HISTORY AND STATUS OF THE QUARTERMASTER CORPS RADIATION PRESERVATION OF FOODS PROJECT (7-84-01-002)

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1956

OSTI ID:4272090

The history is given of the 5-year investigative Quartermaster Corps' Radiation Preservation of Foods Project begun in 1953. Technical progress to about August 1956 is related. The currently available types and sources of radiations found best suited for various food processing purposes to date are discussed, and the microbiological, chemical, nutritional, and wholesomeness studies effected on irradiated food are reviewed. More than 100 foods have been screened for effects of irradiation and many of these foods are being studied intensively. Sensory acceptance and storage stability of foods preserved by irradiation are discussed in detail. In many cases it has been necessary to develop new methodology to permit study of the minute chemical changes which occur in foods during irradiation, and developments in this methodology are reported. It has been ascertained that irradiation will be practical and feasible for inhibiting sprout growth in tubers, controlling trichina in pork, treating grains and cereal products for insect destruction, and prolonging shelf- life of certain foods at either pasteurization or sterilization dose levels with or without refrigeration. Since no commercial food processing plant for irradiation of food has yet been built economic data are limited. Preliminary estimates are included, however. (auth)

• Research Organization: Quartermaster Food and Container Inst. for the Armed Forces, Chicago
• NSA Number: NSA-13-012228
• OSTI ID: 4272090
• Report Number(s): QMFCI-34-57
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CEREALS
ECONOMICS
FOOD
INSECTS
MEAT
MICROORGANISMS
PRESERVATION
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS ON MATERIALS
RADIATION SOURCES
STABILITY
STERILIZATION
STORAGE
TOXICITY