One of the biggest problems of UHT milk is the sedimentation of protein particles that occurs during the storage period, which faces rejection by the consumers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the particle sedimentation in semi-skimmed, skimmed and wholemilk, stored at 20°C, 30°C (±1) for 120 days. In pasteurized milk that yielded UHT milk physico-chemical and microbiological analisys (mesophilic, psychrotrophic and lactic acid bacteria) were carried out. In semi-skimmed, skimmed and whole milk, the acidity, pH, boiling, sensory analysis, integrity of packaging and sedimentation tests were carried out shortly after packing and at 30th, 60th, 90th and 120th days of storage. The pasteurized whole milk, semi skimmed and skimmed milk showed results within the required standards by the industry for mesophilic bacteria(log10 4.37 a log10 4.08UFC mL-1), psychrotrophic (log10 3.06 a log10 2.77UFC mL-1) and lactic acid (log10 3.10 a log10 2.42UFC mL-1) bacteria, that differed significantly (5%) of value of fresh milk from which they originate. The values of acidity (0.15% ác. láctic), freezing point (-0.535 a -0.540°H), fat, density (1.031 a 1.034g mL-1), pH (6.70 a 6.80) and degreased dry extract (8.65 a 8.93%) also were within the standards. From the 60th day of storage on, particle sedimentation was observed in the three types of UHT milk at the 20°C (0.80 a 1.10g) at the 30°C (1.0 a 1.40g).
storage; UHT milk; sedimentation; quality
