Compositional profiles of γ-irradiated cashew nuts

Cashew nuts, an important export item from India, contribute to about 7% of the national exchequer. Insect infestation of the cashew nut, leading to economic losses is a frequently encountered problem. The present work aims to combat this problem by using low dose γ-irradiation and evaluating the effect of such treatment on the physico-chemical properties of cashew nuts. Cashew nuts, irradiated at 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 kGy and stored under ambient conditions were analyzed periodically every 2 months for 6 months with respect to the changes in 10-kernel weights, colour characteristics and proximate composition. Visual inspection showed no insect infestation for six months, even at 0.25 kGy, while the control sample was totally infested. This was evident from the 10-kernel weights, which decreased gradually with time of storage. While an increase in yellowness of the cashew nuts was observed as a function of storage time and irradiation dose, no substantial changes in proximate composition between the samples or with storage time were observed. This study underlines the use of 0.25 kGy of irradiation for preservation of cashew nuts.