Question

__________ involves use of high intensity light for killing microorganisms on the surface of the food or its packaging materials.

• A. Pulsed light treatment
• B. PEF
• C. Ohmic heating
• D. Oscillating magnetic fields

Hint:

Associate "high intensity light" and "surface decontamination of food or packaging" directly with Pulsed Light (PL) treatment.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Novel non-thermal food preservation technologies are designed to inactivate microorganisms and enzymes in food products without causing the thermal degradation associated with traditional pasteurization and sterilization.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Pulsed Light (PL) treatment is a non-thermal decontamination technology that utilizes short, extremely intense pulses of broad-spectrum white light (ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared, \(200\text{--}1100\text{ nm}\)) to inactivate microorganisms.
The microbial inactivation is primarily achieved through:
1. The photochemical effect of the UV fraction, which induces cross-linking and dimerization of thymine bases in bacterial DNA, preventing replication.
2. Photothermal heating of target cells due to the high energy intensity.
This technology is highly effective for rapid surface sterilization of solid foods (like meat, fish, and baked goods) and non-transparent packaging materials (such as caps, cups, and films).
Let us review the other options:
- PEF (Pulsed Electric Field): Utilizes short pulses of high voltage to induce electroporation of microbial cell membranes in liquid foods.
- Ohmic Heating: An advanced thermal method where alternating electrical currents are passed through food, heating it internally via electrical resistance.
- Oscillating Magnetic Fields: Utilizes intense magnetic pulses to disrupt microbial membranes and DNA.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, Pulsed light treatment involves the use of high intensity light for killing microorganisms on surfaces.