Uncovering the Benefits of Packaged

Milk

Why we need packaged milkAccording to an FSSAI Report in February 2012

70% of the milk in India is adulterated

Why we need packaged milk– Risk of Pathogens in the open milk due to surrounding

environment and Unhygienic Grazing Conditions

– Risk of Bacteria inside and outside the udder during milking

– Improper Sanitization while milking manually or

mechanically

– Unsterile storage and transportation equipment

Loose Milk– A favorable home to microbes

• In addition to being a nutritious food for humans, milk provides a favorable environment for the growth of microorganisms.

• Yeasts, moulds and a broad spectrum of bacteria can grow in milk, particularly at temperatures above 16°C.

• Microbes can enter milk via cow, air, feedstuffs, milk handling equipment and the milker.

• Once microorganisms get into the milk their numbers increase rapidly. It is more effective to exclude micro-organisms than to try to control microbial growth once they have entered the milk. Angulo FJ, LeJeune TJ and Rajala-Schultz PJ, Unpasteurized Milk: A Continued Public Health Threat, Clin Infect Dis. (2009) 48 (1): 93-100.

Pseudomonas SpoilageBrucella PathogenicEnterobacteriaceae Pathogenic and

spoilage

StaphylococciStaphylococcus aureus PathogenicStreptococcusS. agalactiae PathogenicS. thermophilus Acid fermentationS. lactis Acid fermentationS. lactis-diacetyllatic Flavour productionS. cremoris Acid fermentationLeuconostoc lactis Acid fermentationBacillus cereus SpoilageLactobacillusL. lactis Acid productionL. bulgaricus Acid productionL. acidophilus Acid productionPropionibacterium Acid productionMycobacterium tuberculosis Pathogenic

Bacteria commonly associated with milk spoilage

Commonly used Milk Packaging Technologies In India

Milk Vending machinesBulk Vending by machines through token systems

Advantages• Can purchase small

quantity of milk • Cost-effective

Disadvantages• Hygiene and safety cannot

be ensured• Handling of milk at variant

temperatures while transportation can lead to microorganisms growth.

Milk in Glass Bottles

Advantages• Transparent and strong bottles• Inertness to chemical substances• Water and gas barrier

Disadvantages• Difficulty in transportation• Fragile and costly• Loss of nutrients ( B vitamins)

due to effect of light• Glass though 100% recyclable is

not environmentally friendly to be recycled

Milk in Plastic Packets

Advantages• Light and easy to transport

Disadvantages• Can be easily adulterated • The quality of plastic used

should be virgin polyethylene only (LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE or EVA)

• Short shelf life• Need to keep at fixed

temperature in cold chain constantly

Aseptically packaged milk – New age technology of the

White Revolution

Milk in Tetra Pak • Is Ultra Heat Treated• Is aseptically packed• Light and easy to transport• Aseptic• Preserves maximum nutrients – Vitamin C, Folic

acid and Riboflavin• Has a longer shelf life• Need not be refrigerated• 100% recyclable

And Ensures Attributes of Good Quality Milk

• Safe to drink

• Retains all nutrients

• Free from contamination & adulteration

• Escapes the practice of boiling which causes loss of nutrients

• Does not require maintenance of cold chain thus reducing the chances of spoilage

Asepsis and Heat Treatment of Milk

Asepsis and Aseptic processing

Asepsis is the state of being free from disease-causing contaminants (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) or, preventing contact with microorganisms.

Aseptic processing is the process by which a sterile (aseptic) product (typically food or pharmaceutical) is packaged in a sterile container in a way that maintains sterility.

Aseptic food preservation methods allow processed food to keep for long periods of time without preservatives, as long as they are not opened.

Methods of Heat treatment of Milk

Type of heat treatment

Temperature Shelf-life

Pasteurization 72-75 o C , 15-40 sec 4-7 days

UHT 135-150 o C, 4-20 sec 6 months at ambient temperature

UHT v/s Pasteurization

Parameters Pasteurization UHT

Heat treatment 63°C /30 mins or 72-75oC for 15-20 s

138°C (280°F)/2 sec

Bacterial kill Some survival Nearly “sterile”

Shelf-life 10-21 days 1 month to 6 months

Storage Refrigeration Room temperature

However…

There are some myths around Aseptically packaged milk

Source: 1- Study to evaluate the impact of heat treatment on water soluble vitamins in milkJ Pak Med Assoc Vol. 60, No. 11, November 2010

Fact The fact is Ultra heat treated milk which is aseptically packed has lesser loss of nutrients as compared to loss of nutrients due to faulty boiling practices.Conventional boiling causes decrease in water soluble vitamins: 27% loss of Thiamin (B1), 27% loss of Riboflavin (B2) 29% loss of Niacin (B3)24% loss of Vitamin B636% loss of Folic Acid

The values for vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and folic acid in boiled milk are significantly lower than UHT treated packaged milk samples by 25.9, 75.0, 54.5, 63.16 and 38.1% respectively.1

Myth- Aseptic packaged milk has lesser nutritive value

Fact The fact is aseptic packaged milk is the highest quality milk available today which is most suitable for children because of its intact nutritive quality and its ensured safety from contamination and adulteration.

Myth- Aseptic packaged milk is not suitable for children

So, If Technology Has a Solution Then Why Not Adopt It …

• Aseptic processing ensures that everything in the production chain is commercially sterile including the food, packaging materials, machinery and the environment in which the packaging takes place.

• It removes all micro-organisms from milk including bacterial spores.

• Ultra Heat Treatment (UHT) is given to milk and the heating period is so brief, it causes less damage to nutrients and flavour compounds.

• Aseptic packaging involves transferring the UHT-treated milk into pre-sterilized packages in a sterile environment.

• Because of the sterile packaging, there is no risk of contamination.

• Aseptic packaged milk has unparalleled hygienic quality offering intact nutrients necessary for child’s growth and development.

Choice of Every Healthcare Professional – Aseptically

packaged milk!