COM 0212.439 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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:.a menu, fruits must be picked while they are can rapidly flourish and contaminate the chicken to their patients and employees. still green and lacking in desirable flavor final product. Epidemics caused by Salina Two foodservice distributors are involved, and textural qualities. Hello in Canada, Norway, and Sweden have and both frosh and frozen chicken ale being As options become more limited, coon- been traced to the use of contaminated pep. irradiated. Furthermore, according to a tries may increasingly turn to irradiation as per. In Germany, Salmonella bacteria were source at the U.S. Army Natick Research an alternative quarantine treatment. Re- found in a paprika-spiced snack. Suchcon- Development and Engineering Center, Nab search has shown radiation to be effective, lamination not only poses a health risk, but ick, Mass., the use of irradiated poultry in and many fruits tolerate well the required can lead to large ernnomic losses, as the the military hospital system in the South- dose. Economically, irradiation can provide products have to be recalled and destroyed. eastern regions of the U.S. is currently be- major benefits. As noted by Diehl (1996), Decontaminationcan be accomplished by ing pursued. studies have shown that "the introduction moist heat treatments which can cause ae- of irradiation as an import quazantine rious loss of flavor and color quality. Fumi- treatment rnuld generate net gains to the gation with ethylene oxide was used in the 1U. To further illustrate the above U.S. of $650 million-$1.1. billion over 5 past, but this gas is under critical fire and three points, the public and the food indus- years fiom trade with countries where in- has been banned inmany ceuntries. Irradi- try need to be aware that `new" pathogens sect pests present a phytosanitary risk." ation presents another alternative. In fact, are still emerging. For example, the `Back in the U.S., spices as ingredients aze the Page" of the January 1997 issue of Food main application of food irradiation. Be- Technology discusses Cyclospora cayetan- 4.Irradiationcanextendthe shelflife of cause the spices are used as aminor ingre- ensis, the latest microorganism to be impli- variovs fruits and vegetables. For example, dient in the final product, they do not re- ceted as a food- and drinkbome pathogen of ~ it can inhibit mold growth on strawberries. quire special labeling. Although only a public health significance. Although the - The elimination of this common problem small percentage of the total volume of spin column did not mention irradiation as a can present several mazketing advantages, es is irradiated, there have beanvolume in- possible solution, its importance as a fresh First, the initial quality of the fruit has creases of irradiated spices in the U.S. over meat looks promising, been maintained, which means that cos- the past three years. Iradiated spices mn- tomerscan buy the fruit, take it home, and tinue to present major mazketing opportu- notworryaboutfindingmoldystrawberries pities. 11.Acommon in the container. Confidence in the roduct argument why food com- e parries don't provide irradiated foods in the will mean return trips to the store where marketplace is that consumers do not want the product was bought. Second, because The `graying'baby-boomers may pr+o- them and are frightened of the process. that quality has been maintained over a vide a significant mazket for irradiated food However, that reasoning might someday - longer period of time, it makes it possible products. Such products will enable them to backfire. In an article in the February 1996 for customers to use that product later, per- maintain the healthy lifestyles they devel- issue of Food Technology, lawyer Mark baps is baking or at a planned celebration. oped over the previous decades, as well as Robeck noted that as the irradiated food Consequently, convenience becomes an possibly increase their longevity by pre- market grows, the food industry may find added value for the customer, and the value venting episodes of faadberne illnesses. that not irradiating foods leads to personal of the store where the strawberries were injury lawsuits. In all ]flcelihood, a consum- purchased is also enhanced. Third, straw- p er will not sue a food company because it is berries can be purchased several days after 8. Irradiated foods may be made avail- selling an irradiated food. Rather, he will they were initially displayed, which means able to people who have compromised im- sue because he or his family became sick less waste for the store. mane systems, such as cancer patients, pea from a product contaminated with patho- pre who received transplants, or those in- genic organisms. Robeck maintains that as flitted with AII>,S. Offering benefits to a seg- consumers begin to understand that a dis- One reason that consumers may par- went consisting of more than 25 million, ease was preventable by an existing tech- chase aproduct is novelty-the store is of- these product lines may be labeled "ultra nology, their inclination toward legal action fering something different to its customers. safe,"'bacteria free," or `specially Processed may grow (Robeck,1996). For example, exotic fnrits from tropical and for high-risk populations." When censider- sealitropical areas may offer special maz- ing the potential value of irrradiation in keting opportunities. The availability of this azea, it is ironic that even marijuana 12. As already noted in the introduc- these fruits will be made more possible by has gained some public approval as a way lion to this article, mazketing opportunities irradiation, which would solve the quaran- of alleviating suffering, while a process exist for indepeadentretailers tosell irradi- tine problem and extend shelf life. Further- which can lessen the chances for incurring sled foods. These stores are innovative in more, the fruits would probably not be a foodbeme illness (which can have fatal philosophy, but they also have leas to lose. available if they were not irradiated, thus consequences particularly for someone in a Compared to grocery chains, they are leas enhanang the need for the process. weakened state) has been attacked by con- likely to draw massive attention to them- sumeractivists and stymied in the food in- selves, such as boycotts generated by activ- dustry. isle. However, the success of these stores 6. Interest in ethnic foods is a driving may also prompt other stores to consider force behind the increasing volume of spit- ~ selling irradiated foods, and is that sense es used in the U.S. Spices, such as white or 9. When considering the above, it they aze pioneers, opening the trail for black pepper and chilis, can be used in should not be too surprising that hospitals, those who follow. meats, sauces, snacks, and atherhigh-moil- nursing homes, and other such facilities tore products. However, when spices con- may prove to be an important market for ir- tainingbacteria are incorporated into these radiated foods. Today, more than 100 such 13. A medium-sized chain of grocery products, the bacteria, including pathogens, facilities in Florida aze serving irradiated stores can find benefit in selling irradiated VOG 51, Nn. 2, FaaaVAAY 1997-F-0OD TECHNOLOGY 47