foodstuffs using EPR. A thorough understanding of the EPR spectrum of individual irradiated sugars is desirable when one wants to reliably use them in a wide variety of dosimetric applications. Recently, the dominant room temperature stable radicals in irradiated sucrose have been thoroughly characterised using EPR, electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and ENDOR-induced EPR. These radicals were structurally identified by comparing their proton hyperfine and g-tensors with the results of Density Functional Theory calculations for test radical structures. In this paper, the authors use the spin Hamiltonian parameters determined in these studies to simulate powder EPR spectra at the standard X-band (9.5 GHz), commonly used in applications, and at higher frequencies, up to J-band (285 GHz), rendering spectra with higher resolution. A few pitfalls in the simulation process are highlighted. The results indicate that the major part of the dosimetric spectrum can be understood in terms of three dominant radicals, but as-yet unidentified radicals also contribute in a non-negligible way.

Effect of E-beam treatment on the chemistry and on the antioxidant activity of lycopene from dry tomato peel and tomato powder.

Tomato powder (TP) and dry tomato peel (DTP) have been previously used in our laboratory as a source of lycopene to manufacture meat products ready-to-eat (RTE) submitted to E-beam irradiation with good technological and sensory results. Present work describes the studies performed in order to investigate the effect of radiation on chemical changes and antioxidant properties of lycopene. DTP and TP were irradiated (4 kGy). Changes on lycopene were analyzed by HPLC; inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS), possible modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) cascade, nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NP-κB) activation and expression of proteins involved in oxidation stress were analyzed in RAT-1 fibroblasts cell culture. Radiation reduced the content of all-E-lycopene and increased (Z)-lycopene, lycopene isomerization, and degradation being higher in DTP than in TP. E-Beam treatment increased the antioxidant ability of both DTP and TP in inhibiting spontaneous and H2O2-induced oxidative stress in cultured fibroblasts. Antioxidant activity was higher in DTP than in TP samples.

Broadband 10-300 GHz stimulus-response sensing for chemical and biological entities.

By illuminating the sample with a broadband 10-300 GHz stimulus and coherently detecting the response, we obtain reflection and transmission spectra of common powdered substances, and compare them as a starting point for distinguishing concealed threats in envelopes and on personnel. Because these samples are irregular and their dielectric properties cannot be modulated, however, the spectral information we obtain is largely qualitative. To show how to gain quantitative information on biological species at micro- and millimetre-wave frequencies, we introduce thermal modulation of a globular protein in solution, and show that changes in single-wavelength microwave reflections coincide with accepted visible absorption spectra, pointing the way towards gaining quantitative chemical and biological spectra from broadband terahertz systems.