Accession Number:

AD0760486

Title:

Radiation-Sterilization of Food: A Statistical Analysis

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.

Corporate Author:

ARMY NATICK LABS MA

Personal Author(s):

• Ross, Jr, Edward W.

Report Date:

1973-03-01

Pagination or Media Count:

61.0

Abstract:

The report presents a mathematical analysis of the methods used for determining the effectiveness of radappertization radiation-sterilization of food. A general theory is developed which makes it clear that two inter-related distribution functions, the probability of organism death and the probability of can-sterilization, play important parts in the process. A critique is given of the Schmidt-Nank method for calculating the 12D dose and the implications of the experimental data are studied. Modifications in both experimental design and data analysis are proposed. These are evaluated by using them to analyze artificial data generated by a fairly realistic computer-simulation model. The proposed methods give considerably more accurate results than the traditional one, and it is concluded that the new methods appear promising for future use.

Descriptors:

• *IRRADIATED FOOD
• PROBABILITY
• RADIATION DOSAGE
• STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
• STERILIZATION

Subject Categories:

• Food, Food Service and Nutrition

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE