Milk is nature's most nearly perfect food and to utilize its nutritive values milk must be free from all pathogenic microorganisms. Pathogenic bacteria present, if any, in raw milk supplies are destroyed by the pasteurization process. Milk and its fluid products, so treated, possess on an average of 7–10 days shelflife, which in modem sophisticated distribution systems, is not adequate. Commercial sterilization in conjunction with aseptic packaging extend the shelflife of milk products to 90+ days. These products, excellent in performance, are not yet popular in the dairy case but, if consistent efforts are continued for their promotion, will win consumer's confidence. Increasing application of the sterilization process in the dairy industry has prompted marketing of numerous types and brands of sterlilizing equipment. Every sterilization operation, due to differences in equipment and range of products manufactured, is faced with various problems in commercial applications of the process. Besides technical problems, label declaration and mode of distribution of these products cause legal complications in many areas of this country. Furthermore, no definition for commercially sterilized milk products aseptically packaged in flexible containers has been officially established by federal, state, and local regulatory agencies. Regardless of problems and challenges in commercial application of the sterilization process in the milk industry, potential opportunities in this country for milk products, thus processed, are great.
Sterilization and Aseptic Packaging of Milk Products: Industrial Applications
