1 This practice outlines the installation qualification pro-gram for an irradiator and the dosimetric procedures to be followed during operational qualification, performance quali-fication, and routine processing in facilities that process food with ionizing radiation from radionuclide gamma sources to ensure that product has been treated within a predetermined range of absorbed dose. Other procedures related to operational qualification, performance qualification, and routine process-ing that may influence absorbed dose in the product are also discussed. Information about effective or regulatory dose limits for food products is not within the scope of this practice (see ASTM Guides F 1355, F 1356, F 1736, and F 1885).
Note 1—Dosimctry is only one component of a total quality assurance program for adherence to good manufacturing practices used in the production of sale and wholesome food.
Note 2—ISO/ASTM Practice 51431 describes dosimetric procedures
for electron beam and X-ray (brcmsstrahlung) irradiation facilities for food processing.
2 For guidance in the selection and calibration of dosim-etry systems, and interpretation of measured absorbed dose in the product, see ISO/ASTM Guide 51261 and ASTM Practice E 666. For the use of specific dosimetry systems, see ASTM Practices E 1026 and E 2304, and ISO/ASTM Practices 51205. 51275, 51276, 51310, 51401, 51538, 51540, 51607, 51650, and 51956. For discussion of radiation dosimetry for gamma-rays and X-rays also see 1CRU Report 14.
3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.