ASTM F1355-99
(Guide)Standard Guide for Irradiation of Fresh Fruits as a Phytosanitary Treatment
Standard Guide for Irradiation of Fresh Fruits as a Phytosanitary Treatment
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides procedures for the radiation disinfestation of fresh fruits as a quarantine treatment. Since many insect pests are found on more than one type of fruit, this guide is directed primarily toward the treatment needed to control certain insect pests commonly associated with various fresh fruits.
1.2 The absorbed dose range covered is between 0.075 and 1.0 kilogray (kGy). The practical maximum dose may be lower than 1.0 kGy, depending on the radiation tolerance of a particular type of fruit. If the minimum effective dose for disinfestation is greater than the radiation tolerance of the fruit, then irradiation disinfestation is not appropriate (see 5.1).
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Designation:F1355–99
Standard Guide for
Irradiation of Fresh Fruits as a Phytosanitary Treatment
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1355; 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 (e) 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 energy (radiation) in
treating certain fresh fruits to control insects and other arthropod pests, in order to meet phytosanitary
requirements.
This guide is intended to serve as a recommendation to be followed when using irradiation
technology where approved by an appropriate regulatory authority. It is not to be construed as a
requirement for the use of irradiation nor as a required code of practice. 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 has been prepared from a Code of Good Irradiation Practice published by the
International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (ICGFI), under the auspices of the Food and
AgricultureOrganization(FAO),theWorldHealthOrganization(WHO),andtheInternationalAtomic
Energy Agency (IAEA).
1. Scope E 170 Terminology Relating to Radiation Measurements
and Dosimetry
1.1 This guide provides procedures for the radiation pro-
E 1204 Practice for Dosimetry in Gamma Irradiation Facili-
cessing of fresh fruits as a phytosanitary treatment. Because
ties for Food Processing
many insect pests are found on more than one type of fruit, this
E 1261 Guide for the Selection and Calibration of Dosim-
guide is directed primarily toward the treatment needed to
etry Systems for Radiation Processing
control certain insect pests commonly associated with various
E 1431 Practice for Dosimetry in Electron and Bremsstrahl-
fresh fruits.
ung Irradiation Facilities for Food Processing
1.2 The absorbed dose range covered by this guide is
E 1539 Guide for Use of Radiation-Sensitive Indicators
between 75 gray (Gy) and 1.0 kilogray (kGy). The practical
F 1640 Guide for Packaging Materials for Food to be
minimum or maximum dose of a treatment may be higher or
Irradiated
lower than this range, depending on the type of pest to be
2.2 Codex Alimentarius Commission Recommended Inter-
controlled and the radiation tolerance of a particular type of
national Codes and Standards:
fruit. If the minimum effective dose necessary to achieve the
STAN 1-1985 General Standard for the Labelling of Pre-
desired phytosanitary effect is greater than the radiation toler-
packaged Foods
anceofthefruit,thenirradiationisnotanappropriatetreatment
STAN 106-1983 General Standard for Irradiated Food
(see 5.2).
2.3 ISO Standards:
2. Referenced Documents
ISO 873 Peaches—Guide to Cold Storage
ISO 931 Green Bananas—Guide to Storage and Transport
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ISO 1134 Pears—Guide to Cold Storage
ISO 1212 Apples—Guide to Cold Storage
ISO 1838 Fresh Pineapples—Guide to Storage and Trans-
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-10 on Nuclear
port
Technology and Applicationsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
E10.06 on Food Irradiation Processing and Packaging.
Current edition approved May 10, 1999. Published August 1999. Originally
published as F 1355 – 91. Last previous edition F 1355 – 93. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.02
2 5
The term pests is used in this guide to mean insects and other arthropod pests. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09.
3 6
International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation, Code of Good Irradia- Available from Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme Joint Office,
tion Practice for Insect Disinfestation of Fresh Fruits (As a Quarantine Treatment), FAO, Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome, Italy.
ICGFI Document No. 7, Issued by the Secretariat of ICGFI, Joint FAO/IAEA Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd St., 13th
Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria, 1991. Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1355
ISO 2168 Table Grapes—Guide to Cold Storage doses indicated. If fruits other than those listed above are
ISO 2826 Apricots—Guide to Cold Storage considered for irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment, it is
ISO 3631 Citrus Fruits—Guide to Cold Storage necessarytoevaluatetheeffectsofirradiationonthefruitatthe
ISO3659 FruitsandVegetables—RipeningAfterColdStor- required dose level. Differences among varieties, origins,
age growing and harvest conditions of a fruit, and elapsed time
ISO 6660 Mangoes—Guide to Storage between harvest and processing should be considered.
ISO 6661 Fresh Fruits and Vegetables—Arrangement of 5.3 Only fruits of good marketable quality should be ac-
Parallelpipedic Packages in Land Transport Vehicles cepted for irradiation. Irradiation may preserve quality, but it
ISO 6664 Bilberries and Blueberries—Guide To Cold Stor- will not improve it.
age
6. Pre-Irradiation Product Handling and Treatment
ISO 6665 Strawberries—Guide to Cold Storage
ISO 6949 Fruits and Vegetables—Principles and Tech-
6.1 Fruits to be irradiated should be of good overall quality
niques of the Controlled Atmosphere Method of Storage
and reflect the results of good agronomic practices.
ISO 7558 Guide to the Prepacking of Fruits and Vegetables
6.2 Normal storage procedures should be used prior to
radiation treatment. Pre-irradiation storage should include
3. Terminology
appropriate temperature and atmospheric conditions. Informa-
tion on storage conditions is provided in ISO Standards (see
3.1 Definitions—Other terms used in this guide may be
2.3).
defined in Terminology E 170.
6.3 There are no special requirements for treatment or
3.1.1 absorbed dose, n—the quantity of energy from ioniz-
handling of fruits before irradiation except to provide means to
ingradiationabsorbedperunitmassofaspecifiedmaterial(for
prevent post-irradiation re-infestation.Asafeguard system that
example, food).The special name for the unit of absorbed dose
provides adequate security (for example, product packaging or
is the gray (Gy). One Gy is equal to one joule of absorbed
storage in a separate, insect-free room) should be provided.
energy per kilogram of food. Formerly, the unit of absorbed
Irradiation combined with other forms of treatment may
dose was the rad (1 rad=0.01 Gy).
improve efficacy, increase the range of pests controlled, or
3.1.1.1 Discussion—Astandard definition of absorbed dose
further improve product shelf-life.
appears in Terminology E 170.
6.4 Product Separation—It may not be possible to distin-
3.1.2 dose distribution, n—the variation in absorbed dose
guish irradiated from unirradiated product by inspection. It is
within a process load exposed to ionizing radiation.
therefore important that appropriate means integral with facil-
3.1.3 phytosanitary, n—pertaining to the killing, removal,
ity design, such as physical barriers or clearly defined staging
or rendering infertile of regulated plant pests on shipped
areas, be used to maintain unirradiated product separate from
commodities.
irradiated product.
3.1.3.1 Discussion—The term “phytosanitary treatment” in-
cludes, but is not limited to, treatment to satisfy quarantine
7. Irradiation
requirements.
7.1 Scheduled Process—Irradiation of food should conform
3.1.4 process load, n—avolumeofmaterialwithaspecified
loading configuration irradiated as a single entity. to a scheduled process. A scheduled process for food irradia-
tion is a written procedure that is used to ensure that the
3.1.5 transport system, n—the conveyor or other mechani-
cal means used to move the process load through the irradiator. absorbed dose range and irradiation conditions selected by the
radiation processor are adequate under commercial processing
4. Significance and Use conditions to achieve the intended effect on a specific product
in a specific facility. The scheduled process should be estab-
4.1 The purpose of radiation treatment, as referred to in this
lished and validated by qualified persons having expert knowl-
guide, is to accomplish appropriate and effective control of
edge in irradiation requirements specific for the food and the
agricultural pests that infest fresh fruits.
processor’s irradiation facility.
4.2 The objective of irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment
7.2 Radiation Sources—The sources of ionizing radiation
is usually to prevent development or emergence of the adult
that may be used in irradiating fruits are limited to the
stage, in fruits where adult pests are not present (for example,
following (see CAC Standard 106-1983):
fruit flies) or to sterilize the adult pest, where the adult stage is
60 137
7.2.1 Gamma rays from the radionuclides Co or Cs,
present (for example, weevils).
7.2.2 X-rays generated from machine sources operated at or
below an energy level of 5 MeV, and
5. Selection of Fruits for Irradiation
7.2.3 Electrons generated from machine sources operated at
5.1 Most fresh fruits are not adversely affected at the doses
or below an energy level of 10 MeV.
indicated in 7.5.2. In particular, the following fruits have been
NOTE 1—The depth of penetration of electrons in a material is
found to be tolerant of those doses: apple, cantaloupe, caram-
dependentupontheenergyoftheelectronsandthedensityofthematerial.
bola, cherry, citrus, currant, date, fig, grape, guava, honeydew
melon, kiwi, lychee, mango, muskmelon, nectarine, papaya, 7.3 Radiation Process Parameters:
peach, prune, raspberry, strawberry, and tomato. 7.3.1 Absorbed Dose—Food irradiation specifications from
5.2 Other fruits may be damaged or exhibit unacceptable the owner of the product should include minimum and maxi-
changes in shelf-life, color, taste, or other properties at the mum absorbed dose limits: a minimum necessary to ensure the
F1355
The larvae leave the fruit upon maturation and undergo pupation. In
intended effect, and a maximum to prevent product degrada-
packagedfruits,pupationmayoccurinthecontainer.Inun-packagedfruit,
tion. One or both of these limits may be prescribed by
pupation may occur in the surrounding environment. Seed weevils can
regulation for a given application. See, for example, FDA
infest fruits at an early stage and result in damage to the seed and the fruit
regulations. It is necessary to configure the irradiation process
upon emergence as adults. One should concentrate on developing a
to ensure that the absorbed dose achieved is within these limits
treatment against the most radiation-tolerant stage which can be reason-
throughout each process load. Once this capability is estab-
ably expected to be in, on, or with the fruit. The most tolerant stage is
lished, it is necessary to monitor and record absorbed dose
usually the one closest to the adult if the adult itself is not present in the
fruit.
values for each production run as described in 11.2.2.
7.3.1.1 Routine dosimetry is part of a verification process
7.5 Guidelines for Assessing Irradiation Effıcacy:
for establishing that the irradiation process is under control.
7.5.1 The key criterion for acceptance of a phytosanitary
7.3.1.2 Select and calibrate a dosimetry system appropriate
treatment is verification that the absorbed dose is sufficient to
to the radiation source being used, the environmental condi-
achieve the required level of phytosanitary security. The
tions, and the range of absorbed doses required (see Practice
minimum absorbed dose specified to produce an acceptable
E 1261).
level of phytosanitary security is usually established by gov-
7.3.1.3 Verify that the product receives the required ab-
ernment regulations. Efficacy should be established based on
sorbed dose by using proper dosimetric measurement proce-
scientific studies using statistically significant numbers of the
dures,alongwithappropriatestatisticalcontrols,anddocumen-
pest.
tation. Place dosimeters in or on the process load at locations
of maximum and minimum absorbed dose. If those locations
NOTE 4—In the United States for example, quarantine treatments for
are not accessible, place dosimeters at reference locations that
tephritidfruitflieshaverequired99.9968 %efficacy(alsoknownasprobit
have a known and quantifiable relationship to the maximum 9) at the 95 % confidence level. This means approximately 94 000 insects
must be treated without any emerging adults.
and minimum absorbed dose locations (see Practices E 1204
and E 1431).
7.5.2 The absorbed dose found effective to meet phytosani-
NOTE 2—Radiation sensitive indicators (RSIs), such as labels, papers, tary criteria for treatment of fresh agricultural commodities for
or inks, that undergo a color change or become colored when exposed to
most arthropod pests is generally 300 Gy. Substantial research
irradiation in the pertinent dose range are commercially available. The
and experience with the treatment of certain pests has demon-
purposeofRSIsistodeterminevisuallywhetherornotaproducthasbeen
strated that lower doses may be equally effective on those
irradiated, rather than to measure the absorbed dose received by the
pests.
product. RSIs are not dosimeters and must not be used as a substitute for
proper dosimetry (see Guide E 1539).
NOTE 5—Accepted minimum doses vary with different national au-
thorities. Users should always contact such authorities to determine the
7.3.2 Process Load Design—The size and shape of the
required minimum effective dose for the type of pest and type of fruit to
process load are determined partly by certain design param-
be treated before using irradiation as a phytosanitary treatment.
eters of the irradiation facility. Critical parameters include the
characteristics of the transport system and of the radiation
8. Post-Irradiation Handling and Storage
source as they relate to the dose distribution within the process
load. The size and shape of the fruit and the minimum and 8.1 Handle and store irradiated fruits in the same manner as
non-irradiated fruits.Asafeguard system that provides security
maximum dose limits may also affect the loading configuration
of the process load. against reinfestation of the products should be used (see 6.2
and 6.3).
7.4 Doses to Control Various Pests:
7.4.1 Appendix X1 and Appendix X2 show the principal
pests of fruits of national and international economic and 9. Packaging
quarantine importance.
9.1 Fresh fruits are not usually packaged, but should be
7.4.2 The sensitivity of a pe
...
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