Product category:
Filters and Centrifuges
News Release from: Hanovia | Subject: UV disinfection
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 11 June 2003
Feta cheese protected by ultraviolet
disinfection
To protect feta cheese from contamination by micro-organisms during the production process, Clover South Africa has installed an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system from Hanovia
Feta cheese processing involves placing the cheese in brine for a set period after it has been moulded into the desired form On contact with the feta, the brine solution rapidly accumulates cheese residues
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 24 Feb 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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The resultant solution is ideal for yeast, moulds and bacteria, which can contaminate the cheese and shorten shelf life.
According to Mike Stafford from Guth, the Hanovia South African agent, what was required was a non-chemical brine disinfection system that would not alter the quality of the cheese and would also be easy to maintain.
"Clover chose UV disinfection because the treatment method does not affect the distinctive taste, colour or odour of the cheese", said Mike.
"In addition, they wanted a system that was simple to use, and the UV unit is automatic and requires little maintenance.
In terms of capital and running costs, we also found that UV offers the most effective method of disinfection".
"We did consider using the more conventional heat treatment of pasteurisation," he continued, "but the operating costs of UV are far lower than those of pasteurisation".
Equipped with a 2.5kW arc tube, the Hanovia UV system can disinfect up to 10 cubic metres per hour of low-transmission brine.
The UV penetrates the tough outer coating of yeast and mould spores and deactivates the organisms.
Frequent microbial checks carried out on the brine show coliforms to be eliminated and moulds and yeast levels to be considerably reduced.
Once it has been prepared and cooled, the brine is sent once through the UV system before being filled into the tubs containing feta.
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