A Data Analysis of the Irradiation Parameter D₁₀ for Bacteria and Spores under Various Conditions

Authors: van Gerwen, Suzanne C.J.; Rombouts, Frank M.; van't Riet, Klaasvan; Zwietering, Marcel H.

Source: Journal of Food Protection®, Volume 62, Number 9, September 1999 , pp. 1024-1032(9)

Publisher: International Association for Food Protection

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Abstract:

This paper provides approximate estimates for the irradiation parameter D₁₀ to globally predict the effectiveness of any irradiation process. D₁₀ is often reported to depend on many specific factors, implying that D₁₀ cannot be estimated without exact knowledge of all factors involved. For specific questions these data can of course be useful but only if the conditions reported exactly match the specific question. Alternatively, this study determined the most relevant factors influencing D₁₀, by quantitatively analyzing data from many references. The best first step appeared to be a classification of the data into vegetative bacteria and spores. As expected, spores were found to have significantly higher D₁₀ values (average 2.48 kGy) than vegetative bacteria (average 0.762 kGy). Further analyses of the vegetative bacteria confirmed the expected extreme irradiation resistance of nonpathogenic Deinococcus radiodurans (average 10.4 kGy). Furthermore the analysis identified Enterococcus faecium, Alcaligenes spp., and several members of the Moraxella–Acinetobacter group as having very high resistance at very low temperatures (average 3.65 kGy). After exclusion of high- and low-resistance spores and some specific conditions showing relevant high or low D₁₀ values, the average for spores was estimated to be 2.11 kGy. For vegetative bacteria this average was estimated to be 0.420 kGy. These approximate estimates are not definite, as they depend on the data used in the analyses. It is expected that inclusion of more data will not change the estimates to a great extent. The approximate estimates are therefore useful tools in designing and evaluating irradiation processes.

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Wageningen Agricultural University, Department of Food Technology and Nutritional Sciences, P. O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands

Publication date: 1999-09-01

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First published in 1937, the Journal of Food Protection^®, is a refereed monthly publication. Each issue contains scientific research and authoritative review articles reporting on a variety of topics in food science pertaining to food safety and quality. The Journal is internationally recognized as the leading publication in the field of food microbiology with a readership exceeding 11,000 scientists from 70 countries. The Journal of Food Protection^® is indexed in Index Medicus, Current Contents, BIOSIS, PubMed, Medline, and many others.

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