Belajar Bersama Periset Rindy Panca Tanhindarto: Mengenal Apa Itu Iradiasi Pangan?

Summary

This video explains the process of food irradiation, a technique used to preserve food by exposing it to controlled radiation. Approved by international bodies like the IAEA and BPOM, this method helps extend shelf life, eliminate harmful microorganisms, and ensure food safety without making the food radioactive. It is particularly useful for sterilizing foods and making them safe for people with compromised immune systems. The video also debunks common misconceptions, explaining that irradiated food does not lose nutritional value and is safe for consumption. Viewers are also shown how to identify irradiated food by the Radura logo.

Takeaways

• 😀 Food irradiation is a food preservation technique using ionizing radiation, approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and regulated by Indonesia's BPOM.
• 😀 Over 55 countries use food irradiation to prevent foodborne diseases, sterilize food, and extend shelf life, including for astronaut meals.
• 😀 Food irradiation involves controlled exposure to gamma rays, electron beams, or X-rays to kill harmful microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and insects.
• 😀 The process helps to extend shelf life, sterilize food, and reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses such as salmonella and E. coli.
• 😀 Food irradiation does not kill viruses or remove toxins from food, and it doesn't eliminate all hazards, so food safety practices must still be followed.
• 😀 Food irradiation can be used to sterilize food for vulnerable individuals, such as cancer patients with weakened immune systems.
• 😀 Common Indonesian food products like rendang, pepes ikan, and semur daging are irradiated to ensure they can be stored at room temperature without spoiling.
• 😀 Irradiated food is safe as it does not become radioactive; the radiation dose is controlled, and no residual energy remains after the process.
• 😀 Irradiated food does not pose any toxicological risks and does not alter the nutritional value, even when high doses are used for sterilization.
• 😀 Products that have undergone irradiation can be identified by the international 'radura' symbol on their packaging, and certain labels must include 'irradiated' information for ingredient mixes.

Q & A

What is food irradiation?

Food irradiation is a method of exposing food to ionizing radiation in a controlled and measured manner to improve food safety and preservation. The radiation used can include gamma rays, high-energy electron beams, or X-rays.

Which organizations approve the use of food irradiation?

The use of food irradiation has been approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and, in Indonesia, by the Food and Drug Authority (BPOM).

What are the benefits of food irradiation?

Food irradiation helps extend the shelf life of products, reduces microbial contamination such as insects, fungi, and harmful bacteria (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli), and sterilizes foods that do not require refrigeration. It also makes food safer for vulnerable groups like patients with low immune systems.

Can food irradiation remove toxins or viruses?

No, food irradiation does not remove toxins or eliminate viruses from food. It is designed to kill harmful microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and insects, but not viruses.

How does food irradiation work to preserve food?

Food irradiation works by using controlled doses of ionizing radiation to kill microorganisms that can spoil food, such as bacteria, fungi, and insects. It can be done at different doses depending on the intended purpose—lower doses for extending shelf life and higher doses for sterilization.

Is food irradiation safe?

Yes, food irradiation is considered safe. It does not make food radioactive, and the doses used are controlled. When the process is completed, no energy remains in the food, making it safe for consumption.

What foods are commonly irradiated?

Common foods that are irradiated include processed ready-to-eat foods such as rendang, pepes, bandeng presto, and semur. These foods are suitable for irradiation as they can be stored at room temperature.

What is the Radura logo on food packaging?

The Radura logo indicates that the food has been irradiated. This logo is internationally recognized and must be displayed on food packaging that has undergone the irradiation process.

How can I identify irradiated food products?

Irradiated food products can be identified by the Radura logo on their packaging. If the food is a composite product, the label will state that it has been irradiated, though the Radura logo may not always appear.

Does food irradiation affect the nutritional value of food?

No, food irradiation does not alter the nutritional value of the food. Even at high doses, the process does not affect the food’s nutritional content.