FOOD PASTEURIZATION / SHELF LIFE EXTENSION       

	Providing A Safe Solution Concerns about the safety of our food supplies are spreading both among the consuming public and among food producers. As much as 25% of the world's food supply is lost annual to pests and bacteria, while largely preventable food borne illnesses strike as many as 76 million people and cause up to 5,000 deaths occur each year (US CDC).

The most common food borne bacterial pathogens are Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli O157: H7, Listeria monocytogenes, various Salmonella and Staphylococcus auerus. Beef, pork, and other meats are sometimes contaminated by parasitic organisms that may cause disease in humans when ingested. Cold pasteurization entails subjecting food to controlled amounts of ionizing radiation that has sufficient energy to knock electrons from the outer rings of atoms of the foods to create free radicals and ions, resulting in the destruction of bacteria and pathogens. The radiation used does not have sufficient energy to split atoms that would cause the exposed objects to become radioactive. The FDA has approved the following sources of ionizing radiation for the treatment of foods:    Gamma rays produced by the decay of radioactive cobalt-60 or cesium-137 isotopes    X-rays with a maximum energy of five million electron volts (MeV);    Electrons with maximum energy of 10 MeV. The energy and time of exposure to the ionizing radiation combined with the density of the foodstuff being irradiated determine the dose measured in kiloGrays. The technologies and types of equipment used to irradiate food are identical to those used to sterilize medical devices and equipment and are as follows: Among candidate irradiation technologies, electron beam devices now possess the greatest potential for the safe, effective, cost-efficient radiation pasteurization of meat since certain engineering challenges are now being solved. In these systems, a multi-stage electron accelerator generates a dense beam of high-energy electrons. This beam is magnetically focused and scanned across the target, providing saturation of the target with electrons that deposit their energy and break the chemical bonds of its atoms. Electron beam sterilization has been used for medical devices and materials for more than 40 years but only in recent years have the problems of relatively low penetration ability and device complexity been solved. Research to improve the capabilities of electron beam systems, primarily for radiographic and oncology therapy equipment, has dramatically raised the performance of these systems in terms of performance (energy, power, penetration), reliability (100% duty cycle), initial and operating costs, and maintainability. Although the ionizing radiation effects of destroying pathogens is identical for electrons and gamma radiation from radioactive isotopes, electron beam pasteurization offers many technical and operational advantages over the use of radioactive isotopes:    Radiation is present and shielding is required only while the system is "on."    There are no radioactive materials to ship, handle, store, or remove to hazardous waste facilities.    There is no change in the radiation dose available due to decay of the source isotope.    Electron beam systems deliver required radiation doses in minutes, cobalt-60 in hours.    Programming of the dose parameters is very quick and simple with electron beam systems but complex with radioactive isotope sources.    Any variation occurring during a processing run immediately shuts down the electron beam system, a capability not       available with radioactive sources. SCANTECH is helping food processors take control of their products safety with the STS-10/20 electron beam system, an adaptation of its STS-10/20 system. Electron beam irradiation is a proven technology for cold pasteurization of all types of food including seafood, fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy, eggs and spices. Irradiation is gaining consumer acceptance and doesn't perceptibly affect the taste, appearance or texture of food. The ability of electron beam irradiation to significantly extend the shelf life of food products affords very important cost benefits to food producers, processors, retailers and consumers.

STS 10/20 SYSTEM                           STS-10/20 is a 10 MeV integrated shield electron beam system that is available for installation directly in a food processing line, either at the beginning or end of the line. Food can be irradiated directly in the package to minimize cross-contamination during shipping and sale. By directly managing irradiation in-house, processors of all food types reduce production times, eliminate high shipping and contract irradiation expenses and maintain inventory control. Additionally, STS-10/20 enhances the processors existing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) program, thereby significantly reducing the potential for food recalls STS-10/20 uses high-energy electrons to deposit large amounts of energy into the irradiated food, disrupting the atomic structure and thus destroying all pathogens. The energy and time of exposure to the ionizing radiation, linked with the density of the foodstuff being irradiated, determine the energy dose as measured in kiloGrays. The process takes only minutes, is completely safe for the system operator and requires shielding only during electron beam irradiation.

Critical Advantages for Food Processors    STS-10/20 Gives Food Processors Control and Reduces Costs    No contracts and no costly per-pound fees    Irradiates all types of food types on-site for as little as $.03 to $.04 per pound    Keeps products in processor's facility and saves shipping costs    Controlled programmable doses are accurate and consistent    Quick return on investment in as little as 1-2 years

The STS-10/20 is designed to meet the explicit and implicit requirements of each of these issues:    Safety: The STS-10/20 conformal shield is a relative technical approach, which is optimized for each installation. The individual optimization provides savings in the installation and economies in operation. The STS-10/20 installation meets all international and local safety requirements. The STS-10/20 automated control system monitors all key operating parameters through a self-diagnostic process. The system has an automatic safe shutdown mode if any parameters exceed operating limits.    Precise control of the delivered dose: The STS-10/20 control system integrates all aspects of the process including the conveyor and radiation equipment. The computer monitors the dose sensors and the process to ensure the quality of the product treatment. There is a continuous record of the product treatment.    Economic operation: The STS-10/20 design is based on a well-proven technology and employs standardized commercial subsystems. This technical approach guarantees reliability and ensures the availability of spare parts. The 10 KW beam power provides a high throughput and minimizes the process cost per kilogram. The modular design allows quantum increase in beam power at the lowest cost in the industry. Click here for PDF information and brochure.