[en] In view of an increasing demand for food irradiation technology, the development of a reliable means of detection for the control of irradiated foods has become necessary. Various vegetable food materials (dried cabbage, carrot, chunggyungchae, garlic, onion, and green onion), which can be legally irradiated in Korea, were subjected to a detection study using ESR spectroscopy. Correlation coefficients (R²) between absorbed doses (2.5-15 kGy) and their corresponding ESR signals were identified from ESR signals. Pre-established threshold values were successfully applied to the detection of 54 coded unknown samples of dried clean vegetables (chunggyungchae, Brassica camestris var. chinensis), both non-irradiated and irradiated. The ESR signals of irradiated chunggyungchae decreased over a longer storage time, however, even after 6 months of ambient storage, these signals were still distinguishable from those of non-irradiated samples. The most successful estimates of absorbed dose (5 and 8 kGy) were obtained immediately after irradiation using a quadratic fit with average values of 4.85 and 8.65 kGy being calculated. (author)

[en] White ginseng powder, permitted to be irradiated in Korea for the purpose of microbial decontamination, was treated with electron beam at doses of 0~15 kGy for a detection trial whether it is irradiated or not by measuring photostimulated luminescence for whole samples first and then (TL) for the mineral adhering to the samples. PSL values were less than threshold value (700, T1) and were negative for nonirradiated samples but more than 5000 (T2) and were positive for irradiated ones. After PSL measurement mineral was separated from the whole samples using density separation. Mineral of nonirradiated samples was characterized by glow curves which have low intensity and were situated at the high temperature region (about 300 degrees) by the low level of natural radioactivity. Glow curves of minerals for all irradiated samples were observed at about 200 degrees. TL ratio by normalization was 0.01 for nonirradiated sample and more than 0.78 for irradiated samples, and it was possible to detect whether white ginseng powders were irradiated or not

[en] In a comparative research on the decontaminating effects of ginseng leaf tea, ethylene oxide (EO) and 5 kGy gamma-irradiated groups could reduce microorganisms below the detectable level. And there is no growth of microoganisms after three months of storage at 30 deg C. The decimal reduction dose (D₁₀ value) for microorganisms contaminated were 0.70 - 0.95 kGy. EO fumigation and irradiation at 5 kGy had little effects on soluble matters, sugar, amino acid, polyphenols and pigments. However, EO fumigation caused a significant change in the amount of ascorbic acid, free amino acid, moisture, pH and acidity of the sample. In the sensory evaluation, irradiated samples showed no significant difference from the non-treated control in overall flavor, taste, color and acceptability. The extracts of EO-fumigated samples, however, were significantly different in color and taste from other groups even after three months of storage. On the other hand, GC analysis tendency with storage time, resulting in the formation of significant amounts of the secondary products such as ethylene chlorohydrin and ethylene glycol. Based on the above results, it can be concluded that an optimum dose range (5kGy) of gamma irradiation effectively improves the microbiological quality of ginseng leaf tea, suggesting that irradiation techniques are a potential alternative to chemical fumigant, ethylene oxide. (author)

[en] With respect to the safety of irradiated food, the Korean government has accepted in principle the recommendations of international organization (FAO, WHO, IAEA, CAC, etc) as well as the national-based evaluations. Gamma radiation from Co-60 is now authorized to be used for food irradiation of 26 food items (or classes). Two multipurpose gamma-irradiation facilities (Greenpia Tech. Inc. since 1987; SOYA Co. Ltd. since 2002) are now operating for the treatments of selected food items as well as medical supplies. At present, labeled-irradiated products are not yet being marketed at the consumer level. As an alternative process of chemical fumigants, however, irradiation is being partially utilized for the microbial decontamination and pest control of dried spices, vegetable ingredients, etc. for their use in processed foods as minor ingredients. Commercial applications of food irradiation, though small in number, have been steady ever since. This article introduces the commercial progress in food irradiation technology in Korea in terms of research activities, legislation, commercialization, and the control of irradiated foods. (author)

[en] Agricultural by-products, pectin and gelatin, were used to prepare a biodegradable film. The film casting solution including the pectin and gelatin was irradiated at 0, 10, 20, and 30 kGy to investigate the irradiation effect on the mechanical properties of the film. The tensile strength of the 10 kGy-irradiated film was the highest among the treatments but the elongation at break, water vapour permeability, and swelling ratio were the lowest. Hunter color L*- and a*-values decreased but the b*-value increased as the irradiation dose increased. The total organic carbon content produced from the Paenibacillus polymyxa and Pseudomonas aeruginosa also showed that the film of 10 kGy-irradiated was lower than those of 0, 20, and 30 kGy-irradiated films. In conclusion, irradiation of the film casting solution at 10 kGy increased the mechanical properties of the pectin and gelatin based film. To manufacture the film by agricultural by-products, however, the irradiation dose of the film casting solution should be determined to achieve better mechanical properties

[en] For the purpose of improving hygienic quality of Korean red ginseng powder, the comparative effects of gamma irradiation and ozone treatment on the microbial and physicochemical properties were investigated. Gamma irradiation at 7.5 kGy resulted in sterilization of total aerobic bacteria, molds and coliforms below detective levels, while ozone treatment for 8 hours up to 18 ppm did not sufficiently eliminate the microorganisms of the red ginseng powder. Physicochemical properties including compositions of the red ginseng saponin (ginsenosides) and fatty acids, pH and hydrogen donating activity were not significantly changed by gamma irradiation, whereas, ozone treatment caused significant changes in fatty acid compositions, TBA value, pH, acidity and hydrogen donating activity. The results from this study led us to conclude that gamma irradiation was more effective than ozone treatment both for the improvement of hygienic quality and for the maintenance of physicochemical quality of red ginseng powder

[en] In Korea, the well-integrated research of biological effects of radiation has been launched from the late 1960s. As research activities, the following food items have been dealt with: sprouting foods, fruits, mushrooms, grains, spices or mixed condiments, fish or fishery products, meat or meat products, and fermented foods. The usage of gamma radiation from ⁶⁰Co source is now authorized for food irradiation of the following items: potato, onion, garlic, chestnut, mushroom, dried mushroom, dried spices (including red pepper, garlic, black pepper, onion, ginger, and green onion), dried meat, powdered fish and shellfish, soybean paste powder, hot pepper paste powder, soybean sauce powder, and starch. Since the authorization of food irradiation in 1985, consumers' acceptance has been considered the most important. The survey evaluating the basic perception and attitule toward food irradiation revealed the following results. Consumers' awareness of food irradiation was 82%, with significantly higher in radiation workers than the general public (p<0.0001). Seventy-five percent distinguished the contaminated food by radionuclides from irradiated food. In purchasing irradiated foods, 50.9% required more information. The contribution of irradiated foods to wholesomeness was suspicious in 51%, acceptable in 33%, and uncertain in 16%. If information about the benefits of irradiation is provided to consumers, positive response was increased to 60%. The most critical impediment in the commercial application of food irradiation was found to have resulted from the general consumers' slow acceptance; however, consumers' attitude to irradiated food became positive if they understood the safety and advantages of this technology. The most important task is to overcome consumers' psychological resistance and transporting matters of the products to be irradiated. (N.K.)

[en] The number of total viable bacteria in chicken meat was reduced by over 90% with irradiation treatments of 5-10 kGy, and also an irradiation dose of yeasts, molds, coliforms, and especially Salmonella for 2-4 weeks of storage. In physicochemical properties of stored chichen, such as water holding capacity, TBA number, UBN, odor, color, overall appearance, cooking quality and organoleptic characteristics, the irradiated samples were superior to the nonirradiated samples, so the freshness of irradiated chicken was retained until 30 days ofter storage at 3-4degC. Commercial fried fish paste was comtaminated by 2.2x10³ counts in total variable bacteria, 2.8x10² counts in yeasts and models, and 1.0x10² counts in coliforms, per gram of samples, but irradiation treatment of more than 3 kGy could reduce the microbial load up to 80-90%. As the storage period increased, chemical components of the irradiated samples were better than those of the nonirradiated samples, and the self-life of irradiated groups was extended by 3-4 times as compared with that of nonirradiated groups at room(10-20degC) and low(3-4degC) temperatures without apparent changes in organoleptic properties. Some packaged dried fishes, such as dried cod, dried squid, dried file fish and dried pollack, were preserved by irradiation under the room condictions. After storage of one year the by irradiated samples with doses of 3-8 kGy were found to be marketable resulting from organoleptic observations without showing any storage loss due to microbial and insect factors. (Author)

[en] This study was carried out to evaluate the application of food irradiation as a method for extending shelf life of Kimchi. Gamma irradiation up to 10 kGy in the early stage of Kimchi fermentation had a dose-dependent effect on the inactivation of fermentative microbes, lowering the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and delaying acidification. Although gamma irradiation on the mid-fermentation stage of Kimchi inactivated the fermentative microbes effectively, LDH activity remained high and acidification continued. Kimchi irradiated at 10 kGy had lower scores in acceptability than those of control, 2.5 and 5 kGy irradiated. Therefore, gamma irradiation upto 5 kGy in the early fermentation stage is recommended for aging control and the improvement of shelf life of Kimchi

[en] This study focuses on applicability of e-sensing methods in addition to direct epifluorescent filter technique (DEFT), aerobic plate counts (APC), and photostimulated luminescence (PSL) to discriminate e-beam, γ-ray, and X-ray irradiated green onions (scallions) at 1, 4, and 7 kGy for each irradiation treatment, along with two confirmatory analysis. Although low dose (1 kGy) reduced the APC (6.15–2.69 log CFU/g), no significant difference was observed in DEFT. Scallions with log DEFT/APC ratio of ≥ 5.2 can be suspected as irradiated at at least 1 kGy. Both non-irradiated (< 700 counts/min) and irradiated (> 5000 counts/min) scallions were identified by PSL. Besides distinct volatile compounds profile, cumulative e-nose discrimination of 92.06% from principle component analysis was apparent among irradiation conditions. Sensitivity to changes in perceived taste by e-tongue showed 96.07% variation. The e-sensing capability to discriminate irradiated scallions can be exploited for exposing counterfeit claims as either non-irradiated or irradiated within the recommended standards.