Iran Unveils New Gamma Irradiation Machine
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) unveiled a new homegrown self-protection gamma irradiation system in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan.
AEOI chief Mohammad Eslami traveled to Bonab in East Azarbaijan on Tuesday to unveil the “self-protection two-layered gamma irradiation” system with a daily capacity of 100 tons.
The new machine is used for irradiation of cereals and grains for various processes such as disinfection, germination control, and reduction of storage pest infestation.
By reducing the microbial load of food and eliminating pollutant microorganisms, the irradiation machine can be applied to various products like wheat, barley, garbanzo, split pea, lentil, bean, rice, walnut, pistachio, almond, and hazelnut.
Food irradiation is the process of exposing foodstuffs to gamma rays to kill bacteria that can cause food-borne disease and to increase shelf-life. It has the same benefits as when food is heated, refrigerated, frozen, or treated with chemicals, but does not change the temperature or leave residues.
In all parts of the world, there is growing use of irradiation technology to preserve food. More than 60 countries worldwide have introduced regulations allowing the use of irradiation for food products including spices, grains, fruit, vegetables, and meat.
It can replace potentially harmful chemical fumigants used to eliminate insects from dried fruit and grain.
According to FAO, nuclear techniques help national authorities in over 50 countries to improve food safety by addressing the problem of harmful residues and contaminants in food products and to improve their traceability systems with stable isotope analysis.
