Radiation processing to prevent food spoilage

Mangalore, Mar 9 (UNI) Radiation processing can prevent food spoilage and microbial contamination, Dr A K Kohli, Chief Executive of Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), Mumbai said.

Inaugurating a four-day national workshop yesterday on ''Applications of Radioisotopes in Biology,'' jointly organised by University Science Instrumentation Centre (USIC) of Mangalore University and BRIT at Konaje, near here, he said huge quantity of food articles were getting wasted in India due to spoilage and microbial contamination.

Spices and grains were right commodities for preservation by radiation processing, he said.

Radioisotopes had contributed in the development of new areas of molecular biology such as genomics and proteomics. It had also contributed in the study of gene identification, gene expression and preparation of DNA probe for various applications, radiation treatment and other scientific purposes,'' he said.

Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof K M Kaveriappa said the University plans to start a new certificate course, in collaboration with BRIT, in the area of applications of radioisotopes in biological sciences, for the benefit of teachers, students, researchers and scientific community.

UNI MA SY KP0847