How many times is milk pasteurized

The original method of pasteurization was vat pasteurization, which heats milk or other liquid ingredients in a large tank for at least 30 minutes. It is now used primarily in the dairy industry for preparing milk for making starter cultures in the processing of cheese, yogurt, buttermilk and for pasteurizing some ice cream mixes.

UP pasteurization results in a product with longer shelf life but still requiring refrigeration. Call an Environmental Public Health office in your area to ask about how to pasteurize other types of food.

This material is for information purposes only. It should not be used in place of medical advice, instruction, or treatment. If you have questions, talk with your doctor or appropriate healthcare provider.

This information may be printed and distributed without permission for non-profit, education purposes. The content on this page may not be changed without consent of the author. Contact feedback myhealth. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. However outbreaks arising from raw milk still occur and remind us of the hazards of drinking raw milk.

Infants, children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with certain chronic diseases are more vulnerable to infection and have higher risk of getting sick from drinking raw milk. Infants and children are at greatest risk because they usually drink a lot of milk. Only buy your milk products from your grocer or other commercial stores. Always check the label on the milk product for assurance that it is pasteurized. Milk that you buy must be pasteurized and packaged at a licensed dairy plant.

Be cautious of raw milk from farm gate sales or from "cow shares" as it is not approved, inspected, or monitored by the government. If you live in a rural area and cannot buy commercially pasteurized milk, you can reduce the risk from disease by following 5 easy steps for home pasteurization:. Clean empty glass milk bottles and tops with warm dish soap. Rinse and inspect containers to ensure that all visible soil and soap residue has been removed.

Next, sanitize bottles using either heat or chemical as follows:. Remove with clean tongs and allow containers to drain, cool and air dry.

Mix 15 mL 1 tablespoon of household bleach into 4 litres 1 gallon of water; or mix 5 mL 1 teaspoon of household bleach into 1 litre 4 cups of water. Allow the sanitizer to contact the surface or utensil for at least 1 minute before wiping off with a clean paper towel or allowing to air dry.

At the end of the day, you can feel confident knowing that your milk is not only good for you, but safe, too. Those throughout the dairy industry, from the farm to your grocery store, know how important those qualities are and work to make sure your family enjoys the best milk possible. Learn more about the differences between raw and pasteurized milk.

When was pasteurization invented? How is milk pasteurized?