I’m sure you’ve questioned “what is pasteurization? Does it take away all the nutrients out of my milk? Is my baby missing out on valuable nutrients?”. So, we’re going to break it down for you.
What is Pasteurization?
Simply put, pasteurization is a process by which milk is heated to high temperatures for a specific period to kill harmful bacteria (like E. coli and Salmonella) that can be naturally found in raw milk which can lead to diseases like as listeriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria and brucellosis, especially those with weakened immune systems, including children, pregnant women and older adults (13Trusted Source). However, most nutrients remain in milk after it is pasteurized.
Commonly pasteurized foods include juices, dairy products, alcoholic beverages, kombucha, imitation meats, nuts, and flour-based products like bread and cereal. Here is a quick look at different types of pasteurisation and Adan Organics follow the traditional method.
|
Traditional pasteurization |
UHT Pasteurization |
UHT Pasteurization + Aseptic packaging |
|
High Temperature for Short Time (HTST) |
Ultra High Temperature Pasteurization (UHT or UP) |
Ultra High Temperature Pasteurization (UHT or UP) |
|
Heated to 74°C for 15sec |
Heated to 138°C for 2sec |
Heated to 138°C for 2sec |
|
5 to 7 days shelf life |
1 to 2 month shelf life (until opened) |
Put in a sterile package (called Aseptic). Shelf stable for 6 months (until opened) |
Pasteurized vs Unpasteurized
Unpasteurized, or raw, milk skips the heating step and goes straight from the udder into the carton. While there aren't any significant nutritional differences, unpasteurized, or raw milk, can pose serious health risks.
Unpasteurized foods are slightly more likely to retain natural tastes, appearances, flavours, and nutrients, but they are strongly associated with foodborne illnesses. Evidence indicates that the risks of consuming unpasteurized foods greatly outweigh the benefits, especially for immune-compromised people.
|
Pasteurised |
Unpasteurized |
|
Heated to high temperatures to kill bacteria |
In its raw form with no treatment |
|
Safe to consume off the bottle |
Risks outweigh the benefits |
|
Reduced risk of foodborne illnesses |
Exposed to illnesses especially for the weakened immune system, children, pregnant women & older adults |
|
Retains most of the required nutrients, taste, texture & flavour |
Retain the natural taste, texture, flavours & nutrients |
Which should you choose?
Although unpasteurized foods may have a better flavour profile and slightly more nutrients in some cases, you should choose pasteurized foods when possible. Pasteurized foods have been shown to be safer and reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.
However, everyone should still be mindful and adhere to the recommended safe food handling guidelines. Remember that pasteurized foods can still become contaminated with harmful microbes during storage and preparation.
