RADIATION PROCESSING IN PROMOTING AND ENSURING

FOOD SECURITY IN NIGERIA

BY
1 2
O. D. Oyeyinka, C. A. Adesanmi
1.
Gamma Irradiation Facility, Nuclear Technology Centre
2.
Radiation Application and Safety, Nuclear Technology Centre,
Sheda Science and Technology Complex, Abuja

1.0 ABSTRACT

Despite the abundance of fertile land, able bodied men and women, surface water, ground
water and rain water, genetic resource and several billions of naira invested in food
production and agricultural developments in Nigeria, increasing demand for food and poor
food processing have led to rise in food prices in Nigeria and the world at large. Irradiation
technology and food irradiation in particular can reduce post harvest losses and the
technology can increase food production and hence food security.

Food irradiation has been defined by WHO/FAO, 1988 as a deliberate exposure of a food
product to machine- generated X- rays, electrons or gamma radiation from a radioactive
source.

Many research works have been carried out by Nigerian engineers, scientists, and
technologists in various areas of food irradiation for about four decades. Radiation
penetrates and passes through products, eliminating all insects and micro organism found in
the product without leaving behind any residue or carcinogenic materials. Radiation
processing is clean and environmentally friendly.

Food security in Nigeria and the positive contribution of radiation processing to ensure food
security and benefits Nigerians can derive in the optimal use of gamma irradiation facility in
Nigeria was discussed.

The engineering design of the facility and different modes of operation to ensure food
security was discussed. The facility can be used for processing of large quantity of food
products to ensure food security was elaborated upon.
(Keywords: Food security, food irradiation, food safety, food quality, employment
generation and Gamma Irradiation Facility)

97 Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008

2.0 INTRODUCTION Food security exists when all people, at all
times, have access to sufficient, safe and
Food irradiation is a deliberate exposure of
nutritious food to meet their dietary needs
a food product to machine- generated X-
and food preferences for an active and
rays, electrons or gamma radiation from a
healthy life (FAO). Food security for a
radioactive source. In radiation processing
household means access by all members at
of food, only gamma rays from Cobalt-60,
all times to enough food for an active,
or Cesium-137; X-rays generated by an
healthy life. Food security includes at a
electron accelerator at a maximum energy
minimum: (1) the ready availability of
of 5 MeV (0.8pJ); or electrons generated
nutritionally adequate and safe foods, and
by an electron accelerator operated at or
(2) an assured ability to acquire acceptable
below 10MeV (1.6pJ), are recommended (
foods in socially acceptable ways (that is,
WHO/FAO, 1988).
without resorting to emergency food
supplies, scavenging, stealing, or other
The adoption of food irradiation by the
coping strategies). (USDA).
codex Alimentarius Commission in 1983
and simultaneous release of the Codex
World-wide around 852 million men,
General Standards for Irradiated Foods and
women and children are chronically
its associated Code of practice for the
hungry due to extreme poverty, while up
operation of Irradiation facilities used for
to 2 billion people lack food security
the treatment of foods have enhanced the
intermittently due to varying degrees of
commercial application of the Irradiation
poverty (FAO, 2003). Over 60% of the
Technology.
worlds undernourished people are in Asia,
and a quarter in Africa. The proportion of
Food security refers to the availability of
people who are hungry, however, is
food and one's access to it. A household is
greater in Africa (33%) than Asia (16%).
considered food secured when its
The latest FAO figures indicate that there
occupants do not live in hunger or fear of
are 22 countries, 16 of which are in Africa
starvation. Two commonly used
in which the undernourishment prevalence
definitions of food security come from the
rate is over 35%. As of the first two
UN's Food and Agriculture Organization
quarters of 2008, increased farming for use
(FAO) and the United States Department
in biofuel, world oil prices at more than
of Agriculture (USDA):
$130 a barrel, global population growth,
climate change, loss of agricultural land to

98 Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008

residential and industrial development, and
increasing consumer demand in China and
India which have pushed up the prices of
grain. Food riots have recently taken place
in many countries across the world and
Nigeria is not exclusive (1).
One of the most effective strategies that
could be used in ensuring food security in
a developing country like Nigeria is to
drastically reduce post harvest losses.
Accurate figure of post-harvest losses are
difficult to come by but they range from
10% to 30% of various harvested crops
(10)
. Coli.
Limited surveys carried out at the Nigerian
Stored Products Research Institute
(NSPRI) over a period of five years in the
seventies and early eighties estimated post-
harvest loses to be of the order of 10% for
grains, about 25% for roots and tubers, and
at least 30% for fresh fruits and
vegetables (10).
By now the loss would be more due to
epileptic power supply, infrastructural
decays e.g. road, water, e.t.c.
magnitude of post-harvest losses
Nigeria can only be described
frightening. Research has demonstrated the
effectiveness of irradiation processing in
the control of food losses due to insects,
microorganisms and physiological
processes such as sprouting and ripening.
99
The complexity of acute and chronic food
crises in Nigeria requires a multifaceted
interdisciplinary approach to include
radiation processing of food and industrial
products.
Food contamination causes widespread
health problems and leads to reduced
(8)
economic activities . A US report
showed that annually, there are 32,5000
cases of hospitalizations due to food
poisoning of which 5,000 ended in death
due to Food- Borne Diseases- Salmonella,
Campylobacter, Vibro, Shigella, and E-
The number of deaths resulting from food
borne diseases in Nigeria can only be
imagined (absence of adequate data and
statistics). Irradiation processing of food
has been found ideal and leaves no toxic
chemical residue.
2.2 Irradiation Facilities
A major consideration in the design of an
irradiation facility is the uniformity of the
distribution of absorbed dose for a given
the
product. Certainly, the market forces and
in
operational practice dictate the various
as
design parameters in order to achieve the
optimal utilization of such plant. In order
to optimise the irradiator design, it is
obvious that we should first determine
which products we intend to treat, their
Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008
volumes, dose requirement and annual
fluctuation. Some important design
parameters affecting the optimal utilization
of a gamma irradiator are batch and
continuous modes; product carrier; source
configuration; and computer controlled
monitoring system (CCMS).
3.0 The Gamma Irradiation Facility,
SHESTCO, Abuja, Nigeria.
The Gamma Irradiation facility (GIF),
Sheda Science and Technology Complex
(SHESTCO),
Abuja was designed as a research and
experimentation facility. Although it is a
pilot plant, it may be operated for
industrial purposes.
The plant is to demonstrate the advantages
of irradiation technology and applications.
The design took into account the different
needs of the various research applications
which require a wide dose range, a variety
of techniques, different product sizes,
shapes, mass, volume, densities, and types.
Varying doses are used for microbiological
seed mutation breeding and sterile Insect
Technique (SIT) (0.005 0.2), irradiation
processing for food preservation (0.04 10
KGy), sterilization of medical,
pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and
packages (up to 25KGy) and cross
linking of polymers (100KGy and more).
100
The six different modes of operations
(sample elevator, stationary, swivelling, 2
path inner lane, 2- path outer lane and 4-
path lane) were incorporated in the design
for optimal utilization of the facility. The
dose range, mass range and range of
irradiation time practicable were
established, and advantages for radiation
processing of food and industrial products
particularly used for improvement of
human health were enumerated for the six
modes of operations.
The plant has a designed capacity of 3.7 x
1016 Bq (1.0 MCi) and operation
commenced with capacity of 1.1 x 1016
Bq. It consists mainly of an irradiation
room housing the irradiation source, a
continuous overhead conveyor transport
system for the products, a hall for handling
of the various materials to be irradiated
and eleven laboratories to perform
research and development activities in
radiation processing and provide services
to relevant organisations and industries.
After determining the mode and time of
irradiation, the products to be irradiated
are filled in suitable containers which are
stacked up on pallets. A forklift places the
pallets on the pallet conveyor, where
registration and identification is
performed. By means of the transfer
station, two pallets are put in each wagon
Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008
of the overhead conveyor. Depending on
the irradiation time and mode of operation,
the overhead conveyor transports the
materials within the wagon to the
irradiation room, where irradiation takes
place at determined sequences. The
following operating modes are considered
in the design for optimal utilization.
3.1 Sample Elevator
Sample Elevator is an autonomous part of
the facility. It can operate by a separate
control and independent of the Process
Logic Circuit (PLC). However, it can only
operate when a source rack is up in the
irradiation position. Only the small source
rack is raised when very low dose rate is
required and for high dose rate the two
source rack are raised. Irradiation chamber
is small and can only take small samples.
Characteristics of the chamber are:
(i) Height - 390mm
(ii) Diameter -195mm
(iii) Volume - 11.5 Litres
Measurements were carried out to confirm
the specification of the manufacturer.
Different samples of varying sizes and
shapes were irradiated in the sample
elevator mode of operation; the maximum
volume of samples used was 0.0115m3.
The dose range (0.005 -0.5) KGy was
carried out in a day batch irradiation at a
101
dose rate of 0.05 KGy per hour. The mass
range is about 0.005 0.1Kg. Irradiation is
limited to the time the source rack stayed
up.
3.2 Stationary Irradiation
In the stationary mode, irradiation of
products was carried out in charts located
close to the middle axis of the source rack
protection. This process has been repeated
several times with different products of
varying sizes, shape and bulk densities.
The results from the series of
experimentations showed that the mode of
operation is best for products requiring
high dose of 0.5KGy and above. Small
quantity of products as small as 0.01Kg up
could be irradiated. Two charts, one on
each side, may also be used to increase the
quantity of products that could be
irradiated in a batch. Irradiation carts are
movable and light devices on wheels. They
are usually numbered as 1 & 2. In this
mode of operation , there are no limits for
dose, mass and irradiation time, which
may suggest that the mode is good for all
irradiation types but there are limitations,
such as non uniformity of absorbed dose.
3.3 Swivelling Mode
In the swivelling mode of operation, two
wagons were filled with products and
made to rotate near the middle and the
Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008
opposite sides of the source rack. This
mode of operation was carried out a
number of times with products of different
densities, sizes and shapes.
Technical Characteristics:
Rotation speed: 2.5 rotations per min
Product Packing: 4 pallets in 2 wagons
Irradiation Parameters Maximum dwell
time 59 min. 59 Sec
Irradiation in the swivelling device is
carried out with products in 4- pallet and
2-wagon carriers. The maximum mass and
dwell time are 1900kg and 59 minutes
59Seconds respectively. The products in
the 4- pallet and 2- wagon carriers can be
irradiated in many circles which imply that
the total irradiation time is not a constraint
as the products can be irradiated as long as
it is desired. The only limitation is the
mass and size of the products which must
be accommodated on 4- pallet and 2-
wagon carriers with a maximum mass of
1900Kg.
3.4 Two Inner Path Lane
In this mode of operation only 13 wagons
are required for the 2-path inner lane. In
the two inner path lanes, there are 8
positions, 4 on each side of the source rack
and close to the source rack protector.
Minimum dwell time is 5 minutes which is
the minimum time spent in each position.
102
Dose rate is very high; it is close to 1.0
KGy/hr. The minimum mass is 1900kg
and maximum mass is 11700Kg. However
there is no limit for the irradiation time
since operation of many circles are
allowed and irradiation can be performed
in complete automation for days and
weeks without any inference.
The 2-inner lane mode of operation is
recommended for processing of products
such as spices that require medium dose
range of 5 10 KGy, products requiring
sterilization dose of 25 KGy and products
requiring higher dose such as polymers to
improve mechanical, electrical and thermal
properties.
3.5 Two Outer Path Lanes
There are 8 positions, 4 on each side at a
little distance away from the source rack
protector in the 2 outer path lanes. In the
same way as the 2- inner path lane, 13
wagons are required for the 2-path outer
lane mode of operation.
Minimum dwell time is 5 minutes which is
the minimum time spent in each position.
Dose rate, on the average, is about 0.6
KGy/hr. Minimum mass is 1900Kg and
maximum mass is 11700Kg. However,
there is no limit for the irradiation time
since operation of many circles are
allowed and irradiation can be performed
Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008
in complete automation for days and
weeks without any inference.
When high dose is required 2- path inner
lane is preferred to 2- path outer lane mode
of operation and for low dose the 2- outer
path is preferred.
3.6 Four Path Lane
There are 16 positions, 8 on each side, in 2
rows of 4. One row of 4 positions on each
side is at little at a little distance away
from the source rack protector (2- outer
path lane. For this mode of operation, 40
pallets in 20 wagons are required for the 4-
path lane mode of operation.
Minimum dwell time is 5 minutes which is
the minimum time spent in each position.
The average dose rate is more than 1.2
KGY/hr. Minimum mass is 11,700 Kg and
maximum mass is 18,000Kg.
However, there is no limit for the
irradiation time since operation of many
circles are allowed and irradiation can be
performed in complete automation for
days and weeks without any interruption.
For a large volume, high dose, large mass
of products, 4-path lane has more
advantages than all the irradiation modes
of operation. (See fig1. and fig. 2)
103
4.0 Roles of Irradiation in
Guaranteeing Food Security
Irradiation processing technique is used for
sprout inhibition of onions, potatoes,
yams, e.g.; insect disinfestations of
grains(e.g. maize, beans, sorghum, millet,
e.g. ) and cash crops (e.g. cocoa, kola nuts,
e.g. ); reduction of microbial load in spices
(e.g. chilli pepper, ginger, e.g. ); microbial
decontamination of meat, pork ,poultry,
fish, seafood (e.g. shrimps, lobsters crabs,
e.t.c. ); and delay ripening in fruits (e.g.
mangoes, bananas, plantains, tomatoes,
e.t.c. );
At low doses ( 0.1KGy) of radiation,
sprouting (growth, which degrades onion)
is easily inhibited. Between the peak and
the lean seasons, the price of onions could,
for example vary as much as 600% all
over the country. Onions can be preserved
and stored for about 4- 6 months till the off
season. Potatoes could also be preserved
for one whole year without sprouting;
Sprouting of yams can also be inhibited at
low dose.
Low doses ( 1KGy) of radiation are
required to control insects and pests
(beetle, moths, weevils, e.t.c). in stored
products such as grains, pulses, flour,
cereals, coffee beans, cocoa beans, dried
fruits, dried nuts ( Kola nuts ) and other
food products such as flours. Once they
Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008
are properly packaged and
radiation will penetrate the products and
kill all the components
developmental stages of the
including the eggs, larva, pupa and the
(13)
adult insects .They will be preserved
for as long as they are enclosed in the
packaging materials. Any time it is opened
the food products are 100% safe to eat.
Methylbromide, the most widely used
fumigant for insect control, is being
phased out globally because of its ozone
depleting properties; therefore Nigerians
are enjoined to embrace irradiation
technology which is readily available at
the Gamma Irradiation Facility, Sheda
Science and Technology Complex, Abuja,
Nigeria.
Spices, herbs and vegetable seasonings are
valued for their distinctive flavours, colour
and aromas. However, they are often
heavily contaminated with microorganisms
because of the environment and processing
conditions under which they are produced.
Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the
microbial load before they
incorporated into food products. Heat
treatment is inadequate because it causes
significant losses in flavour and aroma.
Radiation processing at dose up to 10 KGy
completely decontaminates spices and
treated, leaves taste, flavours, colour and aromas
unaffected.
of the
Also chemical fumigants with sterilizing
insect
gases such as ethylene oxide to destroy
contaminating micro organisms has been
banned in European Union (EU) and many
other countries of the world because the
oxide is carcinogenic ( it causes cancer ).
Irradiation technology has been found
ideal and its use results in cleaner and
better quality herbs and spices compared
with those fumigated with ethylene oxide.
Industrial Radiation processing of spices at
the commercial level has been carried out
in more than 30 countries in the last two
decades, therefore the technology is not
new to the world and it is safe.
The shelf-life of seafood, fish, meat and
poultry can be extended with combination
treatment with low dose (5KGy) of
radiation and refrigeration to ensure that
flavour and texture remain unaltered.
Radiation will eliminate Salmonella
(micro organism that spoils food of animal
origin) and some bacteria in fresh poultry.
are Shelf- life can double when meat is kept
below 50C. At SHESTCO, two (2) giant
freezers/ refrigerators can contain several
tons of products each, one is for incoming
(untreated) products and the second is for
outgoing (treated) products.

104 Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008

Radiation (between 1-2 KGy) can also (iii) State governments, local
slow down the ripening of some fruits, governments and entrepreneurs should be
control fungi rot and delay maturation in encouraged to acquire low or high dose
certain vegetables. For example, ripening gamma irradiation for food security and
of mangoes, banana, plantains and sterilisation of medical devices.
tomatoes can be delayed for about 2 weeks
6.0 CONCLUSION
by irradiation.

Irradiation Technology is not a new

There are many export products that
process. It was first patented for food
require quarantine treatment for them to be
preservation in France in 1930.Since the
acceptable in the international market.
early 1970s Nigeria has joined the rest of
They include chilli pepper, gum Arabic,
the world in research and development
cocoa beans, e.t.c. fresh fruits and
(R&D) in food irradiation.
vegetables. They could be irradiated to
overcome quarantine barriers against fruit
As early as January 2008, there were over
flies at SHESTCO. (See fig. 3 and fig. 4)
50 countries in the world with commercial
food irradiation plants in operation,
5.0 The Way Forward
including Nigeria.
(i) Capacity building programmes in
The following special features make food
nuclear science and engineering must be
irradiation appropriate technology for
expanded and skill acquisition should be
Nigeria. The process is energy saving, it
intensified in irradiation technology in
employs the most economical type of
order to acquire a skilled labour force
packaging material and method and there
capable of dealing with the applications of
is no need for expensive tin plates that are
nuclear science and engineering real life
required in canning process or other
problems.
specialised packaging materials as in
(ii) Educational and awareness vacuum packaging.
programmes must be embarked upon
Irradiated foods maintain their freshness
through sponsorship on the radio, TV and
because they are not subjected to excessive
newspaper to help provide the public with
heating during irradiation. Irradiation is
the information that they need to have
not known to leave toxic chemical residues
informed opinions about the benefits
unlike many pesticides used in stored
derivable from irradiation technology.

105 Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008

products. It does not therefore pose health Increased radiation food processing
hazards as it leaves no foreign residue. enables farmers to grow more food, which
will translate into more money to the rural
Contrary to the general believe, (including
population (about 75% of Nigerians); and
our educated people), radiation processed
market conditions that offer high farm
food does not become radioactive. Nobody
incomes.
has been reported to become radioactive
after undergoing X-ray for diagnosis in the With more money, farmers are more likely
hospital. The same way, food irradiated to diversify production and produce value
does not get in contact with radioactive added produce particularly for export
material, therefore they cannot become which will benefit not only the farmers but
radioactive. They are safe for human the Nigerian economy as a whole.
consumption immediately after irradiation.

106 Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008

7.0 REFERENCES 7. Alonge, D. O. (1984). Smoke

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_faq.html (2008) and Public Health Aspects. PhD Thesis,

University Of Ibadan , Nigeria.
2. Food Security in the United States:
Measuring Household Food Security 8. FAO/IAEA/WHO (1999) International

USDA (2007). Conference On Ensuring the Safety and

Quality of Food Through Radiation
3. Agboola, S.D (1982). Research for
Processing, Antalya, Turkey.
effective food storage in Nigeria . NSPRI,
Occ paper series, No 4, 21. 9. http://foodafrica.nri.org (2008)

4. Adesanmi C. A (1994) Safety 10. Agboola S.D (1992). Technology for

Measures in Irradiation Processes The Reduction of Post Harvest Losses in

Proceeding of the National Workshop Food Crops: An Assessment of The

on Irradiation Technique and Its Potentials And Problems Of Food

Application in the Food & Irradiation In Nigeria : Proceedings of the

Pharmaceuticals Industries, CERD, OAU, National Workshop on Irradiation

Ile- Ife (86-87). Technology And Its Application in the

Food and Pharmaceuticals Industries,
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Contribution Of food Irradiation in Post
Research and Development, OAU, Ile
Harvest Management in Ghana Proc of a
Ife.pp28-30.
Symp, AIX_ EN_ PROVENCE, 1-5
March 1993 Jointly Organised by The 11. FAO/IAEA (1991) Use of Irradiation

IAEA, FAO AND WHO. to Control Infectivity of Food Borne

Parasites: Proc of a Final Research Co-
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Applications Proceeding of the National
Workshop on Irradiation Technique and Its 12. Olaifa, J. I., T. A. Adebayo, C.A

Application in the Food & Adesanmi, and Salau A. M. (1990)

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Gamma Irradiation Int. J. Appl. Radiat.
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107 Nigerian Society of Engineers YANKARI, 2008