BACTERIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE EVALUATION OF ADEQUACY OF PASTEURIZATION

Abstract

Increased interest in high-temperature, short-time pasteurization of various dairy products has emphasized the need for methods to determine the adequacy of pasteurization. One such method is described, but there is need for additional information. The thermal death time curves of various pathogens should be determined in different dairy products. A suitable heat resistant test organism such as Micrococcus MS-102 should be selected, approved by health officials and made available to others for controlled studies. Data should be accumulated so that curves could be prepared to show any combination of time and temperature which would result in adequate pasteurization.