Duration of incubation (UHT milk samples )
Hi, my name is Mahmoud, I’m working at one of dairy factories (UHT milk) and I would like to ask you about the duration of incubation of UHT milk samples which we are going to check it before releasing the finished product. is it can be 04 days or what is Tetra Pak recommendations? I’m asking if we release after 04 days, if there any risk or any missed contamination will happen, for your information we have 30-35C and 50C our normal incubation period is 06 days, but they like to reduce only to 04 days to speed up selling season
is your machine from Tetra? Normally for UHT dairy, If I still remember correctly UHT, analysis for meso (35C) is released after 7 days while thermos is after 10 days. The difference is longer incubation time for sample for thermophilic. I suggest instead of reducing incubation time, planning must be reviewed properly. The problem with lower incubation is that it may give you false sense of security thinking there is no growth but in reality, the optimum growing condition for thermophilc spores were not satisfied providing false negative.
Thank you for your reply
We have Tetra Pak and SIG Combibloc
I agree with you and do you mind if you explain to me how (planning must be reviewed properly) is there any thing need to change in our sampling plan or you are tottaly refusing these 04 days incubation plan ?
Hi, Mahmoud.
I assume Demand planner is one of the company's resource, as such increase in volume would be seen (would provide you longer time if this is happening historically or shorter time if sudden spike in demand), the idea is the availability of the product must still coincide with what is the current infrastructure the manufacturing have. Reducing to 4 days without complete evidences that it will suffice will serve as precedent for other food safety and quality issues. At the moment, 4 days may not be acceptable, unless proven otherwise, but it should be done on trial basis (with decision factors carefully planned) and not immediately on a whole batch.