FOOD IRRADIATION AND COLD CHAIN INFRASTRUCTURE IN INDIA

FOOD IRRADIATION AND COLD CHAIN INFRASTRUCTURE IN INDIA

1. Food irradiation is a preservation method in which food is exposed to controlled ionising radiation to destroy bacteria, moulds, insects, and delay spoilage processes such as sprouting and ripening.

2. The process does not make food radioactive and is used to improve food safety, storage life, and transportability of perishable and semi-perishable commodities.

3. In India, food irradiation is being expanded under the Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure component of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana.

4. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries supports multi-product food irradiation units as part of a broader farm-gate-to-consumer cold chain and value-addition system.

5. India uses gamma irradiation based on Cobalt-60, while X-ray and electron beam technologies are also used for different food-processing requirements.

6. Irradiation in India is applied to potatoes, onions, spices, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and fruits such as mangoes to improve shelf life and quarantine compliance.

7. The technology helps prevent sprouting, reduces microbial load, controls insect infestation, and improves export readiness of food commodities.

8. In July 2025, the Union Cabinet approved an additional ₹1,920 crore for PMKSY, raising the total outlay to ₹6,520 crore up to March 2026.

9. Out of this expanded outlay, ₹1,000 crore was earmarked for establishment of 50 multi-product food irradiation units and 100 NABL-accredited food testing laboratories.

10. The proposed 50 food irradiation units are expected to create an additional preservation capacity of about 20 to 30 lakh metric tonnes per annum.

11. Under the cold chain scheme, financial assistance is available at 35 percent of eligible project cost in general areas and 50 percent in difficult areas.

12. Projects promoted by SC, ST, farmer producer organisations, and self-help groups are also eligible for the higher 50 percent grant support, subject to a maximum of ₹10 crore.

13. As of June 2025, 395 integrated cold chain projects had been approved under the scheme, of which 291 were completed and operational.

14. These operational projects created preservation capacity of 25.52 lakh metric tonnes per year, processing capacity of 114.66 lakh metric tonnes per year, and generated 1,74,600 jobs.

15. By August 2025, 16 multi-product food irradiation projects had been approved, with 9 already operational and 7 under implementation across the country.

Must Know Terms :

1. Food Irradiation

Food irradiation is a scientific preservation process in which food is treated with controlled ionising radiation to destroy harmful bacteria, moulds, insects, and delay spoilage. It is used to improve food safety and shelf life without making food radioactive. In India, it is used for commodities such as potatoes, onions, spices, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and fruits like mangoes.

2. PMKSY

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) is the umbrella food processing scheme under which cold chain, preservation, food safety, and value-addition infrastructure are supported. In July 2025, the Union Cabinet approved an additional ₹1,920 crore, raising total outlay to ₹6,520 crore up to March 2026. This includes dedicated funding for irradiation units and food testing laboratories.

3. ICCVAI

Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (ICCVAI) is the PMKSY component that supports modern cold chain systems from farm gate to consumer. It includes storage, refrigerated transport, processing, and preservation technologies such as food irradiation. Under the July 2025 expansion, ₹1,000 crore was approved for 50 multi-product food irradiation units, strengthening post-harvest management and food quality infrastructure.

4. NABL

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) is the accreditation framework used for certified food testing laboratories in India. Under the 2025 PMKSY expansion, support was approved for 100 NABL-accredited food testing laboratories. Their role is important because they strengthen food quality verification, compliance, and scientific assurance for domestic food safety systems and international export standards.

5. Cobalt-60

Cobalt-60 is the radioactive source used for gamma irradiation in food processing. In India, gamma irradiation based on Cobalt-60 is supplied through the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology under the Department of Atomic Energy. It is widely used because it can penetrate food materials effectively and help reduce pathogens, spoilage, sprouting, and pest infestation in approved commodities.

6. Grant-in-Aid

Grant-in-aid is the financial assistance provided by government under the cold chain scheme to establish food irradiation and related preservation projects. Support is available at 35 percent of eligible project cost in general areas and 50 percent in difficult areas and for projects promoted by SC, ST, farmer producer organisations, and self-help groups, subject to a maximum of ₹10 crore.

MCQ:

 

1. Food irradiation primarily helps in:
(a) Increasing artificial flavour in food
(b) Enhancing radioactive content of food
(c) Destroying harmful microorganisms and delaying spoilage
(d) Replacing refrigeration technology

2. One major advantage of food irradiation as mentioned in the passage is that it:
(a) Makes food chemically treated
(b) Makes food radioactive
(c) Reduces nutritional value
(d) Improves safety and shelf life without harming nutrition

3. Food irradiation helps food items become suitable for:
(a) Immediate consumption only
(b) Domestic consumption only
(c) Long-distance transport and storage
(d) Industrial raw material use only

4. Under which government scheme is India expanding food irradiation facilities?
(a) National Food Security Mission
(b) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana
(c) Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
(d) Paramparagat Krishi Yojana

5. The Ministry responsible for implementing the cold chain scheme is:
(a) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(b) Ministry of Consumer Affairs
(c) Ministry of Food Processing Industries
(d) Ministry of Commerce and Industry

6. Food irradiation has been included in cold chain projects mainly to:
(a) Increase artificial preservation
(b) Reduce post-harvest losses and improve quality
(c) Promote chemical usage in food
(d) Replace traditional storage methods completely

7. In India, gamma irradiation is carried out using:
(a) Cesium-137
(b) Uranium-235
(c) Cobalt-60
(d) Thorium-232

8. Cobalt-60 for irradiation is supplied by:
(a) ISRO
(b) BARC
(c) DRDO
(d) Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology

9. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a method of irradiation in the passage?
(a) Gamma rays
(b) X-rays
(c) Electron beams
(d) Ultraviolet radiation

10. Which group of products is commonly irradiated in India?
(a) Only fruits
(b) Only meat products
(c) Potatoes, spices, cereals and pulses
(d) Only dairy and seafood

11. One impact of food irradiation on exports is:
(a) Increase in packaging cost
(b) Compliance with quarantine standards
(c) Reduction in international demand
(d) Lower transportation speed

12. Financial assistance under the scheme is provided in the form of:
(a) Interest-free loans
(b) Insurance cover
(c) Capital subsidy
(d) Tax exemption only

13. The maximum subsidy limit per irradiation project is:
(a) ₹5 crore
(b) ₹8 crore
(c) ₹10 crore
(d) ₹12 crore

14. As per July 2025 decision, ₹1000 crore was allocated for:
(a) Warehousing expansion only
(b) Establishing irradiation units and food labs
(c) Importing preservation machinery
(d) Fertilizer subsidies

15. The combined role of food irradiation and cold chain infrastructure is to:
(a) Increase processed food prices
(b) Encourage urban migration
(c) Build a safer and efficient food system
(d) Reduce agricultural employment