Effect of Packaging and Electron Beam Irradiation on the Microbial Safety and Quality of Dried Undaria pinnatifida

Abstract

This study determined the effect of packaging and electron beam irradiation on the quality of dried Undaria pinnatifida. Samples were air or vacuum packaged and irradiated at 7 kGy. The dried Undaria pinnatifida had total viable cells and coliform counts of 5.51 and 4.40 log CFU/g in total, respectively, and counts of 5.56 and 4.19 log CFU/g in surface. These counts were reduced by 2-4 log cycles after irradiation. Irradiation increased the lightness and yellowness of the dried Undaria pinnatifida, but not the redness. In the sensory evaluation, there were no significant differences among samples. Therefore, electron beam irradiation improves the microbial safety and quality of dried Undaria pinnatifida.