Comparative radiation dose mapping of single fruit type and mixed-fruit boxes for export from Hawaii.
Follett P. A., Weinert E. D.
Author Affiliation: USDA-ARS, U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, PO Box 4459, Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
Journal of Food Processing and Preservation 33 : 231-244
Abstract : A generic radiation quarantine treatment of 400 Gy for insect pests infesting fresh fruit and vegetable and other horticultural commodities was recently approved in the U.S.A. Dose-mapping studies were conducted to compare dose variation during radiation treatment at 400 Gy of a single-fruit type and of mixed fruits packed in boxes. The tests included papaya, mango, banana, rambutan, longan, dragon fruit and various combinations of these tropical fruits. When radiation was applied to a single box containing one type of fruit or a mixture of two or three fruit types, measured doses were sometimes higher in the mixture. Irradiation of a simulated commercial load of 12 boxes resulted in no significant difference between single-fruit boxes and mixed-fruit boxes. In all experiments, the technical objectives of radiation treatment were met, meaning that all resulting doses fell between the minimum required dose of 400 Gy and the maximum allowable dose of 1,000 Gy.