UV Technology Could Replace Traditional Milk Pasteurisation, Says Study

Ultraviolet light technology can be used as an environmentally friendly alternative to heat pasteurisation for milk, a study has revealed.

Dairy UK said UV pasteurisation technology uses precise frequencies of wave lengths of light to interact with milk DNA.

The finding in an Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator report anticipates that the UV alternative will consume less energy than the existing heat technique, according to dairyreporter.com.

The report said UV technology is used in other industries for photo purification of wine, sugar syrups and fruit juices and also as a final sterilisation process in water treatment facilities.

The process is also used for milk pasteurisation in South Africa on a limited scale allowed by local authorities and was trialled in the US, where it was found to increase milk shelf-life by 30%, according to Dairy UK.