Gamma radiation sensitivity of Enterobacter sakazakii in dehydrated powdered infant formula.

The observed Enterobacter sakazakii D10-values for tryptic soy broth and dehydrated powdered infant formula were 0.27 +/- 0.05 and 0.76 +/- 0.08 kGy, respectively. A decrease of approximately 3 log in the dehydrated powdered infant formula was obtained by irradiation with 3.0 kGy or rehydration with hot water at 80 degrees C. No recoverable bacteria were found in the powdered infant formula irradiated at 5.0 kGy and stored, either before or after rehydration. A radiation dose of up to 5.0 kGy had no marked effect on the sensory properties of the dehydrated powdered infant formula after rehydration and heating. Gamma radiation could potentially be used to inactivate E. sakazakii in dehydrated powdered infant formula; however, nutritional studies need to be conducted before the use of radiation can be recommended.

Irradiation effects on embryotoxicity and oxidative properties of gossypol dissolved in methanol.

Gossypol dissolved in methanol (0.25 and 0.5 mg/ml) was gamma-irradiated at 0, 5, 10, and 20 kGy. The gossypol content was significantly reduced by irradiation in a dose-dependent manner. Ames test performed with nonirradiated and irradiated gossypol solutions was negative at the level of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 10, 50, and 100 microg gossypol/plate. At the gossypol concentration of 2.5 microg/ml, the blastocysts formation rate of mice embryo were decreased by a factor of two as compared with the control, but irradiation at 20 kGy increased the blastocysts formation, resulting in no difference from the control. Addition of gossypol to oil emulsion system or oil showed a prooxidative effect of lipids at the beginning stage by increasing 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and peroxide value but irradiation of the gossypol solution decreased the oxidative changes significantly as compared with the nonirradiated one. Results indicated that irradiation decreased the gossypol concentration dissolved in methanol, resulting in a reduction of embryotoxicity in mice.

Effects of gamma radiation on the allergenic and antigenic properties of milk proteins.

This study was carried out to evaluate the application of food irradiation technology as a method for reducing milk allergies. Bovine alpha-casein (ACA) and beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) were used as milk proteins. Using milk-hypersensitive patients' immunoglobulin E (IgE) and rabbit IgGs individually produced to ACA and BLG, the changes of allergenicity and antigenicity of irradiated proteins were observed by competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Allergenicity and antigenicity of the irradiated proteins were changed with different slopes of the inhibition curves. The disappearance of the band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and increase of the turbidity showed that solubility of the proteins decreased by radiation, and this decrease might be caused by agglomeration of the proteins. These results indicated that epitopes on milk allergens were structurally altered by gamma irradiation.

Quality properties of sausage made with gamma-irradiated natural pork and lamb casing.

Quality properties in emulsion-type sausage stuffed into irradiated natural casing were studied. Fresh salted and semidried natural pork and lamb casing was washed and irradiated at 0, 3, and 5 kGy by gamma-ray and emulsion-type pork sausage (Brattella Weiss Wurst) was manufactured. The sausage was stored in a 4°C refrigerator. The numbers of total aerobic bacteria, Enterococcus and coliform bacteria in the irradiated natural casing or sausage prepared from irradiated casing were significantly decreased or eliminated compared to those of the nonirradiated control. The D(10) values of total aerobic bacteria of the pork and lamb casing were 0.87 and 0.92 kGy, respectively. The vacuum-packaged sausages made with irradiated casings had a higher 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value than that of the nonirradiated controls only at 5-day with pork casing and at 10-day with lamb casing. The total working force for shear of the sausages was decreased in both irradiated casings but the sensory evaluation showed no difference. Therefore, the gamma irradiation was a useful technique to sanitize the natural pork and lamb casings and to extend shelf-life, primarily microbial quality, of the sausage made with natural casings.

Effects of gamma radiation on sensory qualities, microbiological and chemical properties of salted and fermented squid.

The effects of gamma radiation on sensory quality, microbial population, and chemical properties of salted and fermented squid were investigated. Squid (Todarodes pacificus) was sliced, washed, and then salted with 5, 10, and 20% (wt/wt) sodium chloride. Salted squid was irradiated with dosages of 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10 kGy of gamma radiation and fermented at 15 degrees C for 50 days. Proximate composition, salinity, water activity, sensory evaluation, and total microbiological populations were examined. Chemical analyses providing information on degree of fermentation, such as amino nitrogen (AN), volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), trimethylamine (TMA), and hypoxanthine (Hx) were also conducted. Irradiated squid was not different in proximate composition, salinity, and water activity from nonirradiated squid. Sensory evaluation scores, total bacteria populations, and pH values were variable depending on salt concentration and irradiation dose. During fermentation, AN, VBN, TMA, and Hx contents increased rapidly as the salt concentration and irradiation dose decreased. Specifically, these chemical compounds of salted and fermented squid prepared with 10% salt and 10 kGy of gamma radiation maintained the appropriate level of fermentation. The present results showed that the combination of low salt concentration (10%) and gamma radiation was effective in processing salted and fermented squid and extending its shelf life compared to control (20% of salt) without adding any food additives.

The improvement of color and shelf life of ham by gamma irradiation.

This study was undertaken to determine if gamma irradiation can circumvent the need for sodium nitrite to obtain and maintain the desired color of pork loin ham. A dose of 5 kGy was observed to be as effective as the use of 200 ppm of sodium nitrite to provide and maintain the desired color of the product for 30 days. Peroxidation of the product was reduced with addition of sodium nitrite but increased with irradiation. However, organoleptic quality of the irradiated ham without added sodium nitrite was acceptable.

Effects of antioxidants and gamma irradiation on the shelf life of beef patties.

To improve the storage safety of two types of ground beef patty popular in Korea (general beef patties and bulgogi patties), we added various antioxidants (200 ppm; including butylated hydroxyanisole, ascorbyl palmitate, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene) to typical formulations of patties, cooked the patties to 70 degrees C, and irradiated them at a dose of 1.5 or 3 kGy. During 30 d of storage at 5 degrees C, the number of aerobic bacteria and lactic acid bacteria were determined using total aerobic plate count and phenyl ethyl alcohol-sucrose agar, respectively. The concentration of thiobarbituric acid was also determined in each type of patty. No colonies were observed in patties irradiated at 3 kGy regardless of which antioxidant was added. In control patties and patties with butylated hydroxyanisole that were irradiated at a dose of 1.5 kGy, growth of microorganisms appeared to be more rapid than in patties with natural antioxidants. The microbiological safety of nonirradiated patties could not be ensured for a period of 20 d. Lipid oxidation was retarded in both types of patty when an antioxidant was added. Ascorbyl palmitate had the strongest antioxidant effect among the natural antioxidants. However, butylated hydroxyanisole was more effective than ascorbyl palmitate when used in an equal amount.

Changes in microbiological and physicochemical properties of bee pollen by application of gamma irradiation and ozone treatment.

The effects of gamma irradiation and ozone treatment on microbiological and physicochemical properties of bee pollen were investigated. Gamma irradiation at 7.5 kGy reduced the total microbial loads below detection levels (>10(2) CFU g(-1)), but after ozone treatment of up to 18 ppm for 8 h the total aerobic bacteria were found in concentrations of more than 10(3) CFU g(-1). Physicochemical properties such as amino acid and fatty acid composition, thiobarbituric acid value, mineral content, and pigment were not significantly changed by gamma irradiation, whereas ozone treatment caused significant changes in fatty acid composition, thiobarbituric acid value, and pigment by lipid oxidation and decoloration (P < 0.05).

Gamma irradiation and ozone treatment for inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in culture media.

A study was conducted to investigate the reduction and elimination of Escherichia coli O157:H7 by the effects of gamma irradiation and ozone treatment. Log phase cells were found to be more sensitive to gamma irradiation than stationary phase cells. E. coli O157:H7 was found to be considerably more resistant to irradiation at -18 degrees C than at 20 degrees C. The D values for this organism for treatment with ozone in tryptic soy agar were higher than those for treatment with ozone in phosphate buffer. Gamma irradiation at a dose of 1.5 kGy or ozone treatment at a concentration of 3 to 18 ppm for 20 to 50 min was required to assure the elimination of E. coli O157:H7.