What does the phrase “ultra-pasteurized” mean on the milk container?
Ultra-pasteurized means that the milk or milk product has been subjected to a very high temperature during the pasteurization process, 280 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two seconds, compared to normal milk pasteurization methods of at least 161 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds. This is done to increase the shelf-life of the product at the retail store. The common complaint with ultra-pasteurized product which has been subjected to temperature abuse or is past it’s shelf-life is that it has a chemical smell and/or taste rather than the “spoiled” milk appearance that people recognize. This also is caused by the ultra-pasteurization process which eliminates organisms which cause spoilage.
