Freshly laid eggs can pick up microbes like salmonella and e.coli from the hen's environment. These microbes remain on the shell, contaminating other foods and entering the egg over time.
New radiation technology is being deployed to disinfect eggs using soft electron beams, helping to make this staple safer and easier to trade worldwide.
Recent research introduced a 'dry and cold' method to disinfect whole eggs using soft electron beams. "This equipment is not only a victory for technology, it is also a model of collaboration in science and industry" says Lui Yanqin of Tongweixinda, the research arm of an electron beam company, formed from Tsinghua University and the NUCTECH company in China. "Data shows that untreated samples had about 100 000 bacteria per egg, but soft electrons reduced this to less than about ten."
Making Eggs Safer with Soft Electrons
The new technique brushes a curtain of soft electrons over the eggshell, killing harmful microbes without damaging the yolk or white. Unlike traditional chemical washes that require significant energy to dry the eggs, this method is more efficient, cost-effective, and factory-friendly, offering a safer alternative for large-scale egg processing. It could also help chicken producers.
"The mortality rate of chicken embryos and poor quality of chicks due to microbial contamination affect breeding efficiency as well as food safety," said Yanqin. The magic of soft electrons is that they treat the eggshell and precisely eliminate bacteria and viruses. It's revolutionary, replacing fumigation and disinfectants, and a single device can efficiently process up to one million eggs a day."
This year, World Food Safety Day highlights the role of science in helping the world produce better food, prevent foodborne illnesses, and bolster food security.
The IAEA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) support countries in this effort by applying nuclear science and technology to enhance food safety and control programmes. Research and training undertaken through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture supports countries in detecting harmful contaminants, verify food authenticity and strengthen national food inspection systems.
Making Food Safer with Nuclear Techniques
Food irradiation is an innovative, gentle, and non-invasive technique that uses radiation to keep food fresh and safe to eat. It inactivates harmful microorganisms like salmonella, e.coli and listeria, reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses.
Food irradiation extends shelf life of food, reduce food losses and waste, and ensures that consumers have access to fresh, safe products. In Viet Nam, for example, irradiation has enabled the country to boost its food exports, prevent the spread of transboundary pests and eliminate microbes that could spoil food. These efforts are supported by the IAEA through its Joint FAO/IAEA Centre.
"Food irradiation is under utilized, but we are working to raise its profile as the benefits it provides will serve consumers and producers and help meet many food safety issues," said Carl Blackburn, an expert in food irradiation at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre. "With continued collaboration, support and capacity building, countries around the world are strengthening their approach to using ionizing radiation - and promoting the technology to ensure that consumers can have confidence in what's on their plates."
The IAEA, through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre, will continue to support food safety and quality and forge partnerships under the Atoms4Food initiative, which aims to leverage innovative nuclear techniques to enhance agricultural productivity, reduce food losses and wastes, ensure food safety and improve nutrition.
