Radiation sterilization is indeed a good sterilization method, and X-rays can also be used for radiation sterilization.
But not only X-rays can be used for irradiation sterilization, but also others, such as ultraviolet rays, alpha rays, gamma rays, beta rays and so on. Generally speaking, irradiation sterilization is very suitable for foods that are not suitable for high-temperature sterilization, and it is an excellent cold sterilization technology. For example, many pickled chicken feet in Chongqing are irradiated and sterilized.
It is worth mentioning that prepackaged foods, which uses radiation sterilization, must indicate this sterilization method near the product name.
Principle of several kinds of irradiation sterilization;
Ultraviolet ray: ultraviolet ray makes adjacent pyrimidine in DNA molecule form pyrimidine dimer, inhibits DNA replication and transcription, and kills microorganisms. Food enterprises usually use ultraviolet lamps, one of which is 10 square meter, which is beneficial to ultraviolet sterilization and keeps the production environment clean. However, the ultraviolet penetration ability is very weak, and generally only the surface of the object can be sterilized.
X-ray and γ-ray: They can make other substances oxidize or generate free radicals (OH·H) and then act on biomolecules, or directly act on biomolecules, breaking hydrogen bonds, oxidizing double bonds, destroying cyclic structures or polymerizing some molecules, thus destroying and changing the structure of biomacromolecules, thus inhibiting or killing microorganisms.