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Benchmarking the minimum Electron Beam (eBeam) dose required for the sterilization of space foods
- Source :
- Radiation Physics and Chemistry. 143:72-78
- Publication Year :
- 2018
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2018.
-
Abstract
- As manned space missions extend in length, the safety, nutrition, acceptability, and shelf life of space foods are of paramount importance to NASA. Since food and mealtimes play a key role in reducing stress and boredom of prolonged missions, the quality of food in terms of appearance, flavor, texture, and aroma can have significant psychological ramifications on astronaut performance. The FDA, which oversees space foods, currently requires a minimum dose of 44 kGy for irradiated space foods. The underlying hypothesis was that commercial sterility of space foods could be achieved at a significantly lower dose, and this lowered dose would positively affect the shelf life of the product. Electron beam processed beef fajitas were used as an example NASA space food to benchmark the minimum eBeam dose required for sterility. A 15 kGy dose was able to achieve an approximately 10 log reduction in Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli bacteria, and a 5 log reduction in Clostridium sporogenes spores. Furthermore, accelerated shelf life testing (ASLT) to determine sensory and quality characteristics under various conditions was conducted. Using Multidimensional gas-chromatography–olfactometry–mass spectrometry (MDGC-O-MS), numerous volatiles were shown to be dependent on the dose applied to the product. Furthermore, concentrations of off –flavor aroma compounds such as dimethyl sulfide were decreased at the reduced 15 kGy dose. The results suggest that the combination of conventional cooking combined with eBeam processing (15 kGy) can achieve the safety and shelf-life objectives needed for long duration space-foods.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
030109 nutrition & dietetics
Radiation
biology
food and beverages
04 agricultural and veterinary sciences
Sterilization (microbiology)
Shelf life
biology.organism_classification
040401 food science
Electron beam irradiation
03 medical and health sciences
0404 agricultural biotechnology
Space food
Environmental science
Food science
Quality characteristics
Short duration
Flavor
Aroma
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 0969806X
- Volume :
- 143
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Radiation Physics and Chemistry
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........c38f8315a1a63d3f4d30d3f305dc3888