March 6, 2015 1

STATUS OF FOOD IRRADIATION IN PAKISTAN

By Dr. Kauser Abdulla Malik

Member Biosciences Pakaistan Atomic Energy Commission

March 6, 2015 2

] One third of the world’s food harvest is lost on its way to the consumer from spoilage and disinfections. Beside this, each year, thousand of lives are lost worldwide due to food-borne diseases Losses are especially high in developing countries where transport and storage systems are comparatively older or inadequate, surrounding temperature and humidity are high

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PRESERVATION METHODS EVOVLED

n  Sun Drying n  Salting n  Cooking

n  Smoking n  Canning n  Freezing

n  Chemical Preservation ü  Irradiation

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The use of food irradiation to reduce food loses has been quite successesful and has been investigated since 1964 by FAO/IAEA Although relatively new commercial process of food irradiation has been studied more thoroughly than any other food preservation technology

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IRRADIATION IS A CRITICAL CONTROL MEASURE WHICH FULFILS THE CONDITIONS

Ø  It eliminates or reduce pathogenic bacteria Ø  Decontamination of spices and herbs. Ø  Disinfestations of grains and grain products Ø  Extension of shelf Life Ø  Inhibition of Sprouting Ø  Free of Chemical additives Ø  Keeps the food as close as to its natural condition as

far as possible Ø  Critical limits are well established for this processing

technique Ø  Compliance with critical limits can be accurately

monitored through dosimetry Ø  There are no adverse effects from the consumption of

irradiated food

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STATUS AND TRENDS IN FOOD IRRADIATION

n  1964

n  1974

n  1980

n  1983

n  Today

JECFI evaluated available data JEC recognized food irradiation as a physical process

for food preservation It is concluded that the irradiation of any commodity

upto 10 kGy present no toxicological hazard International standard for food food irradiation is safe

f o r g e n e r a l a p p l i c a t i o n u p t o 1 0 k g y & recommended Code of Practice for the operation of food irradiation facilities

60 health and safety authorities in 42 countries have

approved irradiation of over 60 different foods & over 170 facilities are present in 35 countries.

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Status of National Clearances Country Fruit Spices Veg Cereal Meat Seafood

Argentina a a a

Bangladesh a a a a a a

Belgium a a a a

Brazil a a a a a a

Bulgaria a a a

Canada a a a

Chile a a a a a a

China a a a a

Cuba a

Czechoslovakia a

Denmark a

Finland a

France a a a a a a

Hungry a a a a

India a a a

Indonesia a a a

Iran a

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Country Fruit Spices Veg Cereal Meat Seafood

Israel a a a a a

Italy a

Japan a

S.Korea a a a a

Mexico a a a

Netherlands a a a a a a

Norway a

Philippines a a

Poland a a

S. Africa a a a a a

Spain a

Syria a a a a a a

Thailand a a a a a a

UK a a a a a a

Uruguay a

USA a a a a a a

Vietnam a a

Yugoslavia a a a a a

March 6, 2015 9

STATUS OF PAKISTAN

n  Pakistan installed its First Commercial Gamma Irradiator facility for Sterilization of Single Use Medical Products at Lahore PAKISTAN RADIATION STERILIZATION SERVICES (PARAS)

n  In 1996 as a result of research carried out at NIFA Peshawar Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission applied for license to Irradiate Food Products

n  Government of Pakistan passed an ordinance on March 7, 1996. allowing seven types of items

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TREATMENT OF FOOD BY IONIZING RADIATION SRO 166(1)/96, Gazette Notification 3712/96, March 7,1996

Item Purpose Max. Dose (kGy)

Bulbs, Roots & Tubers To inhibit sprouting during storage 0.2

Fresh fruits & vegetables

Improve quality, delaying ripening, control insect infestation,satisfy quarrtine requirements

0.1

Cereal, pulses, vegetables, nuts

Control infestation 1.0

Raw fish, seafood & products

Prolong shelf life, control Hygienic quality 3.0-5.0

Raw poultry, meat & products

Prolong shelf life-control of hygienic quality 3.0-5.0

Dried herbs,spices & condiments

Insect infestation, hygienic quality 1.0-10.0

Dried food of animals Control of infestation 1.0

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Country Status Pakistan Regulations on Food Irradiation

n  Pakistan has already adopted/approved Food Regulation in March, 1996.

n  (IAEA Food & Environmental Protection Section)

Authorized Applications of Food Irradiation n  The seven categor ies o f food have been

recommended by this food regulation (according to recommendation of ICGFI).

n  .Bulbs Roots & Tubers n  .Fresh Fruits and vegetables n  .Cereal/pulses vegetables and fruits n  .Raw fish, Seafood and their products. n  .Raw poultry & meat (fresh & frozen). n  .Dried herbs, spices, condiments. n  .Dried food animal origin.

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Authorization of Food Irradiation Facilities

o  Research Food Irradiation Facility is available at Nuclear Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Peshawar since 1983.

•  Utilizes Co-60 source presently have a strength of about 1000 Ci.

•  Facility is utilized for irradiation of all types of food on experimental purpose.

•  We are interested to enhance the source strength by replenishment or by adding source to twelve empty tubes.

•  There is no commercial food irradiation facility.

PARAS P.O. Box 5014, Lahore, Pakistan

(Fax 092-42-7510944)

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SAFETY OF IRRADIATED FOOD

n  Irradiated Food n  Does the irradiation process make food radioactive? n  Can irradiated food become toxic? n  Can eat ing i r rad ia ted food deve lop abnormal

chromosomes ? n  Results of human feeding studies of irradiated food n  Are Chemical changes or products formed are harmful? n  Do free radicals produced affect the safety of food? n  Are food with microorganisms are suitable for irradiation?

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FOOD IRRADIATION FACILITY

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WORLD WIDE UTILIZATION OF FOOD IRRADIATION

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Food Irradiation Cost n  Low dose application Rs 600/ton n  High Dose application Rs 6000/ton n  Economy of nations depends on trade n  Pests, Diseases and food safety are the barriers

in food imports & Exports n  Food irradiation technology is gaining more and

more attention around the world making food trade possible

n  About 32,000 tons of spices & dried vegetable seasoning are irradiated each year

March 6, 2015 17

CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF IRRADIATED FOOD

March 6, 2015 18

Market Trial n  For marketing and acceptability, irradiated potatoes

and onions were evaluated, which revealed that 35% of consumers showed interest in consuming irradiated foods. Since then the acceptability has certainly increased due to the awareness campaign upto 45%.

Trials n  In-country shipment trial of potatoes and onions

(over 1500-2000 km by road) indicated better performance of irradiated root vegetable than untreated controls with regard to their texture and general appearance.

n  Techno-economic studies on potatoes, onions, cereals, dried fruits, vegetable etc. revealed this technology to be quite economical than conventional cold storage’s and was found feasible under Pakistani conditions.

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PAEC’S ROLE IN DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE & AWARENESS

n  Experts n  Arranging National Seminar On Food Irradiation

n  IAEA/FAO/PAEC n  Resource Persons/Experts n  Financial support for boarding/lodging of national /

international guest speakers PAEC n  Secretariat support n  Provision of local services/utilities n  Coordination between various national/international

agencies n  Mobilization of local human resources n  Dissemination of information through electronic and

print media

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PAEC’S ROLE n  General n  To help in installation of commercial food

irradiator in public sector. n  To extend training to operate the irradiator for

industry and public sector. n  Monitoring of irradiator for safety/protection. n  To provide education about irradiation

Technology to masses. n  To advise to the Govt to include Irradiation

Processing Technology Courses in the syllabus at undergraduate/ graduate level in all technical institutions in the country.

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COMMERCIALIZATION OF IRRADIATION TECHNOLOGY

PARAS FOODS (Pvt.) Ltd. A joint venture of PAEC and PHDEB

Extension of Shelf Life and Disinfestations of Food Items

A Step Forward to Increase Exports and Meeting The WTO Standards

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PAEC’S INITIATIVE n  PAEC examined the feasibility of setting up food irradiation

plants in Pakistan and find out that It is economical to operate such plants in Pakistan because of local as well as foreign market

n  The first food irradiation plant (60,000 tons )/year should be

set up as an extension of PARAS since infrastructure & manpower exists. It will be operative within a year.

n  The cost to build a commercial food irradiation plant is in the

range of US $3 million to $5 million, depending on its size, processing capacity, and other factors

n  PAEC will fabricate most of the equipment in its own workshops, reducing capital costs substantially. Plant will be managed by PAEC.

n  Capital cost will be 74 million only, will be able to payback in 3 years

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n  Second plant (60 Kt) at Karachi and 15 Kt each at Multan, Peshawar and Quetta and other major export points in the country within 3 years time

n  The total capacity of these plants will be 225

kilotons/year less than a tenth of the spoilage of fruit.