Vietnam guarantees fruit exports with the food irradiation technique

Frutas exóticas

It is surprising to read on a fruit label, next to the origin, nutritional value, or some catchy slogan, the message "Irradiated for freshness". However, this technique, with the help of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), has secured exports of exotic fruits such as mango, pitaya and lychee from Vietnam to the United States worth US$20 million a year.

For decades, food irradiation has been used to disinfect and extend the shelf life of products such as spices, dried herbs, and vegetable seasonings. Otherwise, insects could lodge in these products and become "invaders" from other countries, causing damage not only to food production but also to the ecosystem at the destination.

This technique consists of applying low levels of radiation (gamma rays, electron beams or X-rays) to kill micro-organisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that can spoil food or prevent insects from reproducing. In addition, it can be used to irradiate large batches, for example, gamma rays (the most commonly used) can treat about a tonne of fruit per hour.

There are hundreds of facilities involved in various applications of radiation and about 60 of them use it for food irradiation, of which 11 are in Vietnam. In 2019, Vietnam irradiated an average of 10,400 tonnes of fresh fruit with gamma rays or X-rays for export.

Countries such as India, Thailand, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand also use food irradiation to ensure the safety of imported agricultural products and Vietnam is already preparing to extend its services to passion fruit, grapefruit, vegetables, and frozen seafood for export and domestic consumption.

In a globalized world like the one we are living in, it is an indispensable requirement to ensure that agricultural products are free of certain pests and this technique makes it possible, especially in fresh fruits and vegetables, without generating harmful residues for people and the environment as caused by chemical fumigation, or the alteration of taste and texture as a consequence of heat treatment.

Until a few years ago, despite the support of the IAEA and FAO, this phytosanitary treatment was slow to establish itself on the fruit market because industry agents often felt that consumers might reject it, mostly due to misinformation. However, it is gaining ground and public opinion has improved with the availability of certain fruits with good organoleptic characteristics (colour, taste, texture, aroma, etc.) all year round, without the use of chemical products harmful to health or at great cost to the environment.

Unlike gamma rays from radioactive sources, electron beams or X-rays can be switched on to be used only when necessary, reducing costs and radiological and physical safety measures. Also, portable irradiation devices could increase their deployment as they could be used directly on a fruit packing line, instead of bringing the fruit to the irradiation facility.

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