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A Systems Approach to Reducing Spore Contamination in Dairy Powders

Objective

1. Quantify, isolate, and characterize heat resistant mesophilic and thermophilic spores in raw milk obtained from at least 20 different dairy farms </P>
2. Use epidemiological approaches to identify risk factors for high spore counts in raw milk </P>
3. Quantify, isolate, and characterize heat resistant mesophilic and thermophilic spores at various processing steps in a powder production facility </P>
4. Use molecular characterization data to compare heat resistant mesophilic, and thermophilic spore populations found in different raw milk supplies and various processing steps in a powder production facility.

More information

This project will use molecular DNA fingerprinting methods to identify sources of spore contamination in dairy powders. Researchers will focus on raw milk and the processing chain in powder processing plants. Researchers will quantify, isolate, characterize heat-resistant mesophilic and thermophilic spores in raw milk from 20 dairy farms, and develop a comprehensive farm management survey to identify risk factors for high spore counts in raw milk. Molecular characterization data will be compared to heat resistant mesophilic and thermophilic spores in raw milk and processing steps in a powder production facility.

Investigators
Wiedmann, Martin
Institution
Cornell University
Start date
2011
End date
2014
Funding Source
Categories