THE STUDY OF BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF MILK MIXES, MILK AND FRUIT AND BERRY ICE CREAM

Microbiological features of milk mixes and ice were studied during the principal process stages, which enabled to detect the highest risk points for bacterial contamination. Compared to known information, the impact was established of vegetable raw chemical composition and preliminary treatment on the presence and activity of certain groups of germs in higher water content mixes and ice. The microbiological features of higher water content milk mixes and ice were studied. The study purported to survey the bacterial contamination of milk mixes and ice of various chemical composition throughout the whole production cycle. Microbiological features were studied of typical composition milk mixes and ice stabilized with wheat flour and modern stabilization system. Comparative evaluation of microbiological features was conducted for new types of milk ices with apple puree and wheat germs. We analyzed the stage of development, stability, and die-off for various groups of germs at certain process stages. The initial raw materials as well as equipment, especially during freezing, were detected to be the worst sources of bacterial contamination. The necessity was proved to ensure thermal processing of cereals prior to adding them to the mix, before it is sent for pasteurization and freezing. The results of our study can be used to develop operational procedures for production of new types of ice, with due consideration for all specific conditions for prior treatment of vegetable raw and for sanitary state of facilities for production, sales, and consumption of finished product.