The effect of the combined treatment of gamma irradiation and heating on the aerobic bacterial load of white and black peppers

The effect of combined heat-irradiation treatment on the aerobic bacterial load of black and white peppers were evaluated in comparison with that of heat or irradiation treatment only. The irradiation doses applied were 0 (control), 2, 4, 6 and 8 kGy and the heating temperatures were 28 (control), 50, 60, 70 and 80 deg C. Results indicated that gamma radiation of 7 kGy and 5 kGy were capable of reducing bacterial population from 3.6 x 106/g and 2.9 x 105/g to <103/g black and white peppers, respectively. Heating at drying temperature could only reduce the bacterial contaminants to 1/2 log cycle. Combined treatment of irradiation followed by heating is more effective in reducing the bacterial load, and the combined treatment of heating followed by irradiation showed similar effects as in irradiation treatment alone. (author)