Applicability of the EN 1785 Method for Detection of Paprika Irradiated with E‐Beam

Electron beam (β‐rays) bombardment of spice is a feasible method of microbial sanitation in food products. Paprika spice has a high bioburden and it must be treated in order to reduce it, as well as to guarantee the absence of pathogenic bacteria. However, apart from killing vegetative microorganisms, β‐rays also cause changes in chemical components. This being the case, detecting metabolites generated by ionizing radiation is a viable way to detect whether or not a food has been irradiated. Among these methods, the detection of 2‐alkylcyclobutanones (2‐ACBs) has been proposed by the European Committee for Standardization, using method EN 1785. Detailed research on the production of 2‐ACBs in irradiated paprika has not been published previously, but the present study detects 2‐dodecilcyclobutanone and 2‐tetradecylcyclobutanone in irradiated paprika. Evidence of a third metabolite, cis‐2‐tetradec‐5′‐enylcyclobutanone, derived from oleic acid, cannot be confirmed. However, the detection of 2‐ACBs can only be used as a qualitative marker of paprika irradiation because its concentration does not agree with that of its parent fatty acids, or with the doses of irradiation applied. Practical Applications: Directive1999/3/EEC contains a list of foods and food ingredients that can be treated with ionizing radiation, where paprika is included as a spice. In this sense, 2‐ACBs can be formed from free or esterified fatty acids contained in paprika when it is treated with β‐rays. Those 2‐ACBs can be detected using the EN 1785:2003 method. Therefore, this study for the first‐time demonstrates that the EN 1785:2003 is feasible method to detect if paprika has been irradiated. 2‐Alkylcyclobutanones (2‐ACBs) are formed from free or esterified fatty acids in paprika when it is treated with ionizing radiation (β‐rays) in order to obtain microorganism sanitation. This study for the first‐time proves that detection of 2‐ACBs in irradiated paprika samples using the EN 1785:2003 method is feasible.