Microbiological decontamination of natural honey by irradiation

Degree of microbiological decontamination, organoleptic and physico-chemica l properties of natural honeys were investigated after radiation treatment. Seven kinds of honeys were irradiated with the beams of 10 MeV electrons f rom a 10 kW linear accelerator "Elektronika 10-10" at the dose 10 kGy. It was shown, that after irradiation, the total count of aerobic and anaero bic bacteria and moulds decrease by 99%. The antibiotic value in investigat ed honeys increased in turn from 1.67 to 2.67 after irradiation. Such facto rs and parameters of investigated honeys as their consistency, content of w ater and saccharose, acidity, the diastase and 5-HMF values were not change d significantly after irradiation. Decontamination by irradiation is a process which allows us to obtain high microbiological purity of honeys. It is especially needed, when honeys are used in surgical treatment of injuries and in nutrition of babies with food deficiency. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.