Food Irradiation-A Guidebook, Second Edition

✍ Scribed by Morton Satin (Author)

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 1996
• Leaves: 237
• Edition: 2
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Food irradiation has been in the news lately, and this news strongly favors the consideration of food irradiation as a practical, economical method for improving food safety and shelf life.

This new edition of a popular guidebook provides an updated, detailed, readable survey of the past, present and future of food irradiation. It covers a wide variety of topics ranging from the scientific basics to an examination of the many objections to food irradiation. Also included is a detailed discussion of the role of food irradiation in preventing a variety of foodborne diseases.

✦ Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition -- Preface to the First Edition -- Introduction -- 1. Foocl Irradiation -- What Is Irradiation? -- Radioactivity -- How Is It Similar to Other Processes? -- In What Way Does Irradiation Affect Foods? -- Radiation Units -- A Short History of Food Irradiation -- 2. Pasteurization -- The Early Work -- Commercial Pasteurization -- Pasteurization Finally Succeeds -- Some Countries Still Do Not Have Pasteurized Milk -- The Relationship between Pastewuation and Food Irradiation -- Irradiated Milk -- 3. Fooclbome Diseases -- Perception of the Problem -- Terminology -- Our Awareness of Foodbome Disease -- Bacterial Diseases -- Mold Diseases -- Viruses -- Parasites -- The Costs of Foodborne Disease -- 4. The UN of Irradiation to Prevent the Spread of Fooclborne Diseases -- Why Use Food Irradiation? -- The Poultry Industry -- Spices -- 5. The Prevention of Food Losses after Harvesting -- The Extent of Losses -- Causes of Losses -- The Need for Insect Quarantine -- Control of Sprouting and Germination -- Shelf Life Extension of Perishable Foods -- Delaying Ripening and Aging of Fruits and "`getables -- Magnitude of Losses -- 6. Advocacy Oblectlon1 to Food Irradiation -- Food Irradiation Complaint List -- Food Irradiation Will Be Used to Mask Spoiled Food -- Food Irradiation Will Discomage Strict Adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices -- Food Irradiation Will Preferentially Kill ``Good`` -- Bacteria and Thus Encomage Greater Growthof"Bad" Bacteria -- Irradiated Foods Are DevitaJiud and Denatured -- Irradiated Foods Are Unnecessary in Today`s Food System -- Food Irradiation Impairs the Flavor of Foods -- Food Irradiation Fails to Destroy Bacterial Toxins in Foods -- Irradiated Food May Be Radioactive -- Irradiation Brings about Harmful Chemical Changes in Foods -- Irradiated Foods Can Cause Genetic Mutations -- Polyploidy -- The Food Irradiation Issue Needs a Properly Referenced Scientific Report -- The Lack of Difference between lrradialed and Nonirradiated Foods Will Encourage Abuses -- There Is No Satisfactoiy Tust for Irradiated Foods -- Irradiation in Combination with Other Processes Will Reduce the Nutritive Value of Foods -- Irradiated Foods Will Not Be Properly Labeled -- Food Irradiation Is Dangerous to Workers and Will Cause Environmental Damage -- 7. Irradiated Foods and the Consumer -- Consumer Reaction to Irradiated Foods -- Who Pennits Freedom of Choice for Consumers? -- Influences upon Decision Makers -- Positive Consumer Action -- Legislation -- Market Choices -- Consumer Information -- The Media -- 8. Irradiation and the Food Industry -- A Different Attitude towards Food Irradiation -- Risk versus Benefit -- Irradiated Food Liabilities -- Irradiated Food Advantages -- Future Applications -- 9. Some Flnal Thoughts -- A WorldFreeofRisk -- A Light at the End of the Tunnel -- A Free and Informed Choice -- References -- Index -- About the Author.