Effects of irradiation on hamburgers enriched with folic acid

Hamburgers enriched with different amounts of folic acid (0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 mg/100 g) were manufactured. They were then treated with doses of 2–4 kGy of ionizing radiation in order to increase their safety. The effects of these treatments on the colour, texture parameters, and sensory quality of the meat, as well as on the stability of folic acid, were studied in both raw and cooked hamburgers. The presence of folic acid negligibly influenced the quality of these meat products, with irradiation treatments causing most of the loss of sensory quality and so, the treatment with 4 kGy was not adequate. Folic acid levels decreased 20–30% following irradiation with 2 kGy, and no additional decrease was observed at higher doses of radiation. This new functional meat product may help consumers achieve the RDA for this vitamin in a normal diet.