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Effect of gamma radiation on total tocopherols in fresh chicken breast muscle
1Food Safety Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agriculture Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19118, USA.
Abstract:
Chicken breasts were irradiated in air with a (137)Cs source at 0.0., 1.0, 3.0, 5.6 and 10.0 kGy at 0-2°C. The fresh muscle tissue was saponified and the total tocopherols were isolated and quantitated using normal phase high performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector. Gamma irradiation of the chicken resulted in a decrease in alpha tocopherol with increasing dose. At 3 kGy and 2°C, the radiation level approved by the FDA to process poultry, there was a 6% reduction in the alpha tocopherol level. No significant changes were observed for gamma tocopherol.

