Would you buy milk sold at room temperature, not refrigerated?
Or would you drink milk from a bottle that hasn’t been refrigerated for weeks?
This might seem strange to many, but in many European countries, this is exactly what you’ll find if you’re looking for milk in supermarkets or at people’s homes!
But then, you might wonder, doesn’t the milk spoil? Isn’t there a risk of bacteria or illness?
In fact, it all comes down to the pasteurization process.
In these countries, the milk is treated with a very high-temperature pasteurization process (around 140°C), which kills bacteria and allows for a much longer shelf life. This makes milk stable at room temperature (about 20°C) for several months, without any health risks!
The milk found in countries like Japan is pasteurized at around 70°C, and must be kept below 5°C and consumed within 2 weeks on average.
But then, why does Japan continue to produce and sell this milk?
First, it’s a matter of the placebo effect! Many people place great importance on the freshness of products. As a result, refrigerated milk is seen as more reliable and of higher quality by consumers, even though that is not necessarily the case!
But it’s not just that. It’s also a matter of taste. Refrigerated milk, which is pasteurized at a lower temperature, is believed to maintain a creamier taste and texture, which appeals to many people. Milk sold at room temperature, even though it is completely safe, may have a milder taste and slightly more liquid texture.
As for me, I find Japan’s fresh milk truly delicious! However, I wonder if it is ultimately a waste of electricity...
So, if you travel to a country where milk isn’t sold refrigerated in supermarkets, don’t worry and buy it with peace of mind.
Thank you for bringing up an interesting topic, Jeanne. However, that's not how I understand it. Most milk sold in Japan is treated at 120°C for 2 seconds. Low-temperature pasteurization, on the other hand, is considered a high-quality and more expensive option. Then, why do we store milk in a fridge? It's because we are concerned about the proliferation of bacteria after the bottle is opened. In this sense, you could argue that milk bottles don't necessarily need to be sold from the refrigerated section. That may be true. However, I imagine that not many Japanese people would prefer drinking milk at room temperature.
ReplyDeleteI see, thank you for clarifying the topic. Europeans do not drink milk at room temperature either; it is kept that way only for selling and storage at home. Once the bottle is opened, we put it in the fridge.
ReplyDelete