Microbial inactivation and electron penetration in surimi seafood during electron beam processing

Electron penetration and microbial inactivation by electron beam (e-beam) in surimi seafood were investigated. Dose map revealed that 1- and 2-sided e-beam could efficiently penetrate 33- and 82-mm thick surimi seafood, respectively. Modeling of microbial inactivation by e-beam demonstrated that 2-sided e-beam may control Staphylococcus aureus if the surimi seafood package is thinner than 82 mm. The De-beam value for S. aureus was 0.34 kGy. An e-beam dose of 4 kGy resulted in a minimum of a 7-log and most likely a 12-log reduction of S. aureus. Microbial inactivation was slower when frozen samples were subjected to e-beam.