Applicability of Irradiation Detection Techniques and Quality Characterization of Cinnamon Powders Available in the Korean Market

The market availability of irradiated products requires proper labeling to safeguard the consumer’s right of choice. Ten commercial cinnamon powders of different origins were investigated to confirm their irradiation history using photostimulated-luminescence, thermoluminescence, and electron spin resonance analyses. Photostimulated-luminescence analysis screened out one sample as an intermediate (700–5000 PCs) while all others were negative. Upon thermoluminescence analysis, two samples yielded weak but clear peaks in the temperature range of 150–250oC, showing the possibility of irradiation. The electron spin resonance analysis showed limited sensitivity for all the commercial samples with the absence of radiation-specific features. The applicability of these techniques was confirmed by analyzing the radiation-induced detection markers in the in-house irradiated samples. Hygienic quality parameters and physicochemical properties (moisture content, pH, Hunter’s color, and particle size) showed variable r...