Effect of Homogenization Pressure on Plasmin Activity and Mechanical Stress-Induced Fat Aggregation of Commercially Sterilized Ultra High Temperature Milk during Storage

Commercially sterilized ultra high temperature (UHT) milk was manufactured at different homogenization pressures (20, 25, and 30 MPa), and changes in fat particle size, mechanical stress-induced fat aggregation, plasmin activity, and lipid oxidation were monitored during ambient storage of the UHT milk for up to 16 wk. The particle sizes of milk fat globules were significantly decreased as homogenization pressure increased from 20 to 30 MPa (p<0.05). The presence of mechanical stress-induced fat aggregates in milk produced at 20 MPa was significantly higher than for UHT milk produced at either 25 or 30 MPa. This difference was maintained all throughout the storage. There were no significant differences in plasmin activity, trichloroacetic acid (12%, w/v) soluble peptides, and the extent of lipid oxidation. Based on these results, an increase of homogenization pressure from 20 (the typical homogenization pressure employed in the Korea dairy industry) to 25-30 MPa significantly decreased mechanical stress-induced fat aggregation without affecting susceptibility to lipid oxidation during storage.