What is Pasteurization
As it relates to milk, Pasteurization is the process of heating then cooling milk to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria without affecting the taste or nutritional value. The process of pasteurization was invented over 150 years ago by French scientist Louis Pasteur. He found that thermal processing (heating) could destroy, deactivate, or eliminate unwanted bacteria and pathogens.
Pasteurization does not add any chemicals or other additives to milk, nor does it remove the nutrients found in milk. It is simply a process of heating and cooling to kill harmful pathogens. It does not alter milk otherwise.
How does it work?
There are different types of pasteurization, but the mostcommon is known as High-Temperature Short-Time (HTST) pasteurization. This method extends the shelf life of milk by keeping it fresh for two to three weeks.
HTST entails heating followed by quickly cooling the milk. The chilled, raw milk is heated until the it reaches 72ºc. It stays at this temperature for at least 15 seconds to kill bacteria before it is quickly cooled back to its ideal storage temperature (4ºc). From there, the milk is packaged and ready to be delivered to you.
What about raw milk?
The raw milk debate is a hot topic. Raw milk is milk that comes straight from the cow. Some claim there are health benefits of drinking raw milk, but to-date these benefits have not been scientifically proven. The problem with raw milk is that it carries potentially harmful pathogens that can make us very sick and pose serious health risks. In the developed world, selling raw milk for human consumption is banned, except for very specific exemptions.
What are the benefits of pasteurized milk?
Pasteurized milk is safe, wholesome and nutritious‚ Allowing you to feel good about the milk you and your family are consuming. With 7 essential nutrients including 8 grams of protein, milk is one of the most nutrient-dense beverages you can consume. Our farmers take their responsibility to provide healthy, safe and nutritious milk very seriously. We want to keep you and your families healthy and strong.