SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE BACTERIOLOGICAL KEEPING QUALITY OF MILK PROCESSED BY HIGH TEMPERATURES WITH A 0.6 SECOND HOLDING TIME1 2

Abstract

Summary Raw milk was processed through a commercial sized plate heat exchanger at temperatures of 160 F through 260 F with a 0.6 sec hold. Milk samples were collected at increments of 10 F during processing and analyzed for psychrophilic, mesophilic and thermophilic counts initially and at weekly intervals thereafter. All samples were held at 40 F after processing. Results indicated that temperatures of processing at 160 F and 170 F were not sufficient to impart acceptable keeping qualities to whole milk held at 40 F for a period of one week. By comparison, processing temperatures of 180 F through 210 F with 0.6 sec hold appeared to impart to whole milk keeping qualities which were approximately comparable to those observed in milk pasteurized according to present standards. When heat treatment in the range of 220 F through 260 F were used, it was indicated that bacteriological keeping quality of the milk was improved to an extent far beyond that experienced with present day commercial pasteurization. There appeared to be somewhat of a tendency for higher count raw milk related to the level of population in the processed product although the magnitude of this relationship was not clearly defined in all cases. It was evident that this process did not produce “commercially sterilized” milk at the processing temperatures and holding time used.