Why do you do it? What do the test results tell you? Is the test you use still a valid one? In part one of this dairy micro testing series, Raw Milk Dairy Micro Testing, I would like to take you on a journey through the development of some of the principal tests used in…
The significant food safety recalls that have occurred in the dairy processing industry this past year, ranging from Listeria outbreaks in ice cream to Cronobacter in infant formula, and the Food and Drug Administration’s* (FDA)’s recent publication of its revised Investigations Operations Manual draw attention to the criticality of inline process monitoring of bacterial risks,…
Why is representative sampling for butterfat verification important? Because reliable data equals accurate payment! Butterfat percentages in milk have been on the rise over the last decade, along with a substantial upward trend for butterfat pricing. That’s great news for farmers. It also raises the stakes regarding the accuracy and reliability of the data upon which…
Membrane filtration is a widely used process in the dairy industry that separates specific components of milk and whey and then either concentrates or removes/reduces them. The technology used in cheese-making, whey protein concentration, fractionation of protein, and numerous other dairy processes requires special sampling considerations for both regulatory purposes and component analysis. It is…
The shelf life of pasteurized fluid milk is challenged by bacterial contamination that enters the finished milk supply through two portals: a) contamination by Gram-negative psychrotrophic bacteria during processing after pasteurization; and b) contamination by Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria that enter primarily through the raw milk supply. In today’s processing environment, where post-pasteurization contamination is largely…
Raw milk string sampling has become increasingly important. This post examines the potential value of string sampling of milk to help nutritionists fine-tune ruminant formulations to provide better information and manage costs. Current feed market prices have milk producers looking for every possible way to manage costs, making the role of ruminant nutritionists increasingly important. We scrutinize…
When troubleshooting clean-in-place (CIP) or assisted cleaning system (ACS) cleaned processes, often, many people forget the simple basics: If you pump it in, it should come out. The Following the Water Principle is just that, as shown below in a single pass CIP/ACS system. A clean-in-place checklist Note to self, check for water! Staying true…
A peristaltic pump is commonly used to collect a representative milk sample by farmers and veterinarians. There are several reasons to use QualiTru’s sampling system for collecting representative composite samples of milk. These include: In this post, I’ll go over some of our new customers’ frequently asked questions (FAQs) about using a peristaltic pump for…
The Lab Pasteurized Count (LPC) estimates the number of bacteria in a raw milk sample that can survive the pasteurization process. Most bacteria are destroyed by pasteurization. However, certain types are not. (Source: Journal of Dairy Science 92(10):4978-87) Lab Pasteurized Count test determines bacteria that are not natural Raw milk can be contaminated by various…
Post-pasteurization contamination in dairy plants is a warning signal for potential food safety and spoilage concerns. While having an effective sanitation program gets the most attention, good sanitation alone cannot guarantee product quality and food safety. Sampling and testing products during processing are critical for identifying potential sources of post-pasteurization contamination. Possible causes of post-pasteurization…
Founded in 1983, QualiTru Sampling Systems (formerly known as QMI) is the trusted partner that delivers accurate, in-process aseptic, representative, sanitary, and hygienic sampling solutions for the dairy, beverage, and liquid food industries. Read more…
