BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – Viral video of a woman getting angry at the cashier at a minimarket because she was sent Ultra High Temperature or UHT milk that was not cold. While shouting at the cashier, the woman said that the milk had to be cold. The woman also wants her money back. So should UHT milk always be stored in the refrigerator or chiller? Is it safe to store UHT milk at room temperature?
Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, Pasundan University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Microbiology Division, Drg. Dita Septiani, M.Si explained that UHT milk is still safe to consume even if it is stored at room temperature if the packaging has not been opened.
“It can be stored at room temperature around 20-25 degrees Celsius,” said Drg. Dita.
He also explained that once the packaging has been opened, UHT milk must be stored in a refrigerator or chiller at a temperature of -4 to 6 degrees Celsius.
“It is best to consume UHT milk immediately when the packaging has been opened. “This is to avoid contamination and bacterial growth which can make UHT milk unfit for consumption,” he explained.
The UHT milk processing process is also considered the safest because the temperature used during processing is 135-145 degrees Celsius within two to three seconds. Then the tools used are modern and more aseptic with strict supervision. Apart from that, UHT milk packaging uses multilayer aseptic packaging which makes the milk last longer even if it is not stored in the refrigerator.
Drg. Dita explained that UHT milk has many health benefits for all ages. This is because UHT milk contains calcium, vitamins and minerals that the body needs. So if the body’s nutrition is adequate, the body will be healthy and protected from disease. (Rani)
