Bhabha Atomic Research Centre ( BARC ): Food Irradiation
Source: http://www.barc.gov.in/pubaware/food.html
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:12
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre ( BARC ): Food Irradiation
Skip to main content
A+
A
A-
A
हिन्दी
Radiation Technology for Food & Agro Commodities
What is radiation processing of food?
Radiation processing of food involves controlled application of energy from ionizing radiations such as gamma rays, electrons and X-rays for food preservation. Gamma rays and X-rays are short wavelength radiations of the electromagnetic spectrum which includes radiowaves, microwaves, infrared, visible and ultra violet light. Gamma rays are emitted by radioisotopes such as cobalt-60 and caesium-137, while electrons and X-rays are generated by machines using electricity. Electromagnetic Spectrum: Gamma rays are a part of the electromagnetic spectrum. They can penetrate deep into food materials and bring about desired effects.
What radiation sources & energies are used for irradiation?
Following sources with their respective energy are used for food irradiation:
Source
Type of rays
Energy
Cobalt-60
Gamma (g) rays
1.17 MeV and 1.33 MeV
Cesium-137
Gamma (g) rays
0.66 MeV
Electron beam
Electron beam
Up to 10 MeV
X-Rays
X-rays
Up to 5 MeV
How irradiation works?
Irradiation works by disrupting the biological processes that lead to decay. In their interaction with water and other molecules that make up food and living organisms, radiation energy is absorbed by the molecules they contact. The interaction of radiation and radiolytic products of water with DNA impair reproducing capacity of microorganism and insects as well as the ability of potato and onion to sprout.
The list of foods/ products that can be irradiated is given below with the respective dose limits.
Government of India,Department of Atomic Energy
Notification, June 2012
Classes of Food Products and Dose Limits for Radiation Processing
Dose Limit (kilo Gray*)
Class
Food
Purpose
Min.
Max.
Class 1
Bulbs, stem and root tubers, and rhizomes
Inhibiting sprouting
0.02
0.2
Class 2
Fresh fruits and vegetables (other than class 1)
Delay ripening
0.2
1
Insect disinfestation
0.2
1
Self life extension
1
2.5
Quarantine application
0.1
1
Class 3
Cereals and their milled products, pulses and their milled products, nuts, oil seeds, dried fruits and their products
Insect disinfestation
0.25
1
Reduction of microbial load
1.5
5
Class 4
Fish, aquaculture, sea food and their products (fresh or frozen), and crustaceans
Elimination of pathogenic microorganisms
1
7
Self-life extension
1
3
Control of human parasites
0.3
2
Class 5
Meat and meat products including poultry (fresh and frozen) and eggs
Elimination of pathogenic microorganisms
1
7
Self-life extension
1
3
Control of human parasites
0.3
2
Class 6
Dry vegetables, seasonings, spices, condiments, dry herbs and their products, tea. Coffee, cocoa and plant products
Microbial decontamination
6
14
Insect disinfestation
0.3
1
Class 7
Dry foods of animal origin and their products
Insect disinfestation
0.3
1
Control of moulds
1
3
Elimination of pathogenic microorganisms
2
7
Class 8
Ethnic foods, military rations, space foods, ready-to eat, ready-to cook/ minimally processed foods
Quarantine application
0.25
1
Reduction of microorganisms
2
10
Sterilization
5
25
19 facilities for radiation processing of food. Many more plants are in various stages of commissioning
Sr.
Name of the Plant
Purpose
Commissioning
Year
1
Radiation Processing Plant, BRIT,
Vashi, Navi Mumbai
Food and allied
products
2000
2
*KRUSHAK Irradiator, Lasalgaon,
Nashik ,Maharashtra
Food Products
2002
3
M/S Organic Green Foods Ltd.,
Dankuni, Kolkata
,
West Bengal
Food, Packaging & Medical Products
2004
4
M/S A.V. Processors Pvt. Ltd.,
Ambernath (E), Thane
,
Maharashtra
Food & Medical Products
2005
5
M/S Universal Medicap Ltd.,
Vadodara, Gujarat
Food & Medical Products
2005
6
M/S. Microtrol,
Bangalore, Karnataka
Food & Medical Products
2006
7
*M/S Agrosurg Irradiators,
Vasai, Thane, Maharashtra
Food, Packaging & Medical Products
2008
8
M/S Gamma Agro Medical Processing,
Hyderabad, Telangana
Food & Medical Products
2008
9
*M/S Jhunsons Chemicals Pvt Ltd.,
Bhiwadi, Rajasthan
Agro, Medical & Packaging Products
2010
10
M/S Innova Agri Bio Park Ltd.,
Malur, Dist. Kolar, Karnataka
Food & Medical Products
2011
11
*M/S Hindustan Agro Co-Operative Ltd.,
Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra
Onion & Other Agricultural Produces
2012
12
M/S Impartial Agro Tech (P) Ltd.,
Unnao, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Food & Medical Products
2014
13
*M/S Gujarat Agro Industries Corpn. Ltd,
Bavla, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Food Products
2014
14
M/s Aligned Industries,
Dharuhera, Rewari, Haryana
Food Products
2015
15
*Maharashtra State Agricultural Mktg. Board,
Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
Food Products
2015
16
Pinnacle Therapeutics Private Limited, Ahmedabad,
Gujarat (Chilling duct)
Food & Medical Products
2018
17
Electromagnetic Industries,
Vadodara, Gujarat
Food Products
2019
18
Avanti Mega food park,
Devas, Madhya Pradesh
Food Products
2019
19
Shriram Applied Radiation Centre (SARC),
Delhi
Food & Medical Products
1990 (Medical) 2016 (Food)
Spotlight for Radiation Technology for Food & Agro Commodities
Food Technology Division, BARC
(Established in 1967)
Radiation Processing Plant, BRIT, Vashi
(Operational since 2001)
KRUSHAK Lasalgaon, Nashik, Maharashtra
(Operational since 2002)
(Presently leased out to M/s Agrosurge Irradiators, Vasai)
Food Technology Division, BARC
(Established in 1967)
Radiation Processing Plant, BRIT, Vashi
(Operational since 2001)
KRUSHAK Lasalgaon, Nashik, Maharashtra
(Operational since 2002)
(Presently leased out to M/s Agrosurge Irradiators, Vasai)
Skip to main content
A+
A
A-
A
हिन्दी
Radiation Technology for Food & Agro Commodities
What is radiation processing of food?
Radiation processing of food involves controlled application of energy from ionizing radiations such as gamma rays, electrons and X-rays for food preservation. Gamma rays and X-rays are short wavelength radiations of the electromagnetic spectrum which includes radiowaves, microwaves, infrared, visible and ultra violet light. Gamma rays are emitted by radioisotopes such as cobalt-60 and caesium-137, while electrons and X-rays are generated by machines using electricity. Electromagnetic Spectrum: Gamma rays are a part of the electromagnetic spectrum. They can penetrate deep into food materials and bring about desired effects.
What radiation sources & energies are used for irradiation?
Following sources with their respective energy are used for food irradiation:
Source
Type of rays
Energy
Cobalt-60
Gamma (g) rays
1.17 MeV and 1.33 MeV
Cesium-137
Gamma (g) rays
0.66 MeV
Electron beam
Electron beam
Up to 10 MeV
X-Rays
X-rays
Up to 5 MeV
How irradiation works?
Irradiation works by disrupting the biological processes that lead to decay. In their interaction with water and other molecules that make up food and living organisms, radiation energy is absorbed by the molecules they contact. The interaction of radiation and radiolytic products of water with DNA impair reproducing capacity of microorganism and insects as well as the ability of potato and onion to sprout.
The list of foods/ products that can be irradiated is given below with the respective dose limits.
Government of India,Department of Atomic Energy
Notification, June 2012
Classes of Food Products and Dose Limits for Radiation Processing
Dose Limit (kilo Gray*)
Class
Food
Purpose
Min.
Max.
Class 1
Bulbs, stem and root tubers, and rhizomes
Inhibiting sprouting
0.02
0.2
Class 2
Fresh fruits and vegetables (other than class 1)
Delay ripening
0.2
1
Insect disinfestation
0.2
1
Self life extension
1
2.5
Quarantine application
0.1
1
Class 3
Cereals and their milled products, pulses and their milled products, nuts, oil seeds, dried fruits and their products
Insect disinfestation
0.25
1
Reduction of microbial load
1.5
5
Class 4
Fish, aquaculture, sea food and their products (fresh or frozen), and crustaceans
Elimination of pathogenic microorganisms
1
7
Self-life extension
1
3
Control of human parasites
0.3
2
Class 5
Meat and meat products including poultry (fresh and frozen) and eggs
Elimination of pathogenic microorganisms
1
7
Self-life extension
1
3
Control of human parasites
0.3
2
Class 6
Dry vegetables, seasonings, spices, condiments, dry herbs and their products, tea. Coffee, cocoa and plant products
Microbial decontamination
6
14
Insect disinfestation
0.3
1
Class 7
Dry foods of animal origin and their products
Insect disinfestation
0.3
1
Control of moulds
1
3
Elimination of pathogenic microorganisms
2
7
Class 8
Ethnic foods, military rations, space foods, ready-to eat, ready-to cook/ minimally processed foods
Quarantine application
0.25
1
Reduction of microorganisms
2
10
Sterilization
5
25
19 facilities for radiation processing of food. Many more plants are in various stages of commissioning
Sr.
Name of the Plant
Purpose
Commissioning
Year
1
Radiation Processing Plant, BRIT,
Vashi, Navi Mumbai
Food and allied
products
2000
2
*KRUSHAK Irradiator, Lasalgaon,
Nashik ,Maharashtra
Food Products
2002
3
M/S Organic Green Foods Ltd.,
Dankuni, Kolkata
,
West Bengal
Food, Packaging & Medical Products
2004
4
M/S A.V. Processors Pvt. Ltd.,
Ambernath (E), Thane
,
Maharashtra
Food & Medical Products
2005
5
M/S Universal Medicap Ltd.,
Vadodara, Gujarat
Food & Medical Products
2005
6
M/S. Microtrol,
Bangalore, Karnataka
Food & Medical Products
2006
7
*M/S Agrosurg Irradiators,
Vasai, Thane, Maharashtra
Food, Packaging & Medical Products
2008
8
M/S Gamma Agro Medical Processing,
Hyderabad, Telangana
Food & Medical Products
2008
9
*M/S Jhunsons Chemicals Pvt Ltd.,
Bhiwadi, Rajasthan
Agro, Medical & Packaging Products
2010
10
M/S Innova Agri Bio Park Ltd.,
Malur, Dist. Kolar, Karnataka
Food & Medical Products
2011
11
*M/S Hindustan Agro Co-Operative Ltd.,
Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra
Onion & Other Agricultural Produces
2012
12
M/S Impartial Agro Tech (P) Ltd.,
Unnao, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Food & Medical Products
2014
13
*M/S Gujarat Agro Industries Corpn. Ltd,
Bavla, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Food Products
2014
14
M/s Aligned Industries,
Dharuhera, Rewari, Haryana
Food Products
2015
15
*Maharashtra State Agricultural Mktg. Board,
Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
Food Products
2015
16
Pinnacle Therapeutics Private Limited, Ahmedabad,
Gujarat (Chilling duct)
Food & Medical Products
2018
17
Electromagnetic Industries,
Vadodara, Gujarat
Food Products
2019
18
Avanti Mega food park,
Devas, Madhya Pradesh
Food Products
2019
19
Shriram Applied Radiation Centre (SARC),
Delhi
Food & Medical Products
1990 (Medical) 2016 (Food)
Spotlight for Radiation Technology for Food & Agro Commodities
Food Technology Division, BARC
(Established in 1967)
Radiation Processing Plant, BRIT, Vashi
(Operational since 2001)
KRUSHAK Lasalgaon, Nashik, Maharashtra
(Operational since 2002)
(Presently leased out to M/s Agrosurge Irradiators, Vasai)
Food Technology Division, BARC
(Established in 1967)
Radiation Processing Plant, BRIT, Vashi
(Operational since 2001)
KRUSHAK Lasalgaon, Nashik, Maharashtra
(Operational since 2002)
(Presently leased out to M/s Agrosurge Irradiators, Vasai)