Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Calculating the economic cost/benefi t for produce irradiation is complex and will
be specifi c to commodity and circumstances. The extra processing step will necessar-
ily incur additional costs in production. These costs will differ for irradiation as a
contract service with an independent irradiation facility vs. treatment with in-plant
irradiation equipment. In the fi rst case, contracting fees, shipment/transshipment costs,
and time in transit are major factors. In the second case, capital costs, facility footprint,
operator training, and seasonal utilization/downtime are some of the key factors. In
both instances, the throughput capacity and administrative overhead will be important
issues. The market benefi ts (brand-name protection resulting from a safer product,
reduced microbial load, reduction of storage losses, premium prices commanded by
specialty markets, etc.), may be offset by ancillary market drawbacks (necessity for
increased public education/outreach spending, potential for increased regulatory over-
sight, etc.).
Packaging
Several packaging materials are approved for use in irradiation of prepackaged foods
(Tables 10.3, 10.4). However, a much wider array of packaging materials currently
used by the produce industry are diversifi ed, many of which are not yet approved,
such as polylactic acid, novel edible coatings, and biodegradable antimicrobial fi lms.
Because fruits and vegetables are living, respiring products, the produce industry has
developed many complex packaging systems to preserve the color, texture, fl avor, and
Table 10.3.
United States Code of Federal Regulations 21CFR179.45: Packaging materials
approved for irradiated foods
Material
Maximum Dose
Nitrocellulose - coated or vinylidene chloride copolymer - coated cellophane
10 kGy
Glassine paper
10 kGy
Wax - coated paperboard
10 kGy
Films of polyolefi n or polyethylene terephthalate.
These may contain:
1. Sodium citrate, sodium lauryl sulfate, polyvinyl chloride *
2. Coatings comprising a vinylidene chloride copolymer containing a minimum
of 85% vinylidene chloride with one or more of the following comonomers:
acrylic acid, acrylonitrile, itaconic acid, methyl acrylate, and methyl
methacrylate
10 kGy
Kraft paper (only as a container for fl our)
0.5 kGy
Polystyrene fi lm
10 kGy
Rubber hydrochloride fi lm
10 kGy
Vinylidene chloride - vinyl chloride copolymer fi lm
10 kGy
Nylon 11
10 kGy
Ethylene - vinyl acetate copolymers
30 kGy
Vegetable parchments
60 kGy
Polyethylene fi lm *
60 kGy
Polyethylene terephthalate fi lm *
60 kGy
Nylon 6 fi lms *
60 kGy
Vinyl chloride - vinyl acetate copolymer fi lm *
60 kGy
Acrylonitrile copolymers *
60 kGy
* This material may be amended with additional materials, listed in Table 10.4 .