RADIATION STERILIZATION OF CANNED FOODS. Report No. 6 (Final) for December 1, 1955-June 30, 1959
Results are reported from an investigation of the effect of meat-curing salts and several widely separated irradiation levels on the survival, germination, and outgrowth of spores of Cl. botulinum. Six different formulations of ground ham, corresponding to six different cure compositions, were prepared and packed in 202 by 201 cans. The cans were inoculated with one million spores per cam of a suspension representing equal quantities of each of 5 type A and 5 type: B strains. Ten can lots were provided for each formulation- irradiation level variable. After irradiation the cans were incubated at 85 ts F for 2 years and observed for spoilage. Radiation levels of 0.465 and 0.93 megarad did not prevent spoilage and the development of toxicity in any formulation. No toxic swells were encountered following irradiation at 2.79 and 3.72 megarads, although two formulations each gave one swelled nontoxic sample at 3.72 megarad. No cultures could be isolated from these samples. Irradiation at 1.86 megarads resulted in toxic spoilage in one formulation and one sample of nontoxic spoilage in another formulation. The culture isolated from the nontoxic spoilage was a member of the genus Bacillus and apparently was a normal contaminant of the product. Since these results are based on only 10 can lots for each formulation-irradiation variable with a comparatively low challenge dose of spores of CI. botulinum, it might be expected that larger sample lots or a higher level of spore inoculum would result in spoilage of other formulations at the 1.86-megarad radiation dose or even at the 2.79 level. These results do not appear very favorable to the hope that the presence of meat-curing salts might permit the radiation sterilization of ham at a dose level not causing undesirable organoleptic effects. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Continental Can Co., Inc., Chicago
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-009265
- OSTI ID:
- 4099172
- Report Number(s):
- AD-243361
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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