Microbial decontamination of dried cassava (Manihot esculenta) chips using gamma irradiation
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Date
2023
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Radiation Physics and Chemistry
Abstract
microbial quality of dried cassava chips. Thirteen (13) month old white-flesh cassava roots were purchased from
an experimental farm of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) at
Pokuase in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The cassava roots were cleaned, peeled, washed and processed
into chips, and then oven-dried. The dried cassava chips were gamma irradiated to target doses of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5
and 10.0 kGy at a dose rate of 0.75 kGy/h. Un-irradiated chips were used as controls. Total Viable Count (TVC),
Total Coliform Count (TCC), Yeast and Mould Count (YMC), Staphylococcus aureus count (SAC), Bacillus species
count (BSC) and Salmonella count (SC) of the dried cassava chips were determined using standard methods.
Coliform, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp, yeast and moulds were detected in the dried cassava chips, except
Salmonella. Gamma irradiation significantly reduced the microorganisms recorded on the surfaces of the dried
cassava chips in dose-dependent manner. Radiation decontamination has the potential to improve microbial
quality of dried cassava chips.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Radiation decontamination, Cassava chips, Bioburden, Microbial quality