Myth: Tetra Pak milk is packed with toxic thrills and chemical fills

(Else, how can milk last for 6 months at room temperature??)

Tetra Pak milk is technically known as UHT (ultra-high temperature) milk. UHT is a special type of pasteurization.  

• Milder types of this process are conducted for our everyday milk packet (the thin plastic one) to kill all the disease-causing teeny-tiny bacteria (mainly the bad ones).

• In pasteurization, milk is heated to high temperatures (63-72*C) and suddenly cooled to super low temperatures to give a literal roller coaster ride to the pesky little troublemakers.

• Whereas, in UHT, the milk is heated to very high temperatures (138-150*C) for 1-2 seconds.

Now, this milk is sterile, devoid of any bacteria. To continue to be sterile, it must be packed in containers to protect it from pesky troublemakers.

That’s where our hero, Tetra Pak steps in to save the day!

• Armored with six layers of polythene, Aluminum foil, and paperboard, our UHT milk couldn’t ask for a better savior.

That’s why UHT milk can be stored for months together without using a fridge. It does not have any other ingredients except milk. However, once opened, it should be kept in the fridge and consumed in 1-2 days just like our thin packet milk.

It’s a perfect companion for people for whom coffee runs through their veins instead of blood. An example would be MBA students during finals week…

Reference:

1. https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/food-safety-in-virginia/milk-safety/pasteurization/#:~:text=Pasteurization%20involves%20heating%20liquids%20at,%3D%20all%20bacteria%20are%20destroyed).

2. https://www.britannica.com/technology/pasteurization#ref248665