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Bettesworth Construction
food processing

How a Low-Temperature Process Extended Milk’s Shelf Life in a Study

Purdue researchers reported that an industrial low-temperature add-on could extend milk’s shelf life in experimental conditions. It is not a home treatment or a reason to change a carton’s date.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 3 min read
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A Purdue University study reported that a rapid, low-temperature treatment added after pasteurization could extend milk’s shelf life by weeks. The process was designed for industrial use, and the reported results do not mean consumers can treat milk at home or change the date on a carton.

What was the process?

In a 2016 report, Purdue described a low-temperature, short-time (LTST) treatment used as an add-on to conventional pasteurization. The pasteurized milk was dispersed into droplets and passed through a heated, pressurized chamber. Its temperature changed rapidly but remained below 70°C. The process is an industrial treatment, not a kitchen technique. Purdue University’s report describes the method and study.

As Purdue associate professor Bruce Applegate put it: “It’s an add-on to pasteurization, but it can add shelf life of up to five, six or seven weeks to cold milk.” That statement refers to the research-stage process, not a shelf-life guarantee for milk sold today.

What did the study find?

Purdue reported that the LTST treatment extended shelf life in its experimental conditions to as long as 63 days. The report’s comparisons included periods of 14 to 35 days, and it described conventional pasteurization as providing around two to three weeks. These are results and context from that report, not dates consumers should apply to their own milk.

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The report also said the brief temperature increase eliminated more than 99% of bacteria left after pasteurization. Its reproduced study abstract described reductions of up to 5 log10 CFU/mL from pasteurization and 7–8 log10 CFU/mL after LTST for the same microorganisms. The study included inoculated milk and specific test organisms; these figures do not establish that the process removes every pathogen or guarantees safety for all products and production lines. Sensory preference in the study was equal to or greater than that for milk treated with pasteurization alone, but that finding likewise applies to the study conditions. Purdue’s 2016 report summarizes the results.

How is LTST different from milk already sold?

LTST should not be confused with extended-shelf-life (ESL), ultra-pasteurized or UHT milk. Those are separate commercial processing approaches. Their exact treatments and handling directions vary by product.

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Milk or process What it means What to keep in mind
Conventional pasteurized milk Standard pasteurization. Purdue’s 2016 report described around two to three weeks as contextual shelf-life information. Follow the package directions and keep it refrigerated.
LTST add-on in the Purdue study Rapid treatment of dispersed pasteurized milk droplets, with the reported process below 70°C. The reported microbial reductions and shelf-life extension were experimental results; the sources cited here do not establish that a retail product uses this exact process.
ESL or ultra-pasteurized milk Commercial processing between conventional HTST and UHT approaches; specific processes vary. Canadian guidance says ESL products are not commercially sterile and require prompt cooling and continuous refrigeration at 4°C or below. Follow the package directions.
UHT milk More intense heat processing associated with unopened milk that can be shelf-stable in aseptic packaging. Do not assume it has the handling needs of refrigerated ESL milk; follow the package directions.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s ESL guidance and a peer-reviewed review of thermal processing for ESL milk describe the distinctions. The evidence supports comparing processing and storage requirements, not declaring one method universally best.

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What should consumers do with milk at home?

Do not try to reproduce LTST at home or use the study’s figures to extend a carton’s date. Keep milk according to its label and maintain a refrigerator at 40°F or below, as USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) advises. FSIS says perishable food held above 40°F for more than two hours should not be consumed. USDA FSIS refrigeration guidance explains the temperature limits.

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Smell, taste and appearance cannot prove that mishandled milk is safe: pathogenic bacteria may not change a food’s sensory qualities. If milk has been held outside safe temperature limits, do not rely on a sensory check to decide whether to drink it. USDA FSIS distinguishes food-safety hazards from spoilage signs.

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