Eat Right Practice Exam

Another name for irradiation is _____?

1. Cold pasteurization

2. Ohmic heating

3. Gamma bombarding

4. Pulsed light

The correct answer is: Cold pasteurization

The term "cold pasteurization" is often used interchangeably with irradiation, particularly in the food industry. Cold pasteurization refers to the process of using irradiation to kill or inactivate harmful microorganisms in food, thereby extending its shelf life and ensuring safety without applying heat. This method allows for the preservation of the food's nutritional quality and sensory attributes compared to traditional heat pasteurization methods. Irradiation utilizes ionizing radiation to achieve this effect, and the terminology of "cold" emphasizes that the method does not involve high temperatures, as is the case with conventional pasteurization. Additionally, this terminology helps to clarify that while the processes are aimed at reducing microbial load, they operate through different mechanisms and conditions. Other choices such as ohmic heating, gamma bombarding, and pulsed light refer to specific thermal or non-thermal processing methods. Ohmic heating involves passing an electric current through food, gamma bombarding specifically relates to a type of radiation used more broadly, and pulsed light pertains to using short bursts of light energy for disinfection. While these methods may also have applications in food safety and preservation, they do not represent the same concept as irradiation or cold pasteurization.