Method and apparatus for vitamin d enhancement in mushrooms

Abstract

An apparatus and method for increasing Vitamin D content in mushrooms irradiates the mushroom(s) for a duration of up to six seconds with one or more pulses of light with wavelengths in the range of about 200 to about 1000 nanometers. The light is emitted by an electric glow discharge lamp, such as a xenon lamp, that emits ultra-violet light. The intensity of the light is such that after irradiation the mushrooms have a Vitamin D2 content of at least about 400 IU/84 g of mushrooms, which is 100% Daily Value of recommended Vitamin D for human consumption.

1 . An apparatus for increasing vitamin D content of mushrooms, comprising:
 a light chamber;   an electric glow discharge lamp within said light chamber, said lamp capable of emitting pulses of light with wavelengths in the range of about 200 to about 1000 nanometers; and   a conveyor for conveying the mushrooms through the light chamber for exposure to one or more pulses of light emitted by the lamp.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electric glow discharge lamp is a xenon lamp. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light is ultra-violet light. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lamp is adapted to emit pulses of light with wavelengths in the range of about 200 to 800 nanometers. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor conveys the mushrooms at a speed sufficient to cause each mushroom to be irradiated by light emitted by the lamp for a duration up to six seconds. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor conveys the mushrooms at a speed sufficient to cause each mushroom to be irradiated by light emitted by the lamp for a duration up to two seconds. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor conveys the mushrooms at a speed sufficient to cause each mushroom to be irradiated by light emitted by the lamp for a duration up to one second. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each pulse emitted by the lamp has a duration of up to 2 milliseconds. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lamp is positioned a distance no more than about 80 mm away from uppermost mushroom surfaces conveyed through the light chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lamp is positioned a distance of at least about 30 mm away from uppermost mushroom surfaces conveyed through the light chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lamp emits a pulse of radiation of at least about 505 J. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lamp has an intensity of at least 1.27 J/cm 2  at 0.76″ from lamp window. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 means for controlling temperature within the light chamber.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the means for controlling temperature within the light chamber comprises at least one blower.