Germs in H-milk Is high-heat milk really not lastable forever?

Spoiled milk is hard to spot
Whether in the kindergarten, the shopping cart of the large family or in the office kitchen: A pallet of milk is found everywhere, because many consumers appreciate the supposedly long shelf life. But only at the beginning of the week was a recall started again after bacteria had been detected in the "Milbona H-Milch" from Lidl. The find shows that even the highly heated milk is not safe from pathogens. The treacherous thing about the H-products: the perishability is very difficult for the consumer to recognize.

Recall of Lidl milk
H-milk is popular with many consumers, because the long shelf life allows for an uncomplicated stockpiling. However, the products keep making headlines due to contamination with germs, which can possibly lead to health problems.

Many parents like to buy H-milk because of their long shelf life. But beware: This spoils after opening much faster than you think. (Image: Africa Studio / fotolia.com)

Earlier this week, the discounter Lidl announced a recall for whole milk. Affected is the product "Milbona Durable Milk 3.5% fat, 1L" with the best before dates 07.05.2017 and 08.05.2017. According to a statement from the company, the bacterium "Bacillus cereus" had been detected in internal tests of the manufacturer Fude + Serrahn Milchprodukte GmbH. The pathogen is capable of producing giftware that can cause nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramping and diarrhea. Therefore, the affected products should not be consumed and can be returned in all Lidl branches (even without a receipt), the information.

Products go through a special heating process
Germs in the H-milk? For many consumers, the news comes as a surprise. Because the "H" stands for "preserved", which is done by a special heat treatment process, in which all replicable pathogens are killed. During this process, the milk is heated for a few seconds to temperatures of at least 135 to 150 ° C, which makes it virtually germ-free. The products therefore remain sealed even without refrigeration for several months.

Lasting only a few days after opening
But the glow of infinite durability is deceptive: if the milk is opened, it can spoil after a few days. As with fresh milk, air and germs enter the interior of the milk carton after the closure has been opened, where they can multiply rapidly. The problem with it: If the H-milk is bad, this is usually difficult to determine. Because by the UHT are located in her no lactic acid bacteria as in fresh milk. "H-milk spoils [.] Without acidification, so you do not taste the spoilage", so the information of the nutrition service "aid".

On the advice of the aid, opened low-fat milk should therefore be "always well closed, refrigerated and consumed within 2-3 days". Durable milk, which has been on for longer, does not have to be spoiled, but it can not be excluded "one hundred percent", according to the association. With fresh milk can usually be seen when pouring, if this is still good. Because spoiled fresh milk is due to the contained lactic acid bacteria quickly lumpy and smells unpleasant, at the latest when drinking then falls on the typical sour taste. (No)