Flash pasteurization
Encyclopedia
Flash pasteurization, also called "High Temperature Short Time" processing, is a method of heat pasteurization
of perishable beverages like fruit and vegetable juices
, beer
, and some dairy products. Compared to other pasteurization processes, it maintains color and flavor better, but some cheeses were found to have varying responses to the process.
It is done prior to filling into containers in order to kill spoilage microorganism
s, to make the products safer and extend their shelf life
. Flash pasteurization must be used in conjunction with sterile fill technology (similar to aseptic processing
) and therefore has the risk of post-pasteurization contamination if hygiene standards are not rigorously enforced.
Flash pasteurization is often used for the pasteurization of bulk products such as keg beer, milk, and kosher wines.
The liquid moves in a controlled, continuous flow while subjected to temperatures of 71.5 °C (160 °F) to 74 °C (165 °F), for about 15 to 30 seconds.
The process is more prevalent in Europe
and Asia
than in North America
.
Flash pasteurization is widely used for fruit juices. Flash pasteurization was first developed by Tropicana Products
, which has used the method since the 1950s. The juice company Odwalla
switched from non-pasteurized to flash-pasteurized juices in 1996 after tainted unpasteurized apple juice containing E. coli O157:H7 sickened many children and killed one.
Pasteurization
Pasteurization is a process of heating a food, usually liquid, to a specific temperature for a definite length of time, and then cooling it immediately. This process slows microbial growth in food...
of perishable beverages like fruit and vegetable juices
Juice
Juice is the liquid that is naturally contained in fruit or vegetable tissue.Juice is prepared by mechanically squeezing or macerating fruit or vegetable flesh without the application of heat or solvents. For example, orange juice is the liquid extract of the fruit of the orange tree...
, beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, and some dairy products. Compared to other pasteurization processes, it maintains color and flavor better, but some cheeses were found to have varying responses to the process.
It is done prior to filling into containers in order to kill spoilage microorganism
Microorganism
A microorganism or microbe is a microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters, or no cell at all...
s, to make the products safer and extend their shelf life
Shelf life
Shelf life is the length of time that food, drink, medicine, chemicals, and many other perishable items are given before they are considered unsuitable for sale, use, or consumption...
. Flash pasteurization must be used in conjunction with sterile fill technology (similar to aseptic processing
Aseptic processing
Aseptic processing is the process by which a sterile product is packaged in a sterile container in a way that maintains sterility...
) and therefore has the risk of post-pasteurization contamination if hygiene standards are not rigorously enforced.
Flash pasteurization is often used for the pasteurization of bulk products such as keg beer, milk, and kosher wines.
The liquid moves in a controlled, continuous flow while subjected to temperatures of 71.5 °C (160 °F) to 74 °C (165 °F), for about 15 to 30 seconds.
The process is more prevalent in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
than in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Flash pasteurization is widely used for fruit juices. Flash pasteurization was first developed by Tropicana Products
Tropicana Products
Tropicana Products is an American based company, and was founded in 1947 by Anthony T. Rossi in Bradenton, Florida, U.S.A. Since 1998, it has been owned by PepsiCo, Inc. Tropicana's headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois.-Anthony T. Rossi:...
, which has used the method since the 1950s. The juice company Odwalla
Odwalla
Odwalla Inc. is an American food product company that sells fruit juice, smoothies and food bars. It was founded in Santa Cruz, California in 1980 and is headquartered in Half Moon Bay, California....
switched from non-pasteurized to flash-pasteurized juices in 1996 after tainted unpasteurized apple juice containing E. coli O157:H7 sickened many children and killed one.
External links
- The Pasteurization of Beer - New York Times