Pulsed UV Light Treatment for Milk Safety

This research report investigates the effectiveness of Pulsed UV Light treatment in inactivating Staphylococcus aureus in milk and milk foam. Conducted by researchers at Pennsylvania State University, the study utilized a XENON Corporation Pulsed Light system to evaluate various parameters, including UV light intensity and treatment time. The methodology involved placing milk samples in sterile aluminum containers within a sterilization chamber, with samples positioned at different distances from the quartz window. The study's findings indicate that Pulsed UV Light can significantly reduce S. aureus populations, with reductions ranging from 0.16 to 8.55 log10 CFU/mL. A Box-Behnken surface response method was employed for experimental design, and statistical analysis was performed using Minitab software. The results suggest that complete inactivation of S. aureus can be achieved after 180 seconds of treatment under specific conditions. The report concludes that further research is necessary to optimize conditions for commercial applications in the dairy industry.