Standard Plate Count of Milk: Effects on Quality
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Standard Plate Count of Milk: Effects on Quality

Standard Plate Count (SPC) directly impacts the quality of raw milk. The quality of the raw milk supply begins on the dairy farm and ends when the product is consumed by consumers. Maintaining the highest quality throughout this chain requires close monitoring and numerous regulations and quality standards for Grade “A” raw milk. SPC measures…

Aseptic Sampling for Quality Control—Representative or Grab Sampling?
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Aseptic Sampling for Quality Control—Representative or Grab Sampling?

Aseptic sampling for quality control is essential for quality management in dairy plants plants. A dairy processor can only be assured of final product quality if strict, comprehensive sampling and testing protocols are followed throughout the process, from unloading the milk at the plant to the finished product. Aseptic and representative sampling for dairy plants…

Using Preliminary Incubation Count for Measuring Raw Milk Quality
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Using Preliminary Incubation Count for Measuring Raw Milk Quality

The Preliminary Incubation (PI) Count for measuring the quality of raw milk has become increasingly popular since the production of quality milk is the number one goal of dairy farmers and cooperatives. The PI test is especially sensitive to psychrotrophic bacteria. These particular bacteria can grow at colder temperatures, which is why dairy processors are encouraging…

Aseptic Sampling System for Tanker Trucks: Enhancing Safety and Efficiency
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Aseptic Sampling System for Tanker Trucks: Enhancing Safety and Efficiency

This is a guest post written by Mark Z. Moores, CPCU, ARM, AAI, President, Moores Insurance Management, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a highly respected adviser in the insurance industry. See Author Bio at the end of the post. Compared to other industries, trucking, including the milk tanker industry, has some of the highest work-related injury…

Bacteriophage Control Using Closed Bulk Starter Vessel Inoculation – Part 2
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Bacteriophage Control Using Closed Bulk Starter Vessel Inoculation – Part 2

Bacteriophage control and management for preventing phage invasions are challenges many dairy processing plants face. Starter culture bacteria play an essential role by converting milk sugar (lactose) into lactic acid in making dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. Photomicrograph of yogurt showing S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus. (Image: Courtesy of Mullan, Michael. (2014). Starter…

Water System Testing for Microorganisms in a Brewery – Committed to Quality
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Water System Testing for Microorganisms in a Brewery – Committed to Quality

Water system testing for microorganisms in a brewery is a regular part of the process at Cold Spring Brewing Company (CSBC). It has been the hallmark of this iconic brewery for well over a century and shows its total commitment to quality. A brief history of CSBC CSBC is located in Cold Spring, Minnesota. It…

Representative Sampling Solves Two Critical Problems for Dairy Farmers – Part 1
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Representative Sampling Solves Two Critical Problems for Dairy Farmers – Part 1

How does representative sampling solve two crucial problems for dairy farmers? Recently, I had the opportunity to have an in-depth conversation with Denise Sutton, Large Farm Sales Manager at DFA Farm Supplies. She has extensive experience in the dairy farm industry, including being a herd manager and running a dairy farm. Denise is also a…

Aseptic Sampling System: Why Consistent Test Results are Important
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Aseptic Sampling System: Why Consistent Test Results are Important

An aseptic sampling system is critical for the quality control process in the liquid food industry. One of QualiTru’s customers in the yeast-fermented beverage business (Brewery) had a specific problem they were facing. Customer problem: Inconsistent results from quality samples Of course, our team took on the challenge of solving the vexing problem of inconsistent…

Biofilms in the Dairy Processing Industry—What and Why are They Important?
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Biofilms in the Dairy Processing Industry—What and Why are They Important?

Biofilms in the dairy processing industry are a big problem because they threaten the quality and safety of dairy products. The growth of bacterial biofilms is the primary reason for microbial contamination of milk and other dairy products. “In recent years, the formation and impacts of biofilms on dairy manufacturing have been studied extensively, from…

Heat-Resistant Psychrotrophic Bacteria and Their Effect on the Quality of Pasteurized Milk
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Heat-Resistant Psychrotrophic Bacteria and Their Effect on the Quality of Pasteurized Milk

Heat-Resistant Psychrotrophic Bacteria or Heat-Resistant Psychrotrophs (HRP) can affect the quality of pasteurized milk. Have you ever poured milk from a carton only to see it come out in chunks? Have you ever gulped milk only to realize too late that it tastes awful? Milk curdling and off-flavors in pasteurized fluid milk are huge turnoffs…