SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR DESTROYING C. BOTULINUM SPORES IN PRESSED BEVERAGE USING THERMAL PASCALIZATION
A system and process for destroying C. Botulinum spores in ready to drink beverages is presented. The system includes a product tank receives ready to drink beverage. The product tank is fluidly coupled to a first heat exchanger for heating the beverage to a kill temperature using a closed loop counter current process. The heated beverage is passed through one or more hold tubes to maintain the kill temperature for a minimum hold time resulting in thermally pasteurizing the beverage. The thermally pasteurized beverage is passed through a second heat exchanger for cooling the beverage down to a desired packaging temperature using a closed loop counter current process. The cooled beverage is then placed in a feed tank ready for packaging. A distribution container is filled with the cooled beverage from the feed tank and the container is sealed. The sealed distribution container is then subjected to high pressure processing.
1 . A system for destroying C. Botulinum spores while maintaining product integrity of ready to drink beverages:
a product receiving tank for receiving ready-to-drink beverage with a pH >4.6, the beverage comprising cold pressed fruit/vegetable juices or nut milks;
a first heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the receiving tank for heating the beverage to a kill temperature of about 195° F. using a closed loop counter current process;
one or more hold tubes fluidly coupled to an output of the first heat exchanger for holding the heated beverage at approximately the kill temperature for a hold time of at least 10 minutes resulting in thermally pasteurized beverage;
a second heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the one or more hold tubes for cooling the thermally pasteurized beverage down to a packaging temperature of about 45° F. in using a closed loop counter current process;
a filler feed tank fluidly coupled to the second heat exchanger for receiving the cooled beverage;
a packaging station for filling and sealing the cooled beverage from the feed tank into a distribution container; and
a HPP station for subjecting the filled and sealed distribution container to high pressure processing.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said first heat exchanger comprises a preheat and a final heating station.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the counter current for the first heat exchanger is provided from a hot temperature reservoir.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said second heat exchanger comprises a pre-cool and a final cooling station.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the counter current for the second heat exchanger is provided from a cold temperature reservoir.
6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pump fluidly coupled between the receiving tank and the first heat exchanger.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the packaging station is refrigerated.
8 . A system for destroying C. Botulinum spores while maintaining product integrity of ready to drink beverages:
a product receiving tank for receiving ready-to-drink beverage;
a first heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the receiving tank for heating the beverage to a kill temperature using a closed loop counter current process;
one or more hold tubes fluidly coupled to an output of the first heat exchanger for holding the heated beverage at approximately the kill temperature for a hold time resulting in thermally pasteurized beverage;
a second heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the one or more hold tubes for cooling the thermally pasteurized beverage down to a packaging temperature in using a closed loop counter current process;
a filler feed tank fluidly coupled to the second heat exchanger for receiving the cooled beverage;
a packaging station for filling and sealing the cooled beverage from the feed tank into a distribution container; and
a HPP station for subjecting the filled and sealed distribution container to high pressure processing.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the ready-to-drink beverage comprises cold pressed fruit/vegetable juices or nut milks.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the ready-to-drink beverage has a pH >4.6.
11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the kill temperature is between 185° F. and 205° F.
12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the hold time is at least 10 minutes.
13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the packaging temperature is about 45° F. or less.
14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the packaging station is refrigerated.
15 . A method for destroying C. Botulinum spores while maintaining integrity of ready to drink beverages:
receiving ready to drink beverage with pH >4.6;
heating the beverage to a kill temperature of between 185° F. and 205° F. in a first heat exchanger, using a closed loop counter current process;
transferring the heated beverage to a hold tube and maintaining the heated beverage in the hold tube at approximately the kill temperature for a hold time of at least 10 minutes resulting in thermally pasteurized beverage;
cooling the thermally pasteurized beverage down to a packaging temperature of about 45 ° F. in a second heat exchanger, using a closed loop counter current process;
transferring the cooled beverage from the second heat exchanger to a filler feed tank;
filling and sealing the cooled beverage from the feed tank into a distribution container; and
subjecting the filled and sealed distribution container to high pressure processing (HPP).
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the distribution container is a bulk bag or bottle.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ready-to-drink beverage comprises cold pressed fruit/vegetable juices or nut milks.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the kill temperature is about 195° F.