what other foods are preserved by uht pasteurisation?
Long life milk is the most common food product preserved by the UHT Pasteurisation process, however, there are quite a few others that also require the same process to kill pathogens. Although these foods are UHT pasteurised, the process is slightly different depending on what the food is. These foods include:
- Eggs: Scientist have used research to determine a specific technique in which eggs can be successfully pasteurised. Eggs require 3 separate sessions of heat treatment to complete kill all the bacteria.
- Fruit Juices : Juices such as cordials, syrups and squashes sometimes require pasteurisation. The average temperature and time for juices is 80-95 degrees Celsius for 1-10 minutes, depending on the product.
- Processed cheeses: Processed cheeses are made from normal cheese, non-fermented dairy products, emulsifiers, salt and food colouring. These cheeses are heated to kill bacteria, then cooled and placed in a mould. Processed cheeses have extended shelf lives due to the UHT Pasteurisation that has taken place.
- Bottled Water: Bottled water, like many other bottled beverages, is pasteurised to ensure microbial safety. Pasteurisation of water does not reduce salinity, it only extends the shelf life of the water.
- Cream Cheese: Cream cheese is another food product that is pasteurised to ensure that any harmful bacteria is killed. It is especially important for pregnant women to check that the cheese they eat has been pasteurised, just to avoid any illness that could harm themselves or their baby.