HTST pasteurization. Is it time to raise statutory time / temperature conditions to destroy Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP)?

Note this article has been updated to reflect the published consensus of researchers and clinicians at the conference on MAP in the US in 2017 that Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is a human pathogen (Kuenstner et al, 2017). 

The use of a high temperature short time heat treatment (HTST) of 72°C for 15 seconds to destroy pathogenic bacteria in milk, reduce the number of spoilage organisms and increase shelf life is well established (Cerf and Condron, 2006; Codex Alimentarius (2004); Juffs and Deeth, 2007).

Learn more about heat treatment and survival of MAP

Reliability of microbial sampling in assuring food safety

Model probability of detecting a pathogen in food.

Despite the global use of HACCP systems and a legal requirement for the use of HACCP in many jurisdictions' food poisoning remains an endemic problem and large numbers of people continue to be hospitalised, die and as a result companies either face substantial legal costs and / or in many cases are forced to cease trading.

While the use of HACCP systems significantly reduces the need for microbiological end point testing of foods, sampling schemes and microbial analysis have important roles in system validation and quality assurance.

This raises an issue concerning the adequacy of sampling schemes and microbial analysis in commercial food manufacture.

Further information on the mathematics of microbial sampling

Inhibitors of starter activity in milk

Growth and acid production by starter cultures may be inhibited by bacterial viruses, bacteriophages, or added substances including antibiotics, sterilant and detergent residues, or  free fatty acids produced by or as a result of the growth of microorganisms, and natural often called indigenous antimicrobial proteins.

More about starter-inhibitors