Certified Cheese Professional Practice Exam

At what duration does HHST Pasteurization occur at 0.1 seconds?

1. 0.05 seconds

2. 0.1 seconds

3. 0.5 seconds

4. 1 second

The correct answer is: 0.1 seconds

In the context of pasteurization methods, HHST stands for High-Temperature, Short-Time pasteurization. This technique is designed to effectively eliminate harmful bacteria and pathogens from dairy products while preserving flavor and nutritional quality. HHST pasteurization is specifically characterized by its rapid heating process, where milk is typically subjected to elevated temperatures for a very brief duration. Given that the question indicates a duration of 0.1 seconds, this matches the defined characteristics of HHST pasteurization, which is specifically achieved at this short time-frame. Pasteurization processes labeled as HHST commonly operate within a very narrow time range, and at this duration, it ensures that the product reaches a temperature sufficient to kill pathogenic organisms without significantly impacting the product's taste or texture. The other choices represent durations that either fall below or exceed the threshold associated with HHST, thus disqualifying them as answers when the precise duration indicated is 0.1 seconds. Therefore, identifying the correct duration as 0.1 seconds demonstrates an understanding of the specific parameters that qualify as part of the HHST pasteurization process.