JP2014231356A - Aseptic filling method of beverage and system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an aseptic beverage filling method and an aseptic beverage filling system in which a container is sterilized efficiently and aseptically filling the beverage in filling nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage containing a nitrogen source such as carbonated beverage containing fruit juice, carbonated beverage containing whey, or supplementary carbonated beverage containing amino acid, vitamin or the like into a container by aseptic filling.SOLUTION: There is provided an aseptic filling method of beverage for aseptically filling carbonated beverage containing nitrogen source with less than pH4.0 into a container. The method consists of: a content pasteurization process in which pasteurization of the beverage is performed at 65°C and equivalent to or more than 10 minutes; a container sterilization process in which the container is a pressure-proof polyester bottle, and spraying the container with hot water at 70 to 80°C for 0.5 to 5 seconds; a filling process in which the pasteurized beverage is filled into the sterilized container; and a sealing process of the filled container, and at least the filling process and the sealing process are performed in aseptic environment.

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a beverage aseptic filling method and system, and more specifically, nitrogen containing a nitrogen source such as a carbonated beverage containing fruit juice, a carbonated beverage containing milk, or a nutritionally supplemented carbonated beverage containing amino acids and vitamins. The present invention relates to a method and system for aseptic filling of a beverage using a pressure-resistant polyester bottle as a container when aseptically filling a source-containing carbonated beverage.

  In recent years, in the method of filling and sealing beverages that require sterilization, in addition to filling methods that require heat sterilization, aseptic filling (Aseptic The filling method is widely adopted. The aseptic filling method guarantees hermetic sealing in a completely aseptic condition, so it can be used for filling acidic beverages such as beverages containing fruit juice and dairy beverages that are prone to spore bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum. Is also applicable, and has the advantage that the content is less susceptible to thermal degradation (eg, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In general, the aseptic filling method employs a chemical sterilization method for sterilizing the container, and therefore, it is necessary to wash with sterile water after the chemical sterilization process. Therefore, since the number of processes is large, simplification of the sterilization method of containers is required, and aseptic filling is required for acidic beverages such as fruit juice beverages, low acid beverages such as coffee and tea beverages, and non-carbonated beverages such as mineral water. However, in the above-mentioned nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverages, the aseptic filling method is not adopted.For example, the above-mentioned carbonated beverages containing fruit juice are conventionally mixed in a container by mixing the content liquid and carbon dioxide gas. After filling and sealing, heat sterilization was performed from the outer surface of the bottle with a pasteurizer such as a hot water shower so that the sterilization level of the contents of the entire container after sealing was 65 ° C., corresponding to 10 minutes.

Japanese Patent No. 473792013 JP 2012-1238 A

  However, the above-mentioned heat sterilization after filling and sealing takes time to raise or lower the pastoriser to a predetermined heating temperature, and the substantial time required for the heat sterilization is long, so that the productivity is poor. In addition, since heating is performed while the contents are filled and sealed, there are problems that the container expands, the appearance characteristics are inferior, and the content line of the contents liquid is lowered by opening. Furthermore, a heat-resistant and pressure-resistant polyester bottle to which heat resistance is imparted by a high-cost heat set has to be used as a container, and it has not been sufficiently satisfactory in terms of economy.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to fill a polyester bottle with a nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage containing a nitrogen source such as a carbonated beverage containing fruit juice, a carbonated beverage containing milk, or a nutritive carbonated beverage containing amino acids, vitamins, etc. by aseptic filling. It is an object to provide a method and system for aseptic filling of a beverage that can efficiently sterilize the beverage and the container to improve productivity and enable aseptic filling of the beverage at low cost.

According to the present invention, a method for aseptic filling a beverage by aseptically filling a container with a nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage having a pH of less than 4.0, wherein the beverage is sterilized at 65 ° C. for 10 minutes or more. A process, the container is a pressure-resistant polyester bottle, and the container is sterilized by spraying hot water of 70 to 80 ° C. for 0.5 to 5 seconds; the sterilized beverage is filled in the sterilized container; and There is provided a method for aseptic filling of a beverage comprising a sealing step of a used container, wherein at least the filling step and the sealing step are performed in an aseptic environment.
In the aseptic filling method of beverages of the present invention,
1. The nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage is a carbonated beverage containing fruit juice, a carbonated beverage containing milk, or a nutritionally supplemented carbonated beverage containing amino acids, vitamins, etc.,
2. The heat sterilization step of the nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage comprises a heat sterilization step of 65 ° C. for 10 minutes or more of the nitrogen source-containing beverage, and a carbon dioxide gas sterilization step or a carbon dioxide aqueous solution heat sterilization step.
3. The shrinkage rate of the sterilized container is less than 5%,
4). The bottom structure of the container is a pressure-resistant polyester bottle having a petaloid petaloid pressure-resistant structure;
Is preferred.

  According to the present invention, there is also provided a beverage aseptic filling system for aseptically filling a container with a nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage having a pH of less than 4.0, wherein the beverage is sterilized by heat sterilization at 65 ° C. for 10 minutes or more, The container is a pressure-resistant polyester bottle, and sterilizing means for injecting hot water at 70 to 80 ° C. into the container for 0.5 to 5 seconds, filling means for filling the sterilized container with the sterilized beverage, and There is provided an aseptic filling system for a beverage comprising sealing means for sealing a container filled with a beverage, wherein at least the filling means and the sealing means are in an aseptic environment.

In the present invention, the pressure-resistant polyester bottle filled with the nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage is sterilized by warm water sterilization, so that the use of a drug is unnecessary, and washing with sterile water is not required as in the case of sterilization using a drug. Yes, it can efficiently sterilize low-pressure pressure-resistant polyester bottles and perform aseptic filling.
In addition, it eliminates the need for heat sterilization using a pasteurizer after filling and sealing, which has been adopted for conventional carbonated beverages containing nitrogen source, and temperature control during heat sterilization, and can perform aseptic filling by sterilizing efficiently. .
In the present invention, the pressure-resistant polyester bottle is sterilized with a relatively low temperature hot water of 70 to 80 ° C., so that the shrinkage rate is less than 5% even if the container is a non-heat-resistant pressure-resistant polyester bottle. Further, it is possible to prevent an increase in the filling line of the beverage, which is the contents, and prevent liquid spillage at the time of filling, sealing failure after filling, dirt on the outer surface of the bottle, poor appearance of the bottle, and the like.
Furthermore, in the present invention, it has become possible to fill and seal the beverage that has been filled in the heat-resistant pressure-resistant polyester bottle to which heat resistance has been imparted conventionally by an expensive heat set, into a low-cost pressure-resistant polyester bottle, It is also economical.

It is a flowchart which shows an example of the structure of the aseptic filling method and system of the drink of this invention. It is a reference figure of the pressure-resistant polyester bottle used for the aseptic filling method and system of the drink of this invention.

(Nitrogen source-containing carbonated drink)
The content filled and sealed in the present invention is a nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage, for example, a nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage having a pH of less than 4.0 containing a nitrogen source such as fruit juice, pulp, vegetable juice, milk component, or amino acid. It is. The nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage is prepared by mixing a nitrogen source-containing beverage and carbon dioxide or a carbon dioxide aqueous solution.
The sterilization conditions for soft drinks are regulated by the food hygiene law according to the pH of the contents, etc., and the sterilization conditions in the present invention are heated at 65 ° C. for 10 minutes equivalent to beverages having a pH of less than 4.0. Or sterilization by a method having the same or higher efficacy is adopted (hereinafter referred to as 65 ° C., 10 minutes or more).

(Container for sterilization)
In the present invention, the container for filling and sealing the beverage described above is a polyester bottle obtained by biaxial stretch blow molding a preform obtained by injection molding or compression molding of a conventionally known polyethylene terephthalate resin or the like.
In the present invention, since the content is a carbonated beverage, the polyester bottle is composed of the mouth / neck portion 21, the shoulder portion 22, the trunk portion 23, and the bottom portion 24 shown in FIG. 2, and the bottom portion 24 has a petaloid petaloid shape. A pressure-resistant polyester bottle 20 having a pressure-resistant structure such as the above is preferable. And the sterilization of such a pressure-resistant polyester bottle performs the heat sterilization for a short time using the comparatively low temperature hot water of 70-80 degreeC and 0.5-5 seconds, and the shrinkage rate of a container is 5%. It is possible to reduce to less than. Therefore, the container is not particularly required to have heat resistance, and can be handled with a low-cost pressure-resistant polyester bottle by previously forming the container in consideration of the shrinkage rate.

(Aseptic filling method)
In the aseptic filling method of the beverage of the present invention, the sterilization step of the contents in which the nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage having a pH of less than 4.0 is sterilized at 65 ° C. for 10 minutes or more, the container is a pressure-resistant polyester bottle, The container comprises a sterilization process for spraying hot water of 70 to 80 ° C. to the container for 0.5 to 5 seconds, a filling process of the sterilized beverage into the sterilized container, and a sealing process of the filled container, and at least the filling process And the sealing process is performed in a sterile environment.
In the present invention, a low-cost pressure-resistant polyester bottle is selected as a container for filling and sealing the sterilized nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage, and sterilized with hot water at 70 to 80 ° C. for 0.5 to 5 seconds. In particular, hot water sterilization that provides a sterilization effect equivalent to or higher than 65 ° C. for 10 minutes has a preferable sterilization effect as a sterilization condition for a pressure-resistant polyester bottle that is a container for filling and sealing the nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage as a content. Finding this is an important feature.
That is, as sterilization conditions for a low-cost pressure-resistant polyester bottle, warm water is used, and 70 to 80 ° C., 0.5 to 5 seconds, preferably 74 to 80 ° C., 1 to 3 seconds, more preferably 78 ° C. ± 1. By sterilizing warm water at 5 ° C for 1 to 3 seconds, the pressure-resistant polyester bottle can be sterilized in a short time and can be used as a container for carbonated beverages containing nitrogen source, and the shrinkage rate of the bottle can be reduced. , Etc. can be suppressed, and it is possible to prevent spilling of the beverage at the time of filling, sealing failure after filling, dirt on the outer surface of the bottle, poor appearance of the bottle, and the like.
On the other hand, if hot water of less than 70 ° C. is used for sterilization as the sterilization condition of the pressure-resistant polyester bottle, a satisfactory sterilization effect cannot be obtained in a short time, resulting in a decrease in sterilization efficiency and productivity. On the other hand, as the sterilization condition of the pressure-resistant polyester bottle, when warm water exceeding 80 ° C. is used for sterilization, the sterilization time can be shortened. Is 5% or more, and the rise in the line of sight of the bottle becomes remarkable, resulting in liquid spillage of the beverage at the time of filling, poor sealing after capping, or poor appearance of the bottle.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an example in which a carbonated beverage containing fruit juice is used as the contents and a pressure-resistant polyester bottle is used as a container in the present invention, and an example of the aseptic filling method of the beverage according to the present invention will be described based on FIG.
The carbonated beverage containing fruit juice is sterilized by heating according to the Food Sanitation Law according to the pH of the juice beverage that is a nitrogen source-containing beverage, and separately from the juice beverage, sterilizes the carbon dioxide gas by a sterilization filter, Carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the sterilized fruit juice beverage to prepare a carbonated beverage containing fruit juice as the contents.
On the other hand, the pressure-resistant polyester bottle and the cap used for sealing are each sprayed with, for example, 78 ± 1.5 ° C. hot water from an injection nozzle or the like, and the bottle and the cap are sterilized with hot water for 1 to 3 seconds. . The sterilized pressure-resistant polyester bottle is conveyed to a filling machine in an aseptic environment and filled with a sterilized carbonated beverage containing fruit juice. Next, the pressure-resistant polyester bottle filled with the carbonated beverage containing fruit juice is conveyed to a sealing machine that is also in an aseptic environment and sealed with a sterilized cap. The sealed pressure-resistant polyester bottle can be transferred to the product inspection process, the boxing process, etc. without the need for a post-heater sterilization process with a hot water shower or the like like a conventional carbonated beverage containing a nitrogen source. it can.

The aseptic filling method of the beverage of the present invention is not limited to the specific example using FIG. 1 described above, and various modifications are possible. For example, it is preferable that the nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage is prepared before filling in order to prevent the loss of carbon dioxide gas, but it is also possible to fill the sterilized pressure-resistant polyester bottle with the carbon dioxide gas separately from the nitrogen source-containing beverage. In this case, it is desirable to fill the nitrogen source-containing beverage after first filling the carbon dioxide gas. The same applies when a carbon dioxide aqueous solution is used instead of carbon dioxide.
In addition, since the contents targeted by the present invention are nitrogen source-containing carbonated drinks having a pH of less than 4, the contents may be heat sterilized at 65 ° C. for 10 minutes or more.
In the aseptic filling method for beverages of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, it is necessary that at least the filling and sealing process of the nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage to the sterilized pressure-resistant polyester bottle is performed in an aseptic environment. However, the sterilization process of the contents and the sterilization process of the pressure-resistant polyester bottle may of course be in an aseptic environment.
The aseptic environment in the present invention means a state in which heat is sterilized with hot water of 65 ° C. to 100 ° C. and washed in advance, and is isolated from the outside. Aseptic air is supplied to the inside and positive pressure is applied to the outside. It is an environment where outside air does not flow easily.

Sterilization of the pressure-resistant polyester bottle is carried out by using hot water at 70 to 80 ° C. for 0.5 to 5 seconds, preferably 74 to 80 ° C., and 1 to 3 seconds, more preferably 78 ± 1.5 ° C. for the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle. It is performed by spraying for 1 to 3 seconds. According to this method, since the pressure-resistant polyester bottle is sterilized with hot water and washed after sterilization at the same time, a step of separately washing the sterilized bottle is unnecessary. In addition, the inner and outer surfaces of the cap are sterilized with warm water in the same manner as the bottle.
Sterilization of the inner and outer surfaces of the pressure-resistant polyester bottle with warm water is not limited to this, but can be performed by spraying warm water into a container placed in an inverted state. Similarly, the cap can be sterilized by spraying warm water with the cap opening facing downward.
The above-mentioned sterilization of the bottle and cap with warm water can be performed at a temperature and time range of 65 ° C. for 10 minutes or more by selecting the conditions so as to improve the sterilization effect. Is preferable.

(Aseptic filling system)
The beverage aseptic filling system of the present invention corresponds to the above aseptic filling method, and is a beverage aseptic filling system for aseptically filling a container with a nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage having a pH of less than 4.0. Sterilization means for performing heat sterilization for 10 minutes or more, container is a pressure-resistant polyester bottle, and sterilization means for container for spraying hot water of 70 to 80 ° C. to the container for 0.5 to 5 seconds, the sterilized beverage And a sealing means for sealing the container filled with the beverage, wherein at least the filling means and the sealing means are in an aseptic environment.
As shown in FIG. 1, a fruit juice drink is supplied to the heat sterilization apparatus 2 from the fruit juice storage tank 1 installed outside the aseptic environment, and sterilization at 65 ° C. for 10 minutes or more is performed. Similarly, carbon dioxide gas is supplied from the carbon dioxide storage tank 3 to the sterilization apparatus 4 equipped with a sterilization filter to be sterilized. Next, the sterilized fruit juice drink and the sterilized carbon dioxide gas are supplied to the mixing tank 5 and mixed to prepare a carbonated drink containing fruit juice.
On the other hand, the pressure-resistant polyester bottle that is filled and sealed with carbonated beverage containing fruit juice is transferred from the bottle supply device 6 to the hot water sterilizer 7 and sterilized with hot water of 70 to 80 ° C. for 0.5 to 5 seconds, preferably Is subjected to hot water sterilization that provides a sterilization effect equal to or higher than 65 ° C. for 10 minutes. The cap is transferred from the cap supply device 8 to the hot water sterilizer 9 and subjected to hot water sterilization similar to that of the bottle.
The pressure-resistant polyester bottle after sterilization is supplied to the filling device 10 and filled with a carbonated beverage containing fruit juice. Further, the cap is supplied to the sealing device 11 and capped with a pressure-resistant polyester bottle filled with a carbonated beverage containing fruit juice to seal the bottle. The sealed pressure-resistant polyester bottle is conveyed to a product inspection device, a boxing device, or the like outside the sterile environment.
In the aseptic filling system of the present invention, at least the filling device and the sealing device need to be in an aseptic environment, but a heat sterilization device, a mixing tank, a hot water sterilization device, or the like may be in the aseptic environment.

(Evaluation)
1. Shrinkage rate of bottle Using a pressure-resistant polyester bottle shown in FIG. 2 having a bottle size of 500 ml (weight per unit: 31 g) and a diameter of φ28 mm, the full capacity (V1, V2) was determined from the difference in measured values.
Shrinkage rate (%) = [(V1-V2) / V1] × 100
The results are shown in Table 1.
In the table, the shrinkage rate of the bottle is expressed as less than 5%: ○, 5% or more: x.

2. Sterilization effect by hot water sterilization of bottle (1) Sterilization effect (D value)
A pressure-resistant polyester bottle shown in FIG. 2 having 500 ml and a diameter of φ28 mm was used as a test bottle, and an Aspergillusniger ATCC 6275 cultured on a potato dextrose agar medium for 30 days was used as a test bacterium.
0.1 ml of the spore suspension of the test bacteria is sprayed on the inner surface of the test bottle to allow the suspension to adhere to 10 ⁶ cfu / bottle, and then dried in a clean room for 24 hours. Used as a test bottle.
This test bottle is inserted in an inverted state from the center of the bottle mouth toward the center of the bottom of the bottle, with a hot water injection nozzle (inner diameter 5 mm) inserted 30 mm from the top of the bottle mouth, and at a predetermined temperature under the operating conditions at a flow rate of 100 ml / second, Warm water was sprayed over time to sterilize the bottle inner surface.
Next, the number of surviving bacteria on the inner surface of the bottle after sterilization was cultivated on a potato dextrose agar medium at 30 ° C. for 7 days to measure the number of bacteria, and the bactericidal effect (D) from Log (initial number of bacteria / survival bacteria) Therefore, since the nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage itself has bacteriostatic properties, the sterilization level can be relaxed, and the sterilization effect aimed at 3D or more was obtained.
The results are shown in Table 1.
In the table, 3D or more: ○, less than 3D: x.

(2) Bactericidal effect (F65 value)
Under the implementation conditions, the sterilizing effect of 65 ° C. and 10 minutes (z = 5 ° C.) of hot water sterilization on the inner surface of the bottle was confirmed by F65 value.
The results are shown in Table 1.
In the table, F65 = 10 or more: ◯, F65 = less than 10: x.
In addition, with respect to the working conditions 7 and 8, the shrinkage rate of the bottle is 5% or more, and with respect to the working conditions 9 and 10, the bactericidal effect (D value) is 2D or less and the bactericidal effect by hot water sterilization is obtained. Therefore, this sterilization effect has not been confirmed.

  From the evaluation of the implementation conditions described above, according to the present invention, when aseptically filling the nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage, the pressure-resistant polyester bottle can be sterilized efficiently and aseptically filled. Even if it is a non-heat-resistant pressure-resistant polyester bottle, the rise in the line of crease is suppressed, and the beverage that has been filled in the heat-resistant polyester bottle to which heat resistance has been imparted by an expensive heat set has been reduced. It can be seen that the pressure-resistant polyester bottle can be filled and sealed.

The method and system for aseptic filling of beverages of the present invention includes a carbonated beverage containing a nitrogen source that requires sterilization and contains a nitrogen source such as a carbonated beverage containing fruit juice, a carbonated beverage containing milk, or a nutritive carbonated beverage containing amino acids, vitamins, and the like. It can be used effectively as an aseptic filling technique.
Moreover, since the container is a pressure-resistant polyester bottle that does not require heat resistance, the cost can be reduced, and the container can be effectively used as an aseptic filling technique for a nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage using a general-purpose container.

  2 heat sterilizer, 4 sterilizer, 5 mixing tank, 7,9 hot water sterilizer, 10 filling device, 11 sealing device, 20 pressure-resistant polyester bottle.

According to the present invention, a method for aseptic filling a beverage by aseptically filling a container with a nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage having a pH of less than 4.0, wherein the beverage is sterilized at 65 ° C. for 10 minutes or more. A process, the container is a pressure-resistant polyester bottle, and the container is sterilized by spraying hot water of 70 to 80 ° C. for 0.5 to 5 seconds; the sterilized beverage is filled in the sterilized container; and There is provided a method for aseptic filling of a beverage comprising a sealing step of a used container, wherein at least the filling step and the sealing step are performed in an aseptic environment.
In the aseptic filling method of beverages of the present invention,
1. The nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage is a carbonated beverage containing fruit juice, a carbonated beverage containing milk, or a nutritionally supplemented carbonated beverage containing amino acids, vitamins, etc.,
2. The heat sterilization step of the nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage comprises a heat sterilization step of 65 ° C. for 10 minutes or more of the nitrogen source-containing beverage, and a carbon dioxide gas sterilization step or a carbon dioxide aqueous solution heat sterilization step.
3. The shrinkage rate of the sterilized container is less than 5%,
4). Bottom structure of the container, and Turkey which have a breakdown voltage structure of petaloid petaloid type,
Is preferred.

(Aseptic filling method)
In the aseptic filling method of the beverage of the present invention, the sterilization step of the contents in which the nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage having a pH of less than 4.0 is sterilized at 65 ° C. for 10 minutes or more, the container is a pressure-resistant polyester bottle, The container comprises a sterilization process for spraying hot water of 70 to 80 ° C. to the container for 0.5 to 5 seconds, a filling process of the sterilized beverage into the sterilized container, and a sealing process of the filled container, and at least the filling process And the sealing process is performed in a sterile environment.
In the present invention, a low-cost pressure-resistant polyester bottle is selected as a container for filling and sealing the sterilized nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage, and sterilized with hot water at 70 to 80 ° C. for 0.5 to 5 seconds. , 6 5 ° C., has a 10-minute equivalent or better bactericidal effect, as sterilization conditions before Ki耐-pressure polyester bottle, an important feature that was found to have a preferred bactericidal effect.
That is, as sterilization conditions for a low-cost pressure-resistant polyester bottle, warm water is used, and 70 to 80 ° C., 0.5 to 5 seconds, preferably 74 to 80 ° C., 1 to 3 seconds, more preferably 78 ° C. ± 1. By sterilizing warm water at 5 ° C for 1 to 3 seconds, the pressure-resistant polyester bottle can be sterilized in a short time and can be used as a container for carbonated beverages containing nitrogen source, and the shrinkage rate of the bottle can be reduced. , Etc. can be suppressed, and it is possible to prevent spilling of the beverage at the time of filling, sealing failure after filling, dirt on the outer surface of the bottle, poor appearance of the bottle, and the like.
On the other hand, if hot water of less than 70 ° C. is used for sterilization as the sterilization condition of the pressure-resistant polyester bottle, a satisfactory sterilization effect cannot be obtained in a short time, resulting in a decrease in sterilization efficiency and productivity. On the other hand, as the sterilization condition of the pressure-resistant polyester bottle, when warm water exceeding 80 ° C. is used for sterilization, the sterilization time can be shortened. Is 5% or more, and the rise in the line of sight of the bottle becomes remarkable, resulting in liquid spillage of the beverage at the time of filling, poor sealing after capping, or poor appearance of the bottle.

(Aseptic filling system)
The beverage aseptic filling system of the present invention corresponds to the above aseptic filling method, and is a beverage aseptic filling system for aseptically filling a container with a nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage having a pH of less than 4.0. Sterilization means for performing heat sterilization for 10 minutes or more, container is a pressure-resistant polyester bottle, and sterilization means for container for spraying hot water of 70 to 80 ° C. to the container for 0.5 to 5 seconds, the sterilized beverage And a sealing means for sealing the container filled with the beverage, wherein at least the filling means and the sealing means are in an aseptic environment.
As shown in FIG. 1, it is supplied juice to heat sterilization apparatus 2 from juice savings Zota tank 1 installed outside the sterile environment, 65 ° C., sterilization of more than 10 minutes equivalent is performed. Similarly carbon dioxide is supplied from carbon dioxide savings Zota link 3 to the sterilization apparatus 4 provided with a sterilization filter, it is sterilized. Next, the sterilized fruit juice drink and the sterilized carbon dioxide gas are supplied to the mixing tank 5 and mixed to prepare a carbonated drink containing fruit juice.
On the other hand, the pressure-resistant polyester bottle that is filled and sealed with carbonated beverage containing fruit juice is transferred from the bottle supply device 6 to the hot water sterilizer 7 and sterilized with hot water of 70 to 80 ° C. for 0.5 to 5 seconds, preferably Is subjected to hot water sterilization that provides a sterilization effect equal to or higher than 65 ° C. for 10 minutes. The cap is transferred from the cap supply device 8 to the hot water sterilizer 9 and subjected to hot water sterilization similar to that of the bottle.
The pressure-resistant polyester bottle after sterilization is supplied to the filling device 10 and filled with a carbonated beverage containing fruit juice. Further, the cap is supplied to the sealing device 11 and capped with a pressure-resistant polyester bottle filled with a carbonated beverage containing fruit juice to seal the bottle. The sealed pressure-resistant polyester bottle is conveyed to a product inspection device, a boxing device, or the like outside the sterile environment.
In the aseptic filling system of the present invention, at least the filling device and the sealing device need to be in an aseptic environment, but a heat sterilization device, a mixing tank, a hot water sterilization device, or the like may be in the aseptic environment.

2. Sterilization effect by hot water sterilization of bottle (1) Sterilization effect (D value)
A pressure-resistant polyester bottle shown in FIG. 2 having 500 ml and a diameter of φ28 mm was used as a test bottle, and an Aspergillusniger ATCC 6275 cultured on a potato dextrose agar medium for 30 days was used as a test bacterium.
The inner surface of the test bottle, the spore suspension of the test strain was 0.1ml spray, after suspension is deposited so as to have a 10 ⁶ cfu / bottle, dried for a day in a clean room, Used as a test bottle.
This test bottle is inserted in an inverted state from the center of the bottle mouth toward the center of the bottom of the bottle, with a hot water injection nozzle (inner diameter 5 mm) inserted 30 mm from the top of the bottle mouth, and at a predetermined temperature under the operating conditions at a flow rate of 100 ml / second, Warm water was sprayed over time to sterilize the bottle inner surface.
Next, the number of surviving bacteria on the inner surface of the bottle after sterilization was cultivated on a potato dextrose agar medium at 30 ° C. for 7 days to measure the number of bacteria, and the bactericidal effect (D) from Log (initial number of bacteria / survival bacteria) Therefore, since the nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage itself has bacteriostatic properties, the sterilization level can be relaxed, and the sterilization effect aimed at 3D or more was obtained.
The results are shown in Table 1.
In the table, 3D or more: ○, less than 3D: x.

Claims (6)

  A method for aseptically filling a beverage by aseptically filling a carbonated beverage containing a nitrogen source having a pH of less than 4.0 into a container, wherein the beverage is sterilized at 65 ° C. for 10 minutes or more, and the container is pressure resistant. From a sterilization step of a container for spraying hot water of 70 to 80 ° C. to the container for 0.5 to 5 seconds, a filling step of the sterilized beverage into a sterilized container, and a sealing step of the filled container An aseptic filling method for beverages, wherein at least the filling step and the sealing step are performed in an aseptic environment.   The method for aseptic filling of a beverage according to claim 1, wherein the nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage is a carbonated beverage containing fruit juice, a carbonated beverage containing milk, or a nutritionally supplemented carbonated beverage containing amino acids, vitamins and the like.   The heat sterilization step of the nitrogen source-containing carbonated beverage comprises a heat sterilization step of a nitrogen source-containing beverage at 65 ° C for 10 minutes or more, and a carbon dioxide sterilization step or a carbon dioxide aqueous solution heat sterilization step. The aseptic filling method of the beverage according to 2.   The aseptic filling method of a beverage according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sterilized container has a shrinkage rate of less than 5%.   The beverage aseptic filling method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bottom structure of the container is a pressure-resistant polyester bottle having a petaloid petaloid-type pressure-resistant structure.   A beverage aseptic filling system for aseptically filling a container with a carbonated beverage containing a nitrogen source having a pH of less than 4.0, wherein the beverage is sterilized by heat sterilization at 65 ° C. for 10 minutes or more, and the container is a pressure-resistant polyester bottle A sterilizing means for injecting hot water of 70 to 80 ° C. into the container for 0.5 to 5 seconds, a filling means for filling the sterilized beverage into the sterilized container, and a container filled with the beverage. A beverage aseptic filling system comprising a sealing means for sealing, wherein at least the filling means and the sealing means are in an aseptic environment.

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