What You Need to Know
The process uses high-energy photons or particles to cleave covalent bonds in nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, producing hydroxyl (•OH) and hydrogen (H•) radicals that attack essential biomolecules. These radicals also degrade Maillard precursors, reducing browning and off‑flavor formation, while the primary microbial inactivation occurs through DNA strand breaks and loss of replication fidelity.
The Science
Primary Reaction
DNA strand breakage and generation of reactive oxygen species leading to microbial inactivation