1. Skip to main content
  2. A+
  3. A
  4. A-
  5. A
  6. हिन्दी
BARC
Radiation Technology for Food & Agro Commodities

What is radiation processing of food?

Radiation processing of food involves controlled application of energy from ionizing radiations such as gamma rays, electrons and X-rays for food preservation. Gamma rays and X-rays are short wavelength radiations of the electromagnetic spectrum which includes radiowaves, microwaves, infrared, visible and ultra violet light. Gamma rays are emitted by radioisotopes such as cobalt-60 and caesium-137, while electrons and X-rays are generated by machines using electricity. Electromagnetic Spectrum: Gamma rays are a part of the electromagnetic spectrum. They can penetrate deep into food materials and bring about desired effects.

What radiation sources & energies are used for irradiation?

Following sources with their respective energy are used for food irradiation:


Source

Type of rays

Energy

Cobalt-60

Gamma (g) rays

1.17 MeV and 1.33 MeV

Cesium-137

Gamma (g) rays

0.66 MeV

Electron beam

Electron beam

Up to 10 MeV

X-Rays

X-rays

Up to 5 MeV

How irradiation works?

Irradiation works by disrupting the biological processes that lead to decay. In their interaction with water and other molecules that make up food and living organisms, radiation energy is absorbed by the molecules they contact. The interaction of radiation and radiolytic products of water with DNA impair reproducing capacity of microorganism and insects as well as the ability of potato and onion to sprout.

The list of foods/ products that can be irradiated is given below with the respective dose limits.

Government of India,Department of Atomic Energy
Notification, June 2012
Classes of Food Products and Dose Limits for Radiation Processing

Dose Limit (kilo Gray*)

Class Food Purpose Min. Max.
Class 1 Bulbs, stem and root tubers, and rhizomes Inhibiting sprouting 0.02 0.2
Class 2 Fresh fruits and vegetables (other than class 1) Delay ripening 0.2 1
Insect disinfestation 0.2 1
Self life extension 1 2.5
Quarantine application 0.1 1
Class 3 Cereals and their milled products, pulses and their milled products, nuts, oil seeds, dried fruits and their products Insect disinfestation 0.25 1
Reduction of microbial load 1.5 5
Class 4 Fish, aquaculture, sea food and their products (fresh or frozen), and crustaceans Elimination of pathogenic microorganisms 1 7
Self-life extension 1 3
Control of human parasites 0.3 2
Class 5 Meat and meat products including poultry (fresh and frozen) and eggs Elimination of pathogenic microorganisms 1 7
Self-life extension 1 3
Control of human parasites 0.3 2
Class 6 Dry vegetables, seasonings, spices, condiments, dry herbs and their products, tea. Coffee, cocoa and plant products Microbial decontamination 6 14
Insect disinfestation 0.3 1
Class 7 Dry foods of animal origin and their products Insect disinfestation 0.3 1
Control of moulds 1 3
Elimination of pathogenic microorganisms 2 7
Class 8 Ethnic foods, military rations, space foods, ready-to eat, ready-to cook/ minimally processed foods Quarantine application 0.25 1
Reduction of microorganisms 2 10
Sterilization 5 25

19 facilities for radiation processing of food. Many more plants are in various stages of commissioning

Sr. Name of the Plant Purpose Commissioning Year
1 Radiation Processing Plant,  BRIT, Vashi, Navi Mumbai Food and allied products 2000
2 *KRUSHAK Irradiator, Lasalgaon, Nashik ,Maharashtra Food Products 2002
3 M/S Organic Green Foods Ltd., Dankuni, Kolkata, West Bengal Food, Packaging & Medical Products 2004
4 M/S A.V. Processors Pvt. Ltd., Ambernath (E), Thane, Maharashtra Food & Medical Products 2005
5 M/S Universal Medicap Ltd., Vadodara, Gujarat Food & Medical Products 2005
6 M/S. Microtrol, Bangalore, Karnataka Food & Medical Products 2006
7 *M/S Agrosurg Irradiators, Vasai, Thane, Maharashtra Food, Packaging & Medical Products 2008
8 M/S Gamma Agro Medical Processing, Hyderabad, Telangana Food & Medical Products 2008

9
*M/S Jhunsons Chemicals Pvt Ltd., Bhiwadi, Rajasthan Agro, Medical & Packaging Products 2010
10 M/S Innova Agri Bio Park Ltd., Malur, Dist. Kolar, Karnataka Food &  Medical Products 2011
11 *M/S Hindustan Agro Co-Operative Ltd., Rahuri, Ahmednagar,  Maharashtra Onion & Other Agricultural Produces 2012
12 M/S Impartial Agro Tech (P) Ltd., Unnao, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Food &   Medical Products 2014
13 *M/S Gujarat Agro Industries Corpn. Ltd, Bavla,  Ahmedabad, Gujarat Food  Products 2014
 14 M/s Aligned Industries, Dharuhera, Rewari, Haryana Food Products 2015
15 *Maharashtra State Agricultural Mktg. Board, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra Food Products 2015
16 Pinnacle Therapeutics Private Limited, Ahmedabad, Gujarat (Chilling duct) Food &   Medical Products 2018
17 Electromagnetic Industries, Vadodara, Gujarat Food Products 2019
18 Avanti  Mega food park, Devas, Madhya Pradesh Food Products 2019
19 Shriram Applied Radiation Centre (SARC), Delhi Food & Medical Products 1990 (Medical)  2016 (Food)
Spotlight for Radiation Technology for Food & Agro Commodities
Food Technology Division, BARC (Established in 1967)

Food Technology Division, BARC
(Established in 1967)

Radiation Processing Plant, BRIT, Vashi (Operational since 2001)

Radiation Processing Plant, BRIT, Vashi
(Operational since 2001)

KRUSHAK Lasalgaon, Nashik, Maharashtra (Operational since 2002)<br>(Presently leased out to M/s Agrosurge Irradiators, Vasai)

KRUSHAK Lasalgaon, Nashik, Maharashtra
(Operational since 2002)
(Presently leased out to M/s Agrosurge Irradiators, Vasai)

Food Technology Division, BARC (Established in 1967)

Food Technology Division, BARC
(Established in 1967)

Radiation Processing Plant, BRIT, Vashi (Operational since 2001)

Radiation Processing Plant, BRIT, Vashi
(Operational since 2001)

KRUSHAK Lasalgaon, Nashik, Maharashtra (Operational since 2002)<br>(Presently leased out to M/s Agrosurge Irradiators, Vasai)

KRUSHAK Lasalgaon, Nashik, Maharashtra
(Operational since 2002)
(Presently leased out to M/s Agrosurge Irradiators, Vasai)