Standard Practice for Dosimetry in Electron and bremsstrahlung Irradiation Facilities for Food Processing

1.1 This practice describes dosimetric procedures to be followed in facility characterization, process qualification, and routine processing for electron beam and bremsstrahlung irradiation facilities for food processing to ensure that product receives an acceptable range of absorbed doses. Other procedures related to facility characterization, process qualification, and routine product processing that may influence and be used to monitor absorbed dose in the product are also discussed. Information about effective or regulatory dose limits for food products is not within the scope of this practice (see ASTM Guides F 1355 and F 1356).

Note 1—Dosimetry is only one component of a total quality assurance program for adherence to good manufacturing practices used in the production of safe and wholesome food.

1.2 The electron energy range covered in this practice is from 0.3 MeV to 10 MeV. Such electrons can be generated in continuous or pulse modes.

1.3 The maximum electron energy of bremsstrahlung facilities covered in this practice is 10 MeV. A photon beam can be generated by inserting a bremsstrahlung converter in the electron beam path (See ISO/ASTM Practice 51608).

Note 2—For guidance in the selection, calibration, and use of specific dosimeters and interpretation of absorbed dose in the product from dose measurements, see the documents listed in ISO/ASTM Guide 51261 and practices for individual dosimetry systems listed in 2.1.

Note 3—Bremsstrahlung from machine sources and gamma rays from radioactive isotopic sources are similar in characteristics, especially as dosimetry is concerned. See ISO/ASTM Practice 51204 for the applications of dosimetry in characterization and operation of gamma-ray irradiation facilities for food processing. For information concerning electron beam irradiation technology and dosimetry, see ISO/ASTM Practice 51649.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.