There is a perennial debate about drinking milk – is it good for one’s health or does it cause health issues; accumulation of fat, allergies/ailments due to lactose intolerance and more. However, mothers have never paid any heed to such debates. They believe that milk is a must for their children and age doesn’t matter at all. Milk is an important ingredient in a child’s breakfast. It is given to them in various forms – chocolate milk, milkshakes or simply, a glass of milk.

Traditionally in India, mothers prefer buying milk in pouches or loose milk that is delivered to them at their doorstep. But this form of milk can be adulterated. Given our climatic conditions along with the working conditions at the stables, milk may be acquired from the cows under unhygienic conditions. On the other hand, milk in pouches is exposed to light and temperature variations. Therefore, letting the harmful bacteria in it grow.

But is there a solution to this? Yes, there is. One can easily switch to milk in Tetra Pack cartons. However, one might question – what is special about milk in Tetra Pak cartons?

Here are a few benefits of buying milk packed in Tetra Pack cartons –

UHT MILK– Milk available in Tetra Pack cartons is UHT milk, i.e. milk collected is put through Ultra High Temperature treatment, in this treatment, the milk is exposed to very brief yet intense temperatures in the range of 135 to 137 degrees Celsius. This is done only for three seconds. An important point to remember is that the UHT treatment is a continuous process in a closed system that prevents contamination of the beverage by micro-organisms present in the air.

Additionally, UHT milk has to pass through heating and cooling stages in quick successions. It is then filled in sterile Tetra Pak cartons and sealed. Therefore, it is not exposed to any outside element and given the nature of the packaging; no preservatives are required to increase its shelf life.

Aseptic Packaging – unlike loose milk or pouch milk, Tetra Pak uses six-layered aseptic cartons to package milk. In the aseptic processing, the package and the product (in this case milk), are both sterilized separately. Once the sterilization process is completed, they are sealed in a sterile atmosphere.

No need to boil – UHT treated milk does not require boiling. Therefore, it can be directly consumed from the carton itself.

Longer Shelf Life – Milk in Tetra Pak cartons can last up to 4-6 months if the carton remains sealed. Once opened, one needs to refrigerate the milk which can last up to 5 days.

Easy Availability – Milk in Tetra Pak cartons is easily available in stores near you.

In short, milk in Tetra Pak cartons is special because one can ensure that their family consumes milk that is hygienic and preservative free!

What Milk Goes Into Tetra Pak Cartons

UHT-treated milk is the milk that is filled into the six-layered Tetra Pak cartons. Ultra High Temperature-treated milk simply means that the milk has been heated to a very high temperature for a brief period; however, ensuring the milk’s taste and nutrition remains intact. In this process, milk is exposed to very brief yet intense heating temperatures. These temperatures are in the range of 135 to 137 degree Celsius for 3 seconds. Because it is a continuous process, it takes place in closed systems, keeping the beverage safe from contamination from air-borne micro-organisms. UHT Milk has to pass through heating and cooling stages in quick successions. It is then immediately filled into a sterile Tetra Pak carton which is shelf safe. With UHT, the shelf life of milk in Tetra Pak cartons increases and the milk can last up to 4 to 6 months when the carton remains sealed. However, once opened, the milk carton needs to be refrigerated and consumed within 5 days from opening the seal .

WHY TETRA PACK ?

Tetra Pak’s motto, PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD, expresses the fundamental philosophy of how we conduct our business. This is an extension of the company’s vision: to make food safe and available everywhere, and is the guiding principle of the way that we work throughout the food chain. In accordance with the motto, PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD, each product is treated according to specific requirements to ensure that its quality and nutritional value
are maintained.
SAFE FOOD

For thousands of years people have conducted a battle against those micro-organisms, which tend to multiply in food and destroy it and in the worst case become a health risk. Pasteurisation kills the bacteria in food that causes illness, but it is considerably more difficult to kill heat-resistant spores that can be formed by certain bacteria. In these circumstances one or more separate stages of heat treatment are needed. With a short heat treatment at a high temperature all micro-organisms are rendered harmless and a subsequent rapid cooling means that nutritional quality and taste are affected less than with other heating processes.
A product free from micro-organisms that could start growing must be filled into a sterile package in a microbiologically clean environment. Then no preservatives will be required and the product can become non-perishable for a long time, and without the need for refrigerated storage. This is aseptic processing and packaging technology – two integrated lines of defence that work together to make sure wholesome food remains safe. This solution has great benefit to society since it means that people everywhere, whatever their culture and climate, can have access to nutritious food whenever they like.
THE ASEPTIC PROCESS

The most important–and most obvious–requirement where food is concerned is that it should taste good and be safe to eat. Guaranteeing this and making sure that a product’s quality and nutritional content are maintained requires processing equipment that carefully applies heat treatment in accordance with the specific requirements of each food. Milk, which has a low acidity level, is more sensitive to harmful bacteria and spores than, for example, fruit juices. Their acidity level is high, so these products need different processing methods.
In the processing equipment supplied by Tetra Pak each individual component has been designed to eliminate all harmful micro-organisms. In the three categories dairy, beverage and prepared food we have specially selected lines, modules and components which take care of and protect our customers’ products throughout their lifecycle, whether for a short or a long period, without the use of preservatives.
Aseptically processed and packaged products do not require preservatives and assure consumers of quality products without the hassle of refrigeration. They can be easily transported and stored. The aseptic process has been regarded as one of the most important “Food and Science Advancements” of the 20th Century by the Institute of Food Technology.