Shorter turnaround time (TAT) for proof of irradiation in food
The competence center for proof of food irradiation in Hamburg has started operating its own gamma irradiation facility. Thereby, shorter turnaround times (TAT) are possible from now on.
Food, e.g. herbs and spices, can be treated with ionising irradiation for preservation purposes. In this process, various methods can be used. The two most common are Photostimulated Luminescence (PSL) and Thermoluminescence (TL). The PSL method already allows for rapid screening. Thermoluminescence is indeed a very safe method for proof of food irradiation; however, it has so far required a long analysis time. During testing, the isolated silicate minerals are measured for their thermoluminescence, then irradiated with a defined dose for normalization and finally remeasured. Until now, this step of irradiation had to be conducted at an external facility. With our new irradiation facility, we can now perform the whole analysis on site and thereby, significantly reduce our turnaround time (TAT):
- Standard: 16 calendar days
- Rush samples (after consultation): 7 calendar days
We can also offer shorter processing times for further methods for proof of irradiation in food (e.g. Electron Spin Resonance, calibrated PSL).