Sensory Evaluation of Flavored Soy Milk-Based Yogurt： A Comparison between Jordanian and Malaysian Consumers

Soy yogurt has gained significant popularity due to its nutritional health benefits. The objectives of this study were to develop flavored yogurt from soybean milk with reduced soy aftertaste by the addition of 30% （wt/wt） strawberry or orange jam in conjunction with a lactic acid fermentation. Soy milk-based yogurt products were assessed for microbial quality and for acceptability by a panel of Jordanian and Malaysian consumers. Sixty-one individuals, of whom 75.4% （n = 46） were Jordanian and 24.6% （n = 15） were Malaysian, evaluated the plain and flavored soy milk-based yogurt. The overall acceptability of orange and strawberry soy yogurt was rated significantly higher than plain soy yogurt. In general, the orange and strawberry soy yogurt received higher sensory ratings from Malaysian than Jordanian consumers. In addition, formulations with orange jam received higher scores than those flavored with strawberry. Shelf life tests showed that soy yogurt was acceptable for at least 8 d without perceptible spoilage. Therefore, the approach used yielded flavored products with better acceptability and improved sensory attributes, including decreased intensity of off flavor, with suitable shelf life at 4 ℃.     

Inactivation of microorganisms naturally present in raw bovine milk by high‐pressure carbon dioxide

This study assessed the inactivation of microorganisms naturally present in raw bovine milk by high‐pressure carbon dioxide (HPCD) at 10–30 MPa and 20–50 °C for 20–70 min. The log reduction of microorganisms increased as raw bovine milk was exposed to higher pressures and temperatures and longer treatment times. The maximum reduction of aerobic bacteria (AB) was 4.96‐log at 25 MPa and 50 °C for 70 min. At lower temperatures and treatment times, a complete inactivation of yeasts and moulds (Y&M) and coliform bacteria (CB) was obtained at 25 MPa. Changes in microorganisms naturally present in raw bovine milk during storage were also assessed. There were 1.83‐log survival of AB, 0.65‐log survival of Y&M and a complete inactivation of CB in raw bovine milk when subjected to HPCD at 25 MPa and 40 °C for 50 min. Moreover, the AB, Y&M and the CB in raw bovine milk exhibited insignificant alterations during storage at 4 °C for 15 days, indicating a potential capability of HPCD to extend the shelf life of milk.     

Influence of raw milk quality on fluid milk shelf life

Pasteurized fluid milk shelf life is influenced by raw milk quality. The microbial count and somatic cell count (SCC) determine the load of heat-resistant enzymes in milk. Generally, high levels of psychrotrophic bacteria in raw milk are required to contribute sufficient quantities of heat-stable proteases and lipases to cause breakdown of protein and fat after pasteurization. Sanitation, refrigeration, and the addition of CO2 to milk are used to control both total and psychrotrophic bacteria count. It is not uncommon for total bacterial counts of raw milk to be < 10,000 cfu/mL. In the past, fluid milk processors have not focused much attention on milk SCC. Increased SCC is correlated with increased amounts of heat-stable protease (plasmin) and lipase (lipoprotein lipase) in milk. When starting with raw milk that has a low bacterial count, and in the absence of microbial growth in pasteurized milk, enzymes associated with high SCC will cause protein and fat degradation during refrigerated storage, and produce off-flavors. As the ability to kill, remove, or control microbial growth in pasteurized refrigerated milk continues to improve, the original milk SCC will be the factor limiting the time of refrigerated storage before development of an off-flavor in milk. Most healthy cows in a dairy herd have a milk SCC < 50,000 cell/mL. Bulk tank SCC > 200,000 cell/mL are usually due to the contribution of high SCC milk from a small number of cows in the herd. Technology to identify these cows and keep their milk out of the bulk tank could substantially increase the value of the remaining milk for use in fluid milk processing. To achieve a 60- to 90-d shelf life of refrigerated fluid milk, fluid processors and dairy farmers need to work together to structure economic incentives that allow farmers to produce milk with the SCC needed for extended refrigerated shelf life.     

Psychrotolerant spore-former growth characterization for the development of a dairy spoilage predictive model

Psychrotolerant spore-forming bacteria represent a major challenge regarding microbial spoilage of fluid milk. These organisms can survive most conventional pasteurization regimens and subsequently germinate and grow to spoilage levels during refrigerated storage. To improve predictions of fluid milk shelf life and assess different approaches to control psychrotolerant spore-forming bacteria in the fluid milk production and processing continuum, we developed a predictive model of spoilage of fluid milk due to germination and growth of psychrotolerant spore-forming bacteria. We characterized 14 psychrotolerant spore-formers, representing the most common Bacillales subtypes isolated from raw and pasteurized milk, for ability to germinate from spores and grow in skim milk broth at 6°C. Complete growth curves were obtained by determining total bacterial count and spore count every 24 h for 30 d. Based on growth curves at 6°C, probability distributions of initial spore counts in bulk tank raw milk, and subtype frequency in bulk tank raw milk, a Monte Carlo simulation model was created to predict spoilage patterns in high temperature, short time-pasteurized fluid milk. Monte Carlo simulations predicted that 66% of half-gallons (1,900 mL) of high temperature, short time fluid milk would reach a cell density greater than 20,000 cfu/mL after 21 d of storage at 6°C, consistent with current spoilage patterns observed in commercial products. Our model also predicted that an intervention that reduces initial spore loads by 2.2 Log₁₀ most probable number/mL (e.g., microfiltration) can extend fluid milk shelf life by 4 d (end of shelf life was defined here as the first day when the mean total bacterial count exceeded 20,000 cfu/mL). This study not only provides a baseline understanding of the growth rates of psychrotolerant spore-formers in fluid milk, it also provides a stochastic model of spoilage by these organisms over the shelf life of fluid milk, which will ultimately allow for the assessment of different approaches to reduce fluid milk spoilage.     

Effect of high pressure processing on the safety,shelf life and quality of raw milk

High pressure processing (HPP) was investigated as an alternative to standard raw milk processing. Different pressure levels (400–600 MPa) and exposure times (1–5 min) were tested against artificially inoculated pathogenic E. coli, Salmonella and L. monocytogenes. HPP effectively inactivated bacterial concentration by 5 log CFU/ml. The most effective HPP conditions in terms of pathogen reduction were subsequently utilised to determine the effect of pressure on microbiological shelf life, particle size and colour of milk during refrigerated storage. Results were compared to pasteurised and raw milk. HPP (600 MPa for 3 min) also significantly reduced the total viable counts, Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria and Pseudomonas spp. in milk thus prolonging the microbiological shelf life of milk by 1 week compared to pasteurised milk. Particle size distribution curves of raw, pasteurised and HPP milk, showed that raw and HPP milk had more similar casein and fat particle sizes compared to pasteurised milk. The results of this study show the possibility of using HPP to eliminate pathogens present in milk while maintaining key quality characteristics similar to those of raw milk.     

Use of microfiltration to improve fluid milk quality

The objectives of the research were to determine the growth characteristics of bacteria in commercially pasteurized skim milk as a function of storage temperature; to determine the efficacy of a microfiltration and pasteurization process in reducing the number of total bacteria, spores, and coliforms in skim milk; and to estimate the shelf life of pasteurized microfiltered skim milk as a function of storage temperature. For the first objective, commercially pasteurized skim milk was stored at 0.1, 2.0, 4.2, and 6.1 degrees C. A total bacterial count >20,000 cfu/mL was considered the end of shelf life. Shelf life ranged from 16 d at 6.1 degrees C to 66 d at 0.1 degrees C. Decreasing storage temperature increased lag time and reduced logarithmic growth rate of a mixed microbial population. The increased lag time for the mixed microbial population at a lower storage temperature was the biggest contributor to longer shelf life. For the second objective, raw skim milk was microfiltered at 50 degrees C using a Tetra Alcross M7 Pilot Plant equipped with a ceramic Membralox membrane (pore diameter of 1.4 microm). The 50 degrees C permeate was pasteurized at 72 degrees C for 15 s, and cooled to 6 degrees C. Bacterial counts of raw skim milk were determined by standard plate count. Bacterial counts of microfiltered and pasteurized microfiltered skim milk were determined using a most probable number method. Across 3 trials, bacterial counts of the raw milk were reduced from 2,400, 3,600, and 1,475 cfu/mL to 0.240, 0.918, and 0.240 cfu/mL, respectively, by microfiltration. Bacterial counts in the pasteurized microfiltered skim milk for the 3 trials were 0.005, 0.008, and 0.005 cfu/mL, respectively, demonstrating an average 5.6 log reduction from the raw count due to the combination of microfiltration and pasteurization. For the third objective, pasteurized microfiltered skim milk was stored at each of 4 temperatures (0.1, 2.0, 4.2, and 6.1 degrees C) and the total bacterial count was determined weekly over a 92-d period. At 6 time points in the study, samples were also analyzed for noncasein nitrogen and the decrease in casein as a percentage of true protein was calculated. After 92 d, 50% of samples stored at 6.1 degrees C and 12% of samples stored at 4.2 degrees C exceeded a total bacterial count of 20,000 cfu/mL. No samples stored at 0.1 or 2.0 degrees C reached a detectable bacterial level during the study. When the bacterial count was <1,000 cfu/mL, shelf life was limited because sufficient proteolysis had occurred at 32 d at 6.1 degrees C, 46 d at 4.2 degrees C, 78 d at 2.0 degrees C, and >92 d at 0.1 degrees C to produce a detectable off-flavor in skim milk produced from a raw milk with a 240,000 somatic cell count.     

Application of Selected Natural Antimicrobial Formulations for the Control of Food Pathogens in Fresh-Cut Cauliflower

In recent years, research on biopolymer based-coating containing natural antimicrobial agents is developing significantly. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficiency of six formulations containing pre-selected natural antimicrobial compounds against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O 157：H7, Salmonella typhimurium, the total bacteria and total yeasts and molds in cauliflower. Each formulation was subjected to a sensory test in parallel to microbiological analysis and the efficiency during storage at 5 ℃ was evaluated for the two best formulations, based on their ability to eliminate the target microorganisms. Both formulations were able to reduce all pathogens and total flora below detectable levels after 24 h of storage at 5 ℃. Using washing or spraying treatments, the two formulations were able to reduce Listeria to undetectable levels for 3 d. This efficiency was extended to 7 d when the formulations were incorporated into an edible coating. Washing treatment with the two formulations was also able to limit the growth of yeast and molds at levels lower than 2 log, for more than 7 d. The population of E. coli was reduced to below the detection limit during 14 d of storage, after washing treatment with the two formulations. The spraying treatment of cauliflower with the formulations allowed the use of very small amounts of antimicrobials while maintaining a fairly good efficiency, greatly reducing the potential costs of implementing this method in the industry. Future research may focus on development of nanoemulsion of antimicrobial formulations based on the developed antimicrobial formulations in this study to improve the better coating efficiency.     

Lipolytic Enzyme Activity of Macrophages in Bovine Mammary Gland Secretions

The ability of macrophages isolated from the involuted bovine mammary gland and pooled raw milk to secrete lipolytic enzymes was investigated. Macrophages obtained from the involuted gland and maintained in cell culture secreted lipolytic enzymes into culture medium for up to 120 h. Leukocytes in pooled raw milk were separated using Ficoll discontinuous density gradients. Macro-phages secreted lipolytic enzymes into the gradient while fractions containing polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes did not possess lipolytic activity. Enzyme activity of macrophages from pooled raw milk averaged .1% of the total milk lipoprotein lipase activity present in the original milk samples. Fresh raw milk with a macrophage concentration increased to 2.5 × 10⁶ cells/ml contained 11.6% higher milk lipoprotein lipase activity after storage for 48 h at 4°C. These results indicate that macrophages isolated from bovine mammary secretions produce lipolytic enzymes that could influence milk lipoprotein lipase activity in raw milk over storage.     

Effect of thiocyanate and hydrogen peroxide on the keeping quality of ovine,bovine and caprine raw milk

The preservation of raw ovine, bovine and caprine milks by the activation of their natural lactoperoxidase (LP) systems was investigated. The LP system of the samples was activated by adding different amounts of sodium thiocyanate and sodium percarbonate to give three different concentrations of thiocyanate and hydrogen peroxide: 7, 14 and 28 mg/L and 15, 30 and 60 mg/L, respectively. Each type of raw milk, ovine, bovine and caprine, was analysed after being treated as follows: Control (C), LP inactivated (T0), LP activated with different concentrations of thiocyanate (7, 14 and 28 mg/L) and hydrogen peroxide (15, 30 and 60 mg/L) and stored at 4°C for 72 h. The results indicated that concentrations of 28 mg/L (SCN^?) and 60 mg/L (H₂O₂) would be adequate for preserving milks of different mammals at 4°C, but we should take into consideration the international norm – 14 mg/L of SCN^? and 30 mg/L of H₂O₂, respectively. Overall, the results have shown that, by activation of the LP system in raw milk, it was possible to store ovine, bovine and caprine milks at 4°C for several days. Changes in titratable acidity, total colony counts, psychrotrophic bacteria, coliforms, moulds and yeasts of the milk samples were followed during storage at low temperature with increasing dose. The effect of doses was greater in bovine milk than in caprine milk and finally in ovine milk.     

宣化牛奶葡萄贮藏过程中生理品质变化及货架期动力学模型

以宣化牛奶葡萄为对象,研究不同贮藏温度条件下其质量损失率、褐变指数、可溶性固形物含量和相对电导率的变化规律,以探讨宣化牛奶葡萄贮藏过程中的品质变化并建立其货架期的预测模型。结果表明,在不同贮藏温度条件下宣化牛奶葡萄的质量损失率、褐变指数和相对电导率均随贮藏时间（0～8 周）的延长而增加,可溶性固形物含量降低。变化遵循一级反应动力学方程,Arrhenius方程和一级化学反应动力学方程相关系数均大于0.9,具有较高的拟合精度。宣化牛奶葡萄在0 ℃和－1 ℃条件下贮藏时货架期的预测值和实测值之间误差不超过±10%,表明该模型可以快速可靠地预测－2～8 ℃条件下贮藏宣化牛奶葡萄的货架期。     

谷物牛奶复合发酵乳的发酵条件优化及贮存品质分析

以谷物小米、黑米、黑玉米与牛奶为主要原料制备谷物牛奶复合发酵乳,以感官评分为评价指标,通过单因素试验和响应面试验对其发酵工艺条件进行优化,并对其贮存品质进行分析。结果表明,谷物牛奶复合发酵乳的最佳发酵工艺条件为：谷物与水按照料水比1∶15(g∶m L)打浆,以牛奶质量为基准,谷物浆添加量20%,发酵剂添加量0.55%、白砂糖添加量6%,在42℃条件下发酵6 h。在此优化条件下,谷物牛奶复合发酵乳的感官评分为93分,p H值为4.57,酸度为81.8°T,持水力为95%,黏度为11.5(Pa·s),蛋白质含量为3.32 g/100 g,花青素含量为5.33 mg/L;在2～4℃条件下贮存的保质期为21 d,保质期内乳酸菌活菌数≥1×10⁶ CFU/m L。     

Tracking spore-forming bacterial contaminants in fluid milk-processing systems

The presence of psychrotolerant Bacillus species and related spore formers (e.g., Paenibacillus spp.) in milk has emerged as a key biological obstacle in extending the shelf life of high-temperature, short-time pasteurized fluid milk beyond 14 d. A recently developed rpoB DNA sequence-based subtyping method was applied to characterize spoilage bacteria present in raw milk supplies for 2 processing plants, and to assess transmission of these organisms into pasteurized products. Thirty-nine raw milk samples and 11 pasteurized product samples were collected to represent the processing continuum from incoming truck loads of raw milk to packaged products. Milk samples were held at 6°C for up to 16 d and plated for bacterial enumeration at various times throughout storage. Among the 88 bacterial isolates characterized, a total of 31 rpoB allelic types representing Bacillus and Paenibacillus spp. were identified, including 5 allelic types found in both raw milk and finished product samples. The presence of the same bacterial subtypes in raw and commercially pasteurized milk samples suggests that the raw milk supply represents an important source of these spoilage bacteria. Extension of the shelf life of high-temperature, short-time pasteurized fluid milk products will require elimination of these organisms from milk-processing systems.     

Processing of soft Hispanic cheese ("queso fresco") using thermo-sonicated milk: a study of physicochemical characteristics and storage life

Queso fresco is a handmade cheese consumed in Latin America and some regions of the United States. However, deficient milk processing has affected its microbial quality and it has an extremely short shelf life and low yield. The objective of this work was to process queso fresco using thermo-sonicated milk; physicochemical parameters were evaluated, including microbial quality during storage (4 °C). An ultrasonic processor (UP400S, 400 W, 24 kHz, 120 μm) was used to sonicate raw milk. Seven milk systems (500 mL each) were evaluated: 1 untreated, and 6 treated at 63 °C/30 min; 63 °C/10 min + sonication; 63 °C/30 min + sonication; 72 °C/15 s; 72 °C/15 s + sonication; and 72 °C/1 min + sonication. A conventional cheese-making process was followed for all systems. The effect of sonication on milk was quite noticeable. Curdling times were reduced considerably, cheese yield (20.6%) was almost doubled, and luminosity of cheese was increased (L*). Textural properties and microstructure images matched very well. Queso fresco processed at 63 °C/120 μm/30 min had the best quality. After storage for 23 d at 4 °C mesophilic count was just 4 log; psychrophilic count, 3.5 log; and enterobacteria count, 3 log. The pH and color remained almost constant and a minor degree of syneresis was observed at end of storage. Due to microstructural rearrangement of the milk components such as fat globules and casein micelles, cheese yield was doubled compared to the traditional handmade product. Shelf life was extended considerably and the product had higher quality.     

Use of calcium lactate with salt-phosphate and alginate-calcium gels in restructured pork rolls

The study was carried out to evaluate restructured pork rolls (RPR) prepared by using salt-phosphate and alginate-calcium gels with or without calcium lactate. Five types of RPR were prepared with: (1) 1.75% sodium chloride+0.3 phosphate (SP); (2) 1.75% sodium chloride+0.3% phosphate+0.3% calcium lactate (SPL); (3) 0.7% sodium alginate+0.125% calcium carbonate (AC); (4) 0.7% sodium alginate+0.3% calcium lactate (AL); and (5) 0.7% sodium alginate+0.125% calcium carbonate+0.3% calcium lactate (ACL). Cooking yield and cooked binding strength were significantly (P<0.05) higher in RPR containing salt and phosphate whereas pH and raw binding strength were significantly (P<0.05) higher in RPR containing alginate and calcium. Texture profile analysis indicated significantly (P<0.05) higher firmness and cohesiveness in RPR containing SPL and ACL. Sensory scores were significantly (P<0.05) higher in SP, SPL and ACL than AC and AL treatments. Results of storage studies indicated significant (P<0.05) increases in pH, TBARS numbers, metmyoglobin and microbial counts with storage in all the treatments. The results suggest that quality characteristics of raw product were better when RPR were prepared with alginate-calcium whereas quality characteristics of cooked product were better when rolls were prepared with salt-phosphate. Further, addition of calcium lactate improved sensory characteristics and shelf life of both alginate-calcium and salt-phosphate restructured pork rolls.     

Effect of addition of CO₂ to raw milk on quality of UHT-treated milk

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of addition of CO(2) to raw milk on UHT milk quality during storage. Control milk (without CO(2) addition) and treated milk (with CO(2) addition up to pH 6.2) were stored in bulk tanks at 4°C for 6d. After storage, both samples were UHT processed using indirect heating (140°C for 5s). Samples were aseptically packed in low-density polyethylene pouches and stored in the dark at room temperature. Raw milk was evaluated upon receipt for physicochemical composition, proteolysis, lipolysis, standard plate count, psychrotrophic bacteria, and Pseudomonas spp. counts, and after 6d of storage for proteolysis, lipolysis, and microbial counts. After processing, UHT milk samples were evaluated for physicochemical composition, proteolysis, and lipolysis. Samples were evaluated for proteolysis and lipolysis twice a month until 120d. Peptides from pH 4.6-soluble N filtrates were performed by reversed-phase HPLC after 1 and 120d of storage. A split-plot design was used and the complete experiment was carried out in triplicate. The results were evaluated by ANOVA and Tukey's test. After 6d of storage, CO(2)-treated raw milk kept its physicochemical and microbiological quality, whereas the untreated milk showed significant quality losses. A significant increase in proteolysis occurred during 120d of storage in both treatments, but the increase occurred 1.4 times faster in untreated UHT milk than in CO(2)-treated UHT milk. In both UHT milks, the proteolysis was a consequence of the action of plasmin and microbial proteases. However, the untreated UHT milk showed higher microbial protease activity than the treated UHT milk. The addition of CO(2) to the raw milk maintained the quality during storage, resulting in UHT milk with less proteolysis and possibly longer shelf life, which is usually limited by age gelation of UHT milk.     

Effects of Probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri Strains of Breast-Fed Infant in a Murine Model

The ingestion of probiotic lactic acid bacteria has been evaluated and noted that it has an effect on the balance of desirable microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract. Lactobacillus gasseri demonstrates good survival in the gastrointestinal tract, and it has been associated with a variety of probiotic activities and roles, including the reduction of fecal mutagenic enzymes, the production of bacteriocins and the stimulation of macrophages immunomodulation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a pool of L. gasseri strains isolated from the feces of breastfed infants added in the human milk of healthy women. The milk was both pasteurized and unpasteurized, to verify the cell cytotoxicity of macrophages and to quantify the production of immunologic mediators such as IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, NO and oxygen intermediary compounds （H2O2）. The administration of raw human milk and pasteurized human milk to infants is a regular, encouraged practice in units of intensive therapy （UITs） and our present investigation verified the beneficial effect of addition of a pool of L. gasseri to pasteurized human milk （PHML）. Our results show that probiotic supplementation helped to maintain cell viability, reduced IL-6 and IFN-γ production and stimulated TNF-α, NO, H2O2, IL-4 production. Nevertheless, the results indicate that the addition of lactobacillus to human milk was not a determinant in the production of TNF-α. L. gasseri added to breast milk did not present a cytotoxic risk, and the addition ofL. gasseri to pasteurized milk of human milk bank would benefit newborns that depend on milk banks for the colonization of more desirable microbiota.     

Heat Transfer Analysis of Sterilization of Canned Milk Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations

A uniform and effective heat distribution inside the canned milk is very crucial for achieving effective sterilization. It is extremely difficult to establish the temperature profile inside the canned milk during continuous industrial scale operation. Computational fluid dynamics （CFD） simulation can be a useful tool to determine the temperature distribution of the fluid inside the can during the sterilization process. A CFD model was developed for the sterilization of canned milk at 121 ~C. The simulation results were validated with the experimental measurements of temperatures. The formation and movement of slowest heating zone （SHZ） during the sterilization process was tracked. Moreover, effect of can position （vertical and horizontal） during processing on milk temperature distribution inside the can was also investigated. Higher Grashof and Rayleigh numbers were obtained for vertical positioning of can compared to horizontal can processing. Further, effectiveness of the process was calculated based on F-value and these results reinforced the positive effect of horizontal position of can during the sterilization process.     

Shelf life and quality of skim milk processed by cold microfiltration with a 1.4-μm pore size membrane,with or without heat treatment

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cold microfiltration (MF), alone or in combination with heat treatment, in extending the shelf life of skim milk. Raw skim milk underwent MF at 6 ± 1°C with a ceramic membrane of 1.4-μm pore size, at a transmembrane pressure of 75.8 kPa and a crossflow velocity of 7 m/s. Samples of raw skim milk; MF skim milk; high-temperature, short-time (HTST)-pasteurized milk; and MF+HTST-pasteurized skim milk were stored at 6°C for 92 d. During the shelf-life study, the total bacterial count and degree of proteolysis were evaluated weekly. The study was replicated 3 times. Cold MF was very effective in reducing the microbial load in skim milk, and an average of 3.4 log reduction in vegetative bacteria was obtained. Although HTST pasteurization reduced the bacterial load by ～2 log, the MF+HTST process resulted in near complete elimination of vegetative microflora, with a total of ～4 log reduction. A 9-member sensory panel found no significant differences between skim milk samples processed with or without MF. The MF+HTST skim milk had only minor microbial growth after 92 d at 6°C, but its proteolytic shelf life was limited by plasmin activity. A reduction of plasmin activity and a slower rate of proteolysis were obtained by increasing the heat treatment temperature to 85°C. The results of this study can be used to make decisions regarding processing strategies that lead to increased skim milk shelf life.     

Alkaline phosphatase activity in pasteurized milk: A quantitative comparison of Fluorophos and colourimetric procedures

Fluorophos and colourimetric procedures for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) testing were compared using milk with raw milk additions, purified bovine ALP additions and heat treatments. Repeatability was between 0.9% and 10.1% for Fluorophos, 3.5% and 46.1% for the Aschaffenburg and Mullen (A&M) procedure and 4.4% and 8.8% for the Scharer rapid test. Linearity ( R ²) using raw milk addition was 0.96 between Fluorophos and the Scharer procedure. Between the Fluorophos and the A&M procedures, R ² values were 0.98, 0.99 and 0.98 for raw milk additions, bovine ALP additions and heat treatments respectively. Fluorophos showed greater sensitivity and was both faster and simpler to perform.     

Stability of aflatoxin M in milk.

This three-part study was designed to determine aflatoxin M recovery from pasteurized and/or stored cow's milk. (a) Aflatoxin M was added to samples of raw Holstein milk at a concentration of 2.0 mug/liter. Half of each sample then was pasteurized at 63 C for 30 min, and both raw and pasteurized portions were stored at 4 C up to 17 days. (b) Samples of raw milk, pasteurized (77 C, 16 s) skim milk, dry cottage cheese curd, and cottage cheese whey were taken from a commercial operation in an area in which natural contamination had been encountered. (c) Milk from a cow dosed with aflatoxin B1 was stored frozen (-18 C) in bulk and in assay-size sample containers for 120 days. Aflatoxin M was recovered completely after either storage or pasteurization in (a) and (b). In (c), a recovery deficiency was detectable after 68 days of storage, which increased to 45% of the original value by 120 days. These observations differ from those of others in that loss of aflatoxin M was significant after pasteurization or storage of raw milk, totaling 87% loss after 120 days of frozen storage. Aflatoxin M partitioning between curd and whey in the preparation of cottage cheese agrees with more recent studies, but differs from previous reports. Three possible explanations for the differences are offered.