Inactivation of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in fruits and vegetables by gamma irradiation

Doses of gamma (Co-60) irradiation ranging between 1 and 10 kGy were used to investigate the inactivation of hepatitis A virus (HAV) inoculated onto lettuce and strawberries at ambient temperature. The number of surviving viruses at a given dose of radiation was determined by a plaque assay. Data analysis by a linear model indicated that D-10 values of 2.72+/-0.05 and 2.97+/-0.18 kGy were required to achieve a I-log reduction in HAV titre in lettuce and strawberries, respectively. These data indicate that gamma irradiation doses between 2.7 and 3.0 kGy would be required to achieve greater than or equal to 90% kill in HAV populations on fruits and vegetables. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.