Processes that contribute to radiocesium decontamination of feta cheese

Journal Article · Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · J. Dairy Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(89)79208-0· OSTI ID:5815391

Pappas, C P; Assimakopoulos, P A; Ioannides, K G; Pakou, A A; Mantzios, A S

In a series of experiments, the transfer of radiocesium from ovine milk to feta cheese was investigated through modifications of the standard cheese making procedure. All variations explored showed no significant change in the percentage of radiocesium transfer and the milk-to-cheese transfer coefficient was determined as f=.79 plus/minus .04 L.kg-1. It is concluded that cesium, like the rest of the alkali metals, remains in the water phase and thus follows very closely the distribution of moisture into the products of cheese making. The possibility of radiocesium decontamination of mature feta during the customary storage of the product in brine was also explored in a second series of experiments. The theoretical model employed in the analysis of cesium transport from feta to brine is presented in the Appendix to this paper. Predictions of the model were validated by experiments. A procedure is thus proposed for decontaminating mature feta during storage through successive replacements of the storage medium. Nomograms are presented for the determination of the optimum time interval between changes of the brine and the radiocesium concentration remaining in the feta. Changes in the properties of the product induced by the proposed treatment were also investigated with respect to composition, taste, and overall quality.

• Research Organization: Dairy Research Institute of Ioannina (Greece)
• OSTI ID: 5815391
• Journal Information: J. Dairy Sci.; (United States), Vol. 72:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHEESE
DECONTAMINATION
FOOD CHAINS
CONTAMINATION
CESIUM ISOTOPES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MILK
RADIONUCLIDE KINETICS
SHEEP
SODIUM CHLORIDES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CLEANING
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
FOOD
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MILK PRODUCTS
RUMINANTS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES
560162* - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells