The decontamination effects of gamma irradiation on the edible gelatin

The decontamination effects of gamma irradiation on the edible gelatin were studied. The results indicated that the bacterium and mold in the gelatin decreased significantly with the dose of 5 kGy treatment. However, the cont ent of crude protein, microelement, amino acid in the gelatin remained unch anged under the irradiation of 4 and 8 kGy. The viscosity of the gelatin de creased with the increase of the irradiation dose, but the gelatin with a d ose of 5 kGy treatment still accorded with the standard of the second-order class. These results suggested that the optimum irradiation dose for edibl e gelatin for the purpose of decontamination was in the range 3-5 kGy. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.