How does irradiated beef spoil?
So I usually buy irradiated beef. From what I understand, the beef is packaged, sealed, and the absolutely blasted with radiation. I'm a nuclear engineer for a living, so I know that most things tend to die when exposed to the levels of dose that this beef is subject to. Normally food spoils by having bacteria and mold and such munch away on it, but here, all of that should be dead.
If its perfectly sealed away, and there's nothing living inside the package, how can it spoil?
Best Answer
Your assumption that there is nothing living inside the package is incorrect. Food irradiation does not sterilise the food. It is very, but not totally effective. Therefore, given enough time, the meat will still spoil.
Irradiation does effect the quality of the food, so I imagine a balance needs to be struck between safety and quality.
Pictures about "How does irradiated beef spoil?"
How does irradiation cause food spoilage?
The ionizing radiation sends enough energy into the bacterial or mold cells in the food to break chemical bonds. This damages the pathogens enough for them to die or no longer multiply, which reduces illness or spoilage.Is irradiated beef safe?
Yes, irradiated foods are safe. Irradiation makes meat and poultry safer by reducing the numbers of harmful bacteria and parasites. Food irradiation does not make foods radioactive.What is the shelf life of irradiated meat?
Irradiated samples were stored at 4 or -18 degrees C for 42 days, and mesophilic aerobic plate counts (APCs) were periodically determined. Fresh ground beef (initial APC of 10(2) CFU/g) treated with 3.0, 5.0, and 7.0 kGy was acceptable (< 10(7) CFU/g) for 42 days at 4 degrees C.What is the effect of irradiation on meat?
Irradiation is the best method to control pathogens in meat, but causes quality changes such as color, odor, and flavor in raw and cooked meat. Color is an important quality parameter that influences consumer acceptance of meat.How to Tell If Beef Is Spoiled
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