9 replies to this topic

[Mmmm_food]

At our beverage manufacturing plant, we are going to start adding a few drops of liquid nitrogen to still beverages before they are sealed to increase the bottle strength.

 

I need to update our hazard analysis but am not too familiar with this process.

 

Can anyone shed light on the risks of using liquid nitrogen (from a food safety point of view, not OSH)? All I can think of is if an operator was very quick to take a bottle off the line and drank it before the nitrogen had vaporised then they could get freeze burns in their mouth/ throat.

 

Appreciate the help :)

[Tony-C]

Hi Chobbsy,

 

The liquid nitrogen will boil very quickly, especially if just a few drops in a much larger volume of liquid and so I don't see it possible for someone to have had time to drink it and burn themselves when they would have to take it off the line and open it first.

 

The addition of liquid nitrogen will increase the nitrogen level in the head space atmosphere and the pressure inside the bottle. This will make the bottle more rigid.

 

With regards to food safety risks I don't see any but you should check out the equipment and ensure the nitrogen is filtered

 

Regards,

 

Tony

[Mmmm_food]

The addition of liquid nitrogen will increase the nitrogen level in the head space atmosphere and the pressure inside the bottle. This will make the bottle more rigid.

 

 

Thanks Tony. Is it at all possible that if too much liquid nitrogen is added, then the higher than intended pressure could result in bottles exploding or forcing the caps off?

[Tony-C]

Thanks Tony. Is it at all possible that if too much liquid nitrogen is added, then the higher than intended pressure could result in bottles exploding or forcing the caps off?

 

Yes that's possible, what type of bottle are you filling?

 

Regards,

 

Tony

[Mmmm_food]

They are PET bottles that have been blown just prior to filling.

[Tony-C]

Better than glass and by inspection/squeezing you can get an indication of the increased pressure. In your position I would run some trials with varying amounts of liquid nitrogen to establish your operating levels. Depending on the accuracy of your filling, variations in fill level may have an effect as well.

 

Regards,

 

Tony

[Mohammed Ashmawy]

it is applicable in UHT? 

[freeromios]

You should perform a series of STRESS tests to validate the mechanical strength of the PET bottles. If you do not have the equipment, you can have the tests performed by an accredited laboratory.

http://www.researchg...ted_soft_drinks

 

The major tests are a burst test and a stress cracking test.

 

Furthermore in order to address any chemical related hazards ask fro COA by your nitrogen supplier.

[srose]

Wow. Everyday I learn something new. Thanks Chobbsy for introducing this discussion. I did not know about the addition of liquid nitrogen directly to beverages before so this was new to me.

 

Re the query about whether this was applicable to UHT: I am not sure about whether it can be added directly to the UHT beverage but when I worked in a UHT beverage production plant, our Tetra-Pak equipment inserted nitrogen in the headspace of the boxes during the filling and packaging process.

[Mmmm_food]

 

 

You should perform a series of STRESS tests to validate the mechanical strength of the PET bottles. If you do not have the equipment, you can have the tests performed by an accredited laboratory.

http://www.researchg...ted_soft_drinks

 

The major tests are a burst test and a stress cracking test.

 

Furthermore in order to address any chemical related hazards ask fro COA by your nitrogen supplier.

 

We already have burst test and cracking test equipment. 

 

Thanks for the CoA suggestion, I hadn't been thinking about possible chemical contamination.

Edited by Chobbsy, 20 February 2015 - 12:25 AM.