Computer simulation to determine food irradiation dose levels

This study provides the algorithm for the estimation of the dose absorbed by minced trout and pieces of chilled trout during 1 MeV electron irradiation. The algorithm uses programming code GEANT 4 based on Monte-Carlo method. The simulation takes into account the electron spectrum as well as the geometry samples. Ferrous sulfate (Fricke) dosimeter and film dosimetry were used to check the algorithm and control the dose parameters during irradiation. The difference between dose rate measured by Fricke dosimeter and simulated dose rate was less than 8 %. The difference between dose rate measured by dosimetric films and simulated dose rate was less than 12 %. The suggested dose estimation algorithm proved to be effective as it successfully determined the dose absorbed by minced trout and pieces of trout. Dosimetry systems can only control the parameters during irradiation treatment. This algorithm can be used to determine the irradiation dose for a product of various geometry, substance, and density. (paper)