Comparison of milks processed by the direct and indirect methods of ultra-high-temperature sterilization. IV. The vitamin composition of milks sterilized by different processes

Abstract

SummaryA comparison was made of the effects of direct and of indirect ultra-high-temperature (UHT) processing of milk, under standardized operating conditions giving equal sporicidal effects, on some of the more labile water-soluble vitamins and on vitamin A and carotene. The effects of processing per se were negligibly small, and the method of processing was important only in so far as the presence of residual oxygen in the sterilized milk has been found to cause losses of folic acid and ascorbic acid during storage subsequent to sterilization. The incorporation of a de-aerator vessel, to reduce the oxygen level in the indirectly heated milk and so eliminate the adverse effects of oxygen during storage, had no effect on the vitamin loss occurring during heat treatment. It is concluded that milk produced by indirect heating plant incorporating a de-aerator should be similar in vitamin content to milk produced on a direct heating plant, both immediately after processing and after storage.