Abstract
For the purpose of improving hygienic quality of white ginseng powders, the comparative effects of ethylene oxide (EO) fumigation and γ-irradiation (5 -10 kGy) on the sterilization, physicochemical properties and organoleptic quality were investigated. EO fumigation and γ-irradiation (5-10 kGy) completely eliminated the microorganisms contaminating in white ginseng powder. There was no growth of microorganisms after 7 months storage at 30°C and different relative humidities. In the physicochemical properties, ginseng saponins were considerably resistant to γ-irradiation (less than 10 kGy) and commercial EO fumigation, while sulfur-containing amino acids, reducing sugar and acidity were significantly changed by EO fumigation. EO residues were 570 ppm in the samples taken immediately after deaeration and 170 ppm in the stored samples of 8 days at 30°C, respectively. Ethylene chlorohydrin and ethylene glycol residues as the secondary products of EO were 9595 ppm immediately after deaeration and 221 ppm in the stored samples of 3 months at 30°C.
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