Effect of gamma irradiation on nutritive value & shelf life of carrots

Carrot is recognized as one of the nutritious vegetable as it contains essential nutrients, vitamins, fibers and minerals required for normal growth and development of overall being. It is gaining importance all over the world due to its health benefit.The aim of study was to extend the shelf life of carrot by eliminating the residing micro flora on carrot without affecting its nutritional values by optimizing gamma radiation dose. The samples of the carrot were sent to PARAS and irradiated at different doses i.e. 1 kGy and 1.5 kGy. The main purpose of the study was to optimize such dose at which nutritional composition of carrot was least affected and the shelf life was maximally extended.Through experimentation it has been concluded that carrot irradiated at 1.5 kGy dose has no significant effect on nutritional composition and extended the shelf life up to three weeks. Thus, 1.5 kGy dose was optimized for carrot at which nutritive value and sensory properties were not significantly affected. Hence, gamma radiation is a responsible for food safety and to increase the shelf-of carrots.