Detection of baby food sterilized with ionizing radiation using thermoluminescence

Abstract

AbstractFood sterilization with ionizing radiation is a well-established technology, which is constantly extending to several products due to its numerous advantages. However, radiosterilization is prohibited to several food categories, such as baby food products since it could cause nutrient degradation of such foods with significant effects on the infants’ health. As a result, any governmental agency responsible for the detection of irradiated products should first focus on products consumed by babies/children. To this respect, the present work explores whether TL can be employed as a method for post-sterilization dosimetry on baby food, by studying the properties of their glass containers since they would be equally and jointly exposed to the ionizing radiation during the sterilization process. Two different reputable brands, i.e., Hipp® and Nestle®, are used for this purpose. Both glass containers exhibit a linear TL dose response for doses up to 3 kGy, while no sensitization of the main peaks is observed. Though their behavior is not very stable with time (strong fading) yet fading correction is possible. Dose recovery tests were successfully conducted, calculating the administered dose with high accuracy. A computerized curve deconvolution analysis (CCDA) was also performed revealing that all glow curves can be fitted with one peak of continuous trap distribution and three discrete-energy peaks, which also demonstrate a linear dose response over the range 50–3000 Gy. Thus, findings are very promising towards the post-sterilization dosimetry of baby food through their glass containers.