Inactivation of murine norovirus-1 in the edible seaweeds Capsosiphon fulvescens and Hizikia fusiforme using gamma radiation

• Gamma irradiation was investigated for inactivation of MNV-1, in two species of edible algae.
• MNV-1 decreased to 1.16–2.46 log in Capsosiphon fulvescens and 0.37–2.21 log in Hizikia fusiforme by 3–10 kGy.
• No significant differences in color or sensory qualities were observed in either alga by 3–10 kGy.
• Weibull model Gd value of 1 corresponded to 2.89 kGy in C. fulvescens and 3.93 kGy in H. fusiforme.

This study investigated the effects of gamma radiation (3–10 kGy) upon the inactivation of murine norovirus-1 (MNV-1), a human norovirus (NoV) surrogate. The edible green and brown algae, fulvescens (Capsosiphon fulvescens) and fusiforme (Hizikia fusiforme), respectively, were experimentally contaminated with 5–6 log10 plaque forming units (PFU)/ml MNV-1. The titer of MNV-1 significantly decreased (P < 0.05) as the dose of gamma radiation increased. MNV-1 titer decreased to 1.16–2.46 log10 PFU/ml in fulvescens and 0.37–2.21 log10 PFU/ml in fusiforme following irradiation. However, all Hunters (‘L’, ‘a’ and ‘b’) and sensory qualities (appearance, color, flavor, texture and overall acceptability) were not significantly (P > 0.05) different in both algae following gamma radiation. The Weibull model was used to generate non-linear survival curves and to calculate Gd values for 1, 2, and 3 log10 reductions of MNV-1 in fulvescens (R2 = 0.992) and fusiforme (R2 = 0.988). A Gd value of 1 (90% reduction) corresponded to 2.89 and 3.93 kGy in fulvescens and fusiforme, respectively. A Gd value of 2 (99% reduction) corresponded to 7.75 and 9.02 kGy in fulvescens and fusiforme, respectively, while a Gd value of 3 (99.9% reduction) in fulvescens and fusiforme corresponded with 13.83 and 14.93 kGy of gamma radiation, respectively. A combination of gamma radiation at medium doses and other treatments could be used to inactivate ≥3 log10 PFU/ml NoV in seaweed. The inactivation kinetics due to gamma radiation against NoV in these algae might provide basic information for use in seaweed processing and distribution.