As consumers continue to demand eco-friendly solutions, restaurants and stores are finding that aseptic dairy is a sustainable solution that ensures less energy usage.
Though the average consumer has likely never heard the word “aseptic,” a growing number of dairy-based products use aseptic processing. The aseptic process, which involves heating the product for 2-15 seconds on high temperatures, sterilizing packaging and storing the final product in a sealed container free of pathogens, has become a desired way to provide liquid products to grocery retailers across the globe.
Restaurants are drawn to aseptic products due to the ability to store these items in an ambient temperature zone instead of inside a fridge. From a food safety perspective, aseptic also has advantages in that items that are aseptically packaged bloat if spoiled, ensuring that restaurants can quickly assess and dispose of product that provides a food safety hazard. Restaurants are also drawn to the products’ long shelf lives, with some items lasting for up to a year if unopened.