Commercial Utilization of Irradiation for the preservation of Foods and its Hygienic Effects

방사선조사에 의한 식품저장의 산업화 필요성과 위생적 효과

It is estimated that the loss of Korean agricultural and fishery products during the storage period is usually more than 20%, and it is difficult to increase agricultural products by a 10% annual rate directly. Therefore, development of food preservation techniques has now become a most important atternative for the indirect increase of such products and for its senitary distribution. Changes eating habits and improved living conditions have accelerated the demand for convenience food production and for this reason it is essential that raw materials at stable, resonable prices and hygienic quality be available the year round. At the end of 1980, the Korean government conceded th economical feasibility of the storage of foods by irradiation and a procedure for preserving food by irradiation on a batch scale was successfully developed by KAERI in 1982. Based on the research results accomplished by the KAERI and on the recommendation on wholesomeness of irradiated food by Joint Committee of FAO/IAEA/WHO in 1980, the approval of wholesomeness of irradiated food was declared by presidential decree in June 1985 and the procedure of permission for individual items is in progress. Korean private firms (Ryung Young Co.) which was technically assisted by KAERI for five years have taken mush interest in the establishment of such facilities in Korea, therefore Ryung Young Co. had proposed for the construction of 500 Kci Co-60 irradiator to the Ministry of Science and Technology in July 1984. The permission of construction has approved by government in May 1985. The commercial irradiator will be constructed as one of the most modernized facilities until May 1987 and that facilities will contribute the propagation of commercial storage of foods and its hygienic quality.