This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Researchers are gauging the effectiveness of electron beams in the fight against foodborne pathogens in poultry. "Impact of Electron Beam (eBeam) Treatment on Meat Quality and Sensory Attributes of Ground Chicken and Turkey" is published in the journal Poultry Science.
At the heart of the study is eBeam, a nonthermal technology that uses high-energy electron beams to cause irreparable damage to pathogen DNA. Foodborne illness is no small thing. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it typically coordinates 17–36 investigations of foodborne illnesses each week.
In a study, the CDC said that seven foodborne pathogens accounted for 53,300 hospitalizations and 931 deaths in 2019 alone. Along with X-rays and gamma rays, eBeam is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for "cold pasteurization"—a germ-killing technique that doesn't rely on heat.
X-rays, gamma rays and electron beams have been used for decades "for pathogen control in fresh, frozen and refrigerated food," said Palmy Jesudhasan, a research microbiologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service. Currently, irradiated fruits and spices are on grocery shelves, and Omaha Steaks and Schwan's use irradiation to pasteurize beef, Jesudhasan said.
However, the technology's use in "poultry still lacks the data to build confidence" in its use. "We started with ground poultry because it is a major source of salmonella and campylobacter and a key driver of recalls," Jesudhasan said. The study had dual goals: First, to understand the ability of eBeam technology to reduce or control food pathogens and, second, to evaluate the effects of irradiation treatment on meat quality, he said.
The research team used the world's largest electron beam irradiator at the National Center for Electron Beam Research, housed at Texas A&M University. "eBeam is mainly used for sterilization purposes," Jesudhasan said. "When you expose any cells, whether it's human cells, bacterial cells or virus to the beam, it hits the nucleus and shreds DNA or RNA so bacteria cannot replicate." While it can halt bad bacteria, the beam can induce other effects.
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