Abstract
This experiment was conducted to investigate radurization effects of gamma ray and electron beam irradiation at 1.5 and 3.0 kGy on beef steaks during 8 days of storage at 5$^{\circ}C$. Total bacteria count, psychrotrophs, mesophiles and thermophiles were analyzed at 2 days intervals. Nonirradiated beef steak was used a scontrol Total bacteria counts, psychrotrophs, mesophiles and thermophiles of the control samples showed 3.03∼4.72 logCFU / g at 0 day and increased to 7.67∼10.90 logCFU / g during 8 days storage except thermophiles. Total bacteria counts, psychrotrophs and mesophiles of beef steaks at 8 days were significantly (p＜0.05) decreased to 3.61∼5.43 logCFU / g by gamma ray and to 3.83∼7.02 logCFU / g by electron beam irradiation at 1.5 and 3.0 kGy. Thermophiles of all irradiated samples at any dose were not detectable through 8 days storage. These results suggested that both gamma ray and electron beam irradiation were effective to extend lag phase of bacterial growth of refrigerated beef. Gamma ray irradiation was better than electron beam irradiation in terms of radurization effects of beef.
