Shedding light on food irradiation: A comparison with alternative food technologies

ANURADHA PRAKASH

Food Irradiation

Long and storied history

Approved in ~60 countries

Primary applications◦ Food safety and extension of shelf-

life◦ Phytosanitary treatment◦ Inhibition of sprouting

0

50

100

150

200

250

High PressureProcessing

Refrigeratedmeats and

meals

Frozen Irradiated

Mar

ket v

alue

, Bill

ion

$http://www.marketwatch.com/story/food-high-pressure-processing-hpp-technologies-market-2016-2026-2016-04-27-92032251http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Markets/Convenience-and-health-driving-growth-in-25-billion-branded-refrigerated-meals-and-meat-market-Packaged-Factshttp://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/frozen-food-markethttp://www.abnewswire.com/pressreleases/food-irradiation-market-size-analysis-trends-report-share-investment-opportunities-and-forecast-to-2022_79146.html

Strengths Weaknesses

Opportunities Threats

Benefits

EfficacyTreatmentNon-thermal/ non-chemical processFacilitates trade

~16,000 mT exported to United States in 2015 from Mexico, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Australia and South Africa

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ralia

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ango

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Chile

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zano

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Drag

on F

ruit

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Fig

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t Lim

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Thai

land

Lon

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Thai

land

Man

go

Thai

land

Man

gost

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Viet

nam

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Frui

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Viet

nam

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nam

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buta

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Thanks to Laura Jeffers

Murray Lynch 2016

Australia

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500

1000

1500

2000

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3000

2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16

Mangoes (NZ) Mangoes (US) Mangoes (Malaysia) Tomatoes (NZ)Capsicums (NZ) Lychees (NZ) Papaya (NZ) Plums (Indonesia)Table Grapes (Vietnam) Table Grapes (Indonesia) Cherries (Indonesia) Mandarins (Vietnam)Oranges (Vietnam) TOTALS:

7

Food irradiated in China

• Pickled chicken feet and wings over 400k tons/year

• Pet food• Dehydrated vegetables• Spice & seasoning• Chinese herbs• Seafood: frozen and dry

Hsiao 2016

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100

200

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500

600

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800

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

1000

mT

WeaknessesoRegulations

oLogistics

oConsumer Acceptance

Is irradiated fruit less of an issue?

Absence of viable alternativesInsect mortality not necessaryGeneric dosesConsumers of specialty produce may be more accepting◦Or they may not know

Obama signs bill requiring labeling of GMO foodsJuly 29, 2016

The legislation will require most food packages to carry a text label, a symbol or an electronic code readable by smartphone that indicates whether the food contains genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

Opportunities• Bilateral and multilateral trade agreements• ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade

Agreement Trade agreements

• Requires validated preventive controls• Produce Safety and Foreign Supplier

Verification Program

Food Safety Modernization Act

• Focus on the product• Highlight the benefits

“Consumer” education

12 O’Donnell, Wegmans, 2015

Benefits for the environment

Green technologyClean technology

“the politics of nuclear are changing on generational lines meaning that a new wave of support for nuclear energy amongst millennials bespeaks a promising future for the advancement of emissions free technologies.”

http://casenergy.org/2015/06/millennials-gain-momentum-as-innovators-in-nuclear-energy/

Gmoanswers.com

Industry education

Retailer

Food Service

Farm Processor Wholesaler Consumer

Threats

• Cold/heat/chemicals• Other non-thermal

processes such as HPP

Competing technologies

High Pressure Processing

oNon-thermaloLarge-scale processingoWorks on a variety of foods

Rapid growth

Visiongain

Easy to understand Consumer friendly

JUICE

Toll facilities and research support allow use by smaller food companies

Other threats

• Accidents• Loss of process control

Negative events

• Losing momentum• Over-promising

Not doing enough

Food IrradiationStrengths Weaknesses

Opportunities Threats

Industry-wide investmentLobby for changes in regulationsEncourage global harmonizationEducate and engage consumers/retailers/distributorsProvide application studies, support researchFacilitate use by smaller operations

THANK YOU

Eighth Annual Chapman Phytosanitary Irradiation Forum

March 20-21, 2018, Chapman University, Orange, California

www.chapman.edu/food-irradiation-workshop