ASTM F1736-21

Standard Guide for Irradiation of Finfish and Aquatic Invertebrates Used as Food to Control Pathogens and Spoilage Microorganisms

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Absorbed doses of or below 1 kGy can inactivate some parasites, such as the broad fish tapeworm (Dibothrocephalus latus) (2).  
4.2 Absorbed doses below 10 kGy can reduce or eliminate vegetative cells of pathogenic sporeforming and non-sporeforming microorganisms, such as Clostridium spp., Vibrio spp., Salmonellae, Listeria monocytogenes, or Staphylococcus aureus, that may be present in fresh or frozen product.  
4.2.1 Absorbed doses below 10 kGy can reduce the numbers of some spores, but are not adequate to reduce the potential health risk from microbial spores or toxins (3).  
4.3 Absorbed doses below 10 kGy can reduce or eliminate the vegetative cells of sporeforming and non-sporeforming microorganisms, such as Bacillus or Pseudomonas species, that cause spoilage of fresh product, thus extending refrigerated shelf life in many cases (4).
SCOPE
1.1 This guide outlines procedures and operations for the irradiation of raw, untreated, fresh (chilled), or frozen finfish and aquatic invertebrates, while ensuring that the irradiated product is safe and wholesome.  
1.1.1 Aquatic invertebrates include mollusks, crustacea, echinoderms, etc.
1.1.1.1 Mollusks include bivalve shellfish, such as clams, mussels, and oysters; snails; and cephalopods, such as squid and octopus.
1.1.1.2 Crustacea include shellfish such as shrimp, lobster, crabs, prawns and crayfish.
1.1.1.3 Echinoderms include sea urchins and sea cucumbers.  
1.2 This guide covers absorbed doses used to reduce the microbial and parasite populations in aquatic invertebrates and finfish. Such doses typically are below 10 kGy (1).2  
1.2.1 This guide covers gamma, electron beam, and X-radiation treatment.  
1.3 The use of reduced-oxygen packaging (vacuum or modified atmosphere, and including products packed in oil) with irradiated, raw product is not covered by this guide. The anaerobic environment created by reduced-oxygen packaging provides the potential for outgrowth of, and toxin production from, Clostridium botulinum spores.  
1.4 This guide does not cover the irradiation of smoked or dried fish to reduce microbial load or to control insect infestation.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.6 This document is one of a set of standards that provides recommendations for properly implementing and utilizing radiation processing. It is intended to be read in conjunction with ISO/ASTM Practice 52628.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2021
• ICS: 67.120.30 - Fish and fishery products
• Technical Committee: E61 - Radiation Processing
• Drafting Committee: E61.05 - Food Irradiation

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F1736 −21
Standard Guide for
Irradiation of Finfish and Aquatic Invertebrates Used as
1
Food to Control Pathogens and Spoilage Microorganisms
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1736; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this guide is to present information on the use of ionizing radiation for eliminating
or reducing the number of pathogenic microorganisms and parasites and for reducing the number of
spoilage microorganisms on finfish and aquatic invertebrates. Information on the handling of finfish
and aquatic invertebrates before receipt by the irradiation facility and after shipment from the facility
is also provided.
The food commodities covered by this standard can include, but are not limited to: molluscan
shellfish,crustaceanshellfish,finfish,andflatfish,includingthosethataresaltwater,freshwater,wild
caught and farm-raised.
This guide is intended to serve as a set of recommendations to be followed when using irradiation
technology where approved by an appropriate regulatory control authority. It is not to be construed as
setting forth rigid requirements for the use of irradiation.While the use of irradiation involves certain
essential requirements to attain the objective of the treatment, some parameters can be varied in
optimizing the process.
This guide is based on a guideline published by the International Consultative Group on Food
Irradiation (ICGFI) at the initiation of the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/International
Atomic EnergyAgency Division of NuclearTechniques in Food andAgriculture, which serves as the
Secretariat to the ICGFI.
1. Scope 1.2 This guide covers absorbed doses used to reduce the
microbial and parasite populations in aquatic invertebrates and
1.1 This guide outlines procedures and operations for the 2
finfish. Such doses typically are below 10 kGy (1).
irradiation of raw, untreated, fresh (chilled), or frozen finfish
1.2.1 This guide covers gamma, electron beam, and
and aquatic invertebrates, while ensuring that the irradiated
X-radiation treatment.
product is safe and wholesome.
1.3 The use of reduced-oxygen packaging (vacuum or
1.1.1 Aquatic invertebrates include mollusks, crustacea,
modified atmosphere, and including products packed in oil)
echinoderms, etc.
with irradiated, raw product is not covered by this guide. The
1.1.1.1 Mollusks include bivalve shellfish, such as clams,
anaerobic environment created by reduced-oxygen packaging
mussels, and oysters; snails; and cephalopods, such as squid
provides the potential for outgrowth of, and toxin production
and octopus.
from, Clostridium botulinum spores.
1.1.1.2 Crustacea include shellfish such as shrimp, lobster,
1.4 This guide does not cover the irradiation of smoked or
crabs, prawns and crayfish.
dried fish to reduce microbial load or to control insect
infestation.
1.1.1.3 Echinoderms include sea urchins and sea cucum-
bers.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E61 on Radiation
1.6 This document is one of a set of standards that provides
Processing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E61.05 on Food
recommendations for properly implementing and utilizing
Irradiation.
Current edition approved July 1, 2021. Published August 2021. Originally
2
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as F1736–09 (2016). Theboldfacenumbersinparenthesesrefertothelistofreferencesattheendof
DOI: 10.1520/F1736-21. this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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F1736 − 21
radiation processing. It is intended to be read in conjunction CAC/RCP 16Recommended International Code of Practice
with ISO/ASTM Practice 52628. for Frozen Fish
CAC/RCP17 RecommendedInternationalCodeofPractice
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
for Shrimps and Prawns
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
CAC/RCP 18Recommended International Code of Hy-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
gienic Practice for Molluscan Shellfish
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
CAC/RCP 24Recommended International Code of Practice
mine the applicability of regulatory li
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F1736 − 09 (Reapproved 2016) F1736 − 21
Standard Guide for
Irradiation of Finfish and Aquatic Invertebrates Used as
1
Food to Control Pathogens and Spoilage Microorganisms
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1736; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this guide is to present information on the use of ionizing radiation for eliminating
or reducing the number of pathogenic microorganisms and parasites and for reducing the number of
spoilage microorganisms on finfish and aquatic invertebrates. Information on the handling of finfish
and aquatic invertebrates before receipt by the irradiation facility and after shipment from the facility
is also provided.
The food commodities covered by this standard can include, but are not limited to: molluscan
shellfish, crustacean shellfish, fin fish, and flat fish, including those that are saltwater, fresh water, wild
caught and farm-raised.
This guide is intended to serve as a set of recommendations to be followed when using irradiation
technology where approved by an appropriate regulatory control authority. It is not to be construed as
setting forth rigid requirements for the use of irradiation. While the use of irradiation involves certain
essential requirements to attain the objective of the treatment, some parameters can be varied in
optimizing the process.
This guide is based on a guideline published by the International Consultative Group on Food
Irradiation (ICGFI) at the initiation of the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/International
Atomic Energy Agency Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, which serves as the
Secretariat to the ICGFI.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide outlines procedures and operations for the irradiation of raw, untreated, fresh (chilled), or frozen finfish and aquatic
invertebrates, while ensuring that the irradiated product is safe and wholesome.
1.1.1 Aquatic invertebrates include molluscs,mollusks, crustacea, echinoderms, etc.
1.1.1.1 MolluscsMollusks include bivalve shellfish, such as clams, mussels, and oysters; snails; and cephalopods, such as squid
and octopus.
1.1.1.2 Crustacea include shellfish such as shrimp, lobster, crabs, prawns and crayfish.
1.1.1.3 Echinoderms include sea urchins and sea cucumbers.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E61 on Radiation Processing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E61.05 on Food Irradiation.
Current edition approved June 1, 2016July 1, 2021. Published July 2016August 2021. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 20092016 as
F1736 – 09.F1736 – 09 (2016). DOI: 10.1520/F1736-09R16.10.1520/F1736-21.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F1736 − 21
1.2 This guide covers absorbed doses used to reduce the microbial and parasite populations in aquatic invertebrates and finfish.
2
Such doses typically are below 10 kGy (1).
1.2.1 This guide covers gamma, electron beam, and X-radiation treatment.
1.3 The use of reduced-oxygen packaging (vacuum or modified atmosphere, and including products packed in oil) with irradiated,
raw product is not covered by this guide. The anaerobic environment created by reduced-oxygen packaging provides the potential
for outgrowth of, and toxin production from, Clostridium botulinum spores.
1.4 This guide does not cover the irradiation of smoked or dried fish to reduce microbial load or to control insect infestation.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 This document is one of a set of standards that provides recommendations for properly implementing and utilizing radiation
processing. It is intended to be read in conjunction with ISO/ASTM Practice 52628.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory requirementslimitations prior to use.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internati
...