Inter-country transportation of irradiated dried Korean fish to prove its quality and identity

Abstract Commercial packages of sliced–dried Pollack (64 kg) were gamma-irradiated at 5 kGy and transported along with the non-irradiated control from Korea to India via both air and ocean cargos. The samples received at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre were stored at ambient temperature up to 6 months after irradiation and periodically examined for their qualities. Sensory evaluation by 35 panel members from the Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India showed that 60% of the panelists preferred irradiated Pollack to the non-irradiated one. Irradiated samples showed an acceptable quality over 6 months at ambient temperature from the hygienic and organoleptic point of view. Irradiated samples could be identified from the non-irradiated ones by the analysis of thermoluminescence and hydrocarbons. This trial proved the feasibility of inter-country transportation of irradiated dried Pollack.