6 replies to this topic

[crescentluna]

Is HTST a good pasteurization process for shelf stable products? 

[pHruit]

What product are you trying to pack, and how are you trying to pack/fill it?
Potentially viable for e.g. acidic soft drinks, less of a good idea for milk

[crescentluna]

Hi thanks for responding. Product is kombucha in glass containers. 

[Scampi]

You need to prove that the geometric centre is capable of reaching the needed temperature to kill/inactivate the microbes of concern

 

Not sure you will be able to do that with kombucha without destroying the product itself-

 

This link suggests hot fill and hold as appose to HTST

 

https://www.agricult...ng Kombucha.pdf

 

2 more articles for referance

 

https://www.foodnavi...elf-stable-line

 

https://www.foodbeve...-consumer-needs

[crescentluna]

Thank you

[pHruit]

Are  you aiming for the Kombucha to still be "live"?

If so, it's an interesting balancing act that you'll need to achieve, as excessive continued yeast and bacteria growth may cause problems in the longer term.

It might be possible to achieve a short-ish ambient life by managing the available nutrient levels (particularly sugars) in your formulation, but this won't result in real long-term ambient stability.

If you're happy for it to be "dead" then I agree with Scampi; in-bottle pasteurisation is probably the easiest option.

If you are set on the HTST route then you'll probably need to couple this with a hot-fill and inversion process. It requires a bit of care though, as you're starting with a raw material that is intentionally very microbiologically active!

[Ryan M.]

Typically, no.  However, it is greatly dependent on the pH of the finished product.  As others have said, if you want to have "living" culture or organisms in the bottle then it isn't going to be shelf-stable.  The only way to achieve this is to produce aseptically and add the "living organism" post aseptic process and at filling, or in the surge tank between the processor and the filler.  This is an expensive proposition though.