Contamination Investigation in UHT Chocolate Milk Production

This technical report details a contamination investigation in the production of UHT chocolate milk conducted by a dairy manufacturer. The analysis utilized next-generation DNA sequencing and bioinformatics to identify the presence of Bacillus species and Lactic Acid Bacteria, which led to the quarantine of affected batches. The report outlines a three-step methodology powered by the SMARTBIOMETM platform, which included phases for investigating microorganisms, validating corrective measures, and analyzing root causes. It describes the corrective actions taken, including the revision of cleaning protocols and the introduction of a maturation step before heat treatment to eliminate resistant spores. The effectiveness of these interventions was validated through subsequent analyses, which confirmed the absence of contaminants in finished products over nine months. The report concludes with insights into the correlation between raw material contamination and finished products, emphasizing the transition to a preventive, risk-based analysis model to manage microbiological risks effectively.