JP5271490B2 - Method for producing resin-contained beverage and resin-contained beverage - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method for a drink packed in a resin container which method does not require a heat-resistant resin container and exerts a superior sterilizing effect. <P>SOLUTION: The manufacturing method for the drink packed in the resin container includes the step of bringing a potassium hydroxide solution containing a potassium hydroxide of 0.1 mol/L or more to 0.5 mol/L or less into contact at least with the inner wall of the resin container to sterilize the inner wall, and the step of filling the container with the sterilized inner wall with a drink at temperatures of 73&deg;C or higher to 78&deg;C or lower. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing a resin-contained beverage including a step of filling a sterilized resin container with a beverage and a resin-contained beverage.

  As a beverage filling method, a sterilized beverage is filled at a liquid temperature of about 85 ° C. in a resin container whose inner wall has been washed, the inside of the container is sterilized using the heat, and then the cap is tumbled. A hot pack filling method for sterilizing the inner surface is used. In particular, a hot pack filling method is generally performed in acidic beverages.

In this filling method, since the temperature of the beverage when filling the beverage into the resin container becomes a high temperature of about 85 ° C., a resin container that can withstand this filling temperature must be used. Thus, it is necessary to use a special resin container having heat resistance, and there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases.
Another beverage filling method includes an aseptic filling method in which a beverage sterilized at a high temperature is filled in a non-heat resistant container sterilized with a medicine and washed with sterile water in a sterile environment and then sealed. In this method, there is no restriction on the type of beverage and the like, and the beverage is filled into the resin container at room temperature. Therefore, a resin container beverage excellent in flavor and the like can be obtained. Furthermore, since the aseptic filling method fills the beverage at room temperature, a non-heat-resistant resin container can be used.
However, in the aseptic filling method, since it is necessary to fill the beverage in an environment in which all microorganisms are sterilized, a method for obtaining an excellent bactericidal effect by a simple method has been demanded.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a filling method for relaxing the conditions regarding the pressure resistance of the container in the hot pack method and for simplifying the equipment in the aseptic filling method. Specifically, the inner wall of the resin container is heat sterilized with hot water of 65 ° C to 100 ° C, and then the liquid temperature of the heat sterilized beverage is filled to 60 ° C to 70 ° C in a sterilized environment. How to do is described.

Patent Document 2 discloses a method capable of suppressing the expansion of a container due to an increase in the internal pressure of the container when heated and sold in an aseptic filled resin-containing beverage. In this document, a process of filling a beverage container with a liquid temperature of 30 ° C. to 70 ° C. is described.
JP 2006-69624 A (Claim 2 etc.) JP 2003-261197 A (Claim 7 etc.)

  In the method described in Patent Document 1, a step of heat sterilizing a resin container filled with a beverage is unnecessary, but since the purpose is not to use a pressure resistant container, the inner wall of the resin container is set to 65 ° C. Sterilized and washed with hot water at ~ 100 ° C. Therefore, a resin container having heat resistance against such a temperature is still necessary, and there is still a point to be improved in terms of reducing the manufacturing cost. In addition, it is described that the heat-sterilized beverage is filled at 60 ° C. to 70 ° C. However, when bacteria or the like remain or are mixed, the target harmful bacteria cannot be killed and mixed in the product. There was a possibility.

  The method described in Patent Document 2 is intended to reduce the expansion of a container at the time of warm sales. In order to achieve the object, it is described that a heat-resistant container having a predetermined shape is used and a beverage having a liquid temperature of 30 ° C. to 70 ° C. is filled into a resin container. Also in this document, there is still a need for a resin container having heat resistance, and there is still a point to be improved in terms of reducing the manufacturing cost. In addition, it is described that the heat-sterilized beverage is filled at 30 ° C. to 70 ° C., but if bacteria or the like remain or are mixed, the target harmful bacteria cannot be killed and are put into the product. There was a possibility of mixing.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and does not require a resin container having heat resistance to a high temperature of 85 ° C. or higher, and further provides a resin container-containing beverage that exhibits a more excellent bactericidal effect. It is an object to provide a method and a resin-contained beverage.

According to the present invention, a potassium hydroxide solution containing 0.1 mol / L or more and 0.5 mol / L or less of potassium hydroxide at 60 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less is brought into contact with at least the inner wall of the resin container, a step of sterilizing, the inner wall the resin vessel which is sterilized, 73 ° C. or higher, and a step of filling a 78 ° C. or less of the beverage, the beverage Ri acidic beverages der, sterilizing the inner wall By the process of, the manufacturing method of the drink with a resin container which creates the environment which mold | fungi and yeast hardly exist on the inner wall of the said container is provided.

  According to this invention, since the potassium hydroxide solution containing 0.1 mol / L or more of potassium hydroxide is brought into contact with the inner wall of the resin container, an excellent sterilizing effect can be obtained. In addition, when the potassium hydroxide concentration is 0.5 mol / L or less, the potassium hydroxide solution can be easily handled and the potassium hydroxide solution can be easily removed.

  Furthermore, according to this invention, a sterilized resin container is filled with a beverage having a liquid temperature of 73 ° C. or higher and 78 ° C. or lower. By setting the temperature of the beverage at the time of filling to 73 ° C. or higher, the sterilizing effect on the inside of the container and the beverage can be improved. Furthermore, by setting the temperature of the beverage at the time of filling to 78 ° C. or less, a resin container having heat resistance is not necessary, and even a container having low heat resistance causes deformation or discoloration of the container due to heat. There is nothing.

It is preferable that the step of filling the beverage includes a step of filling the beverage in the resin container in an environment where harmful bacteria are sterilized.
By performing the filling step in an environment in which harmful bacteria are sterilized, it is possible to effectively prevent bacteria and the like from being mixed into the product.
In addition, the environment in which harmful bacteria are sterilized means an environment that is controlled so that there are almost no bacteria that grow in the target beverage. In acidic beverages, there is almost no mold or yeast. Means a controlled environment.

The beverage in the present invention may be a non-carbonated beverage.
Molds and yeasts grow even when the pH is acidic, so it is necessary to kill them in acidic beverages. By filling a beverage container with a liquid temperature of 73 ° C. or higher and 78 ° C. or lower as in the present invention, most of the beverage and mold and yeast in the resin container can be killed and mixed into the product. Can be suppressed.

The resin container may be a polyethylene terephthalate container.
According to the present invention, even a container made of polyethylene terephthalate having a low heat resistance against a high temperature of 85 ° C. or higher can suppress deformation and discoloration of the container due to heat.

  In the production method of the present invention, it is preferable to include a step of heat sterilizing the beverage before the step of filling the beverage, and further including a step of sterilizing at least the inner wall of the lid of the resin container. .

  By sterilizing the lid for sealing the beverage and the resin container in advance, it is possible to effectively suppress contamination of bacteria and the like when filling the beverage.

  The step of filling the beverage includes a step of sealing the inside of the resin container filled with the beverage with the lid in an environment where harmful bacteria are sterilized, and the resin container filled with the beverage. It is preferable to include the step of bringing the beverage into contact with the inner wall of the lid by tilting and sterilizing the inner wall.

  In the step of filling the beverage, by sterilizing the inner wall of the lid that seals the inside of the resin container, mixing of bacteria and the like into the product can be effectively suppressed.

  Furthermore, according to this invention, the resin container drink produced by said manufacturing method is provided.

  According to the present invention, a resin container having heat resistance to a high temperature as high as 85 ° C. is not required, and a method for producing a resin container drink and a resin container drink that exhibits a further excellent bactericidal effect are provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The manufacturing method of the resin container drink of this embodiment has the following processes, as shown in FIG.

(A) A step of sterilizing the inner wall by bringing a potassium hydroxide solution containing 0.1 mol / L or more and 0.5 mol / L or less of potassium hydroxide into contact with at least the inner wall of the resin container (step S1)
(B) Process of heat sterilizing beverage (step S2)
(C) Sterilizing at least the inner wall of the lid of the resin container (step S3)
(D) A process of filling a beverage container having an inner wall sterilized with a beverage of 73 ° C or higher and 78 ° C or lower (steps S4 to S6)

  Note that the order of steps S1 to S3 is not limited to the order before and after step S4, and may be simultaneous.

  Examples of the resin container include plastic containers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyolefin. As the resin container, either a heat-resistant container or a non-heat-resistant container can be used, but in this embodiment, it is not necessary to use a resin container having heat resistance to a high temperature of 85 ° C. or higher. From the viewpoint of reducing manufacturing costs, a polyethylene terephthalate container can be used as the non-heat resistant container.

  Moreover, a non-carbonated drink can be used as a drink. That is, since the beverage is filled at 73 ° C. or higher and 78 ° C. or lower in the step (d), the carbonated beverage is excluded. Non-carbonated drinks include fruit juice drinks, tea drinks, sports drinks and other soft drinks, lactic acid bacteria drinks, quasi-drug nutritional drinks, alcoholic drinks, etc. Even a beverage can be used in the present embodiment. Even in the case of acidic beverages, even if the pH is on the acidic side, mold, yeast, and the like grow, so it is particularly necessary to kill them in acidic beverages. In this embodiment, since the beverage having a liquid temperature of 73 ° C. or higher and 78 ° C. or lower is filled, mold and yeast can be almost killed and mixing into the product can be suppressed.

  Below, the manufacturing method of the resin container drink of this embodiment is demonstrated in detail.

(A) A step of sterilizing the inner wall by bringing a potassium hydroxide solution containing 0.1 mol / L or more and 0.5 mol / L or less of potassium hydroxide into contact with at least the inner wall of the resin container (step S1)

  In this step, the potassium hydroxide solution may be brought into contact with at least the inner wall of the resin container, but the inner wall and the outer wall are preferably sterilized by bringing the potassium hydroxide solution into contact with the inner wall and the outer wall.

  The potassium hydroxide solution used in this step contains water and potassium hydroxide and does not substantially contain chlorine (no intentionally added chlorine (for example, chlorine concentration Is preferably 0.1 ppm or less).

  Since the potassium hydroxide solution does not substantially contain chlorine, corrosion of equipment for sterilizing the resin container can be prevented. Moreover, since chlorine is volatile, when the potassium hydroxide solution does not contain chlorine, it is necessary to control the chlorine concentration. On the other hand, management of a potassium hydroxide solution is facilitated by not containing chlorine substantially. The potassium hydroxide solution is a mixture of water and potassium hydroxide, and no other components are intentionally added.

  The potassium hydroxide concentration of the potassium hydroxide solution may be 0.1 mol / L or more and 0.5 mol / L or less, but the lower limit is 0.2 mol / L or more, particularly 0.3 mol / L or more. Thus, the container can be surely sterilized.

  Moreover, the safety | security on the handling of potassium hydroxide solution is securable by making potassium hydroxide concentration into 0.5 mol / L or less. Further, the potassium hydroxide solution can be easily removed in the subsequent step of removing the potassium hydroxide solution. Thus, by making potassium hydroxide concentration into the said range, it is excellent in the balance of a bactericidal effect and handleability.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the temperature of a potassium hydroxide solution is 60 degreeC or more and 70 degrees C or less.

  By making the temperature of the potassium hydroxide solution 60 ° C. or higher, particularly 65 ° C. or higher, the sterilizing effect can be further improved. On the other hand, when the temperature of the potassium hydroxide solution is set to 70 ° C. or lower, particularly 68 ° C. or lower, the container can be prevented from being altered or discolored by heat. That is, by setting the temperature of the potassium hydroxide solution to 70 ° C. or lower, particularly 68 ° C. or lower, the container can be sterilized regardless of the material of the container.

  Here, the amount of the potassium hydroxide solution used is 0.2 times or more, preferably 0.5 to 1.5 times the volume of the container to be sterilized. By using such amount of potassium hydroxide solution, the inner wall of the container can be sufficiently sterilized.

  Further, the method of bringing the potassium hydroxide solution into contact with the inner wall of the container is not particularly limited, but the potassium hydroxide solution may be sprayed on the container, or the container may be immersed in the potassium hydroxide solution. . Further, the container may be filled with a potassium hydroxide solution, and the potassium hydroxide solution may be overflowed to contact the outer wall of the container with the potassium hydroxide solution.

  When the container is immersed in the potassium hydroxide solution, the potassium hydroxide solution can be simultaneously brought into contact with the outer wall and the inner wall of the container. Thereby, a container can be sterilized simply and quickly.

  When spraying potassium hydroxide solution to the inner wall of the container, place the plastic container so that the bottom of the plastic container is on top, insert a nozzle for injection from the mouth of the plastic container, and place the potassium hydroxide solution in the container. It sprays on the inner wall of the

  When the potassium hydroxide solution is sprayed onto the outer wall of the container, the potassium hydroxide solution may be sprayed onto the outer wall of the container from the nozzle for spraying.

  The sterilization process of the resin container is performed by bringing the potassium hydroxide solution into contact with the container for about 5 to 30 seconds in either case of immersing the container in the potassium hydroxide solution or injecting the potassium hydroxide solution. Just do it.

  Further, in this step, the potassium hydroxide solution is removed with water (preferably warm water), and the container is washed. The water used for washing may be aseptically treated water.

  Here, it is preferable to spray water on the inner wall and outer wall of the container to remove the adhered potassium hydroxide solution. By spraying water, the potassium hydroxide solution adhering to the container can be reliably removed. The water injection pressure is preferably about 0.2 MPa.

  As water, the thing of 10 degreeC or more is preferable. By spraying water at 10 ° C. or higher, the potassium hydroxide solution adhering to the container can be reliably washed. Especially, the temperature of water shall be 60 degreeC or more, and a potassium hydroxide solution can be removed more reliably.

  As water, it is preferable to use water of 70 ° C. or lower in consideration of the alteration of the container.

  In addition, although water was sprayed with respect to the container here, it is not restricted to this, For example, a container may be immersed in water and a potassium hydroxide solution may be removed.

(B) Process of heat sterilizing beverage (step S2)
The heat sterilization of the beverage in this step is performed before filling the beverage in the resin container. The heat sterilization is not particularly limited, and can be performed by a normal heat sterilization treatment. As the sterilizer, a tube sterilizer, a plate heat exchanger, an FP (Flash Pastrization) plate sterilizer, a UHT (ultra high temperature) sterilizer, or the like can be used. The heating temperature, treatment time, and the like are appropriately selected according to the type of beverage, but in the case of an acidic beverage, it is preferably sterilized by heating at 93 ° C to 95 ° C for about 15 seconds.

  After the beverage is sterilized by heating, the beverage is cooled to a liquid temperature of 73 ° C. or higher and 78 ° C. or lower, maintained at such a temperature, and used in the “step of filling a beverage in a resin container” described later.

(C) Sterilizing at least the inner wall of the lid of the resin container (step S3)
Sterilization of the lid of the resin container in this step is performed before filling the beverage in the resin container. In this step, at least the inner wall of the lid of the resin container may be sterilized, but it is preferable to sterilize the inner wall and the outer wall from the viewpoint of suppressing entry of bacteria and the like into the product.

  The sterilization of the lid of the resin container is not particularly limited, and can be performed by a process such as steam sterilization or chemical sterilization.

(D) A process of filling a beverage container having an inner wall sterilized with a beverage of 73 ° C or higher and 78 ° C or lower (steps S4 to S6).
In this step, first, the resin container sterilized in the step (a) and the lid of the resin container sterilized in the step (c) are carried into a filling chamber filled with a beverage. Further, the beverage sterilized by heating in the step (b) is sent to a beverage tank provided in the filling chamber. Environmental management is carried out so that bacteria and the like are not mixed in the loading of the resin container and the lid and the feeding of the beverage.

  The filling chamber and the beverage tank are sterilized and washed with, for example, chemicals or hot water so that the beverage can be filled in the resin container in an aseptic environment, and environmental management is performed. Is preferred. Furthermore, the beverage tank provided in the filling chamber is managed so as to hold the beverage at a liquid temperature of 73 ° C. or higher and 78 ° C. or lower.

  In the filling chamber, the resin container is filled with a beverage of 73 ° C. or higher and 78 ° C. or lower (step S4). In the present embodiment, since the beverage having such a liquid temperature is filled in the resin container, a non-heat resistant container can be used, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Furthermore, by being the said temperature, mixing of bacteria etc. to a product can be suppressed effectively. Moreover, even when an acidic beverage is used as a beverage, mold, yeast, etc. that grow on the acidic side can be almost killed, and mixing into the product can be effectively suppressed.

When the filling of the beverage into the resin container is completed, the resin container filled with the beverage is then sealed with a lid by a predetermined method (step S5). Then, the beverage is brought into contact with the inner wall of the lid by tilting the resin container filled with the beverage (step S6).
By bringing the beverage in the above temperature range into contact with the inner wall of the lid, the inner wall of the lid can be reliably sterilized and contamination of bacteria and the like into the product can be suppressed.

  By the method as described above, the non-heat-resistant resin container is not deformed, and furthermore, the resin-containing beverage of the present invention in which sterilization or the like is hardly mixed in the container is obtained.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.

[Example]

  Next, examples of the present invention will be described.

(Examples 1-3, Comparative Examples 1-2)
The yeast ascospore solution was sprayed into a 500 ml non-heat-resistant PET bottle container and dried (the number of bacteria: 2.4 × 10 ⁶ / bottle). An injection nozzle is inserted into this container, and an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide containing potassium hydroxide in an amount of 0.1 mol / L is injected under the conditions of a liquid temperature of 63 ° C., 200 ml / second, and 10 seconds. Sterilized. Next, this PET container was filled with a liquid medium at the temperature shown in Table 1. Then, the PET container was sealed with a lid sterilized with steam (97 ° C. for 7 seconds). The PET container filled with the liquid medium was placed in a constant temperature bath at 25 ° C., and after 5 days, the PET container was taken out. The number of viable bacteria in the liquid medium was investigated and the bactericidal effect was evaluated according to the following criteria. Moreover, the container external appearance was evaluated visually according to the following criteria.
The results are shown in Table 1. Even when a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution containing potassium hydroxide in an amount of 0.2 mol / L was used, the same results as in Table 1 were obtained at liquid temperatures of 73 ° C., 75 ° C., and 78 ° C. It was.

・ Bactericidal effect ○: Number of viable bacteria decreased to 1/10 ⁶ or less (sterilization level 6D)
×: Viable count exceeds 1/10 ⁶

・ Container appearance ○: No deformation ×: Deformation

(Examples 4 to 18)
The bactericidal effect and container appearance were evaluated in the same manner as above except that the concentration of the aqueous potassium hydroxide and the filling temperature of the liquid medium were set to the values shown in Table 2.

  The results are shown in Table 2.

(result)
As shown in Tables 1 and 2 above, the non-heat-resistant PET bottle container was sterilized with a potassium hydroxide solution containing potassium hydroxide in an amount of 0.1 mol / L to 0.5 mol / L, and then 73 ° C. As described above, it was confirmed that by filling this container with a liquid of 78 ° C. or lower, no deformation was observed in the non-heat-resistant PET bottle container, and the bactericidal effect was also excellent.

It is a flowchart explaining the manufacturing method of the drinks made from a resin container which concerns on embodiment.

Claims (8)

Sterilizing the inner wall by contacting a potassium hydroxide solution containing 0.1 mol / L or more and 0.5 mol / L or less of potassium hydroxide at 60 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower with at least the inner wall of the resin container;
Filling the resin container in which the inner wall is sterilized with a beverage of 73 ° C. or higher and 78 ° C. or lower;
Including
The beverage is Ri acidic beverages der,
A method for producing a beverage in a resin container, which creates an environment in which mold and yeast are hardly present on the inner wall of the container by sterilizing the inner wall . The step of filling the beverage comprises
The method for producing a resin-containing beverage according to claim 1, further comprising a step of filling the beverage in the resin container in an environment in which harmful bacteria are sterilized.   The method for producing a beverage in a resin container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the beverage is a non-carbonated beverage.   The method for producing a beverage in a resin container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the resin container is a polyethylene terephthalate container. Before the step of filling the beverage,
The manufacturing method of the drink made from a resin container as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4 including the process of heat-sterilizing the said drink. Before the step of filling the beverage,
The method for producing a resin-containing beverage according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a step of sterilizing at least an inner wall of the lid of the resin container. The step of filling the beverage comprises
Sealing the inside of the resin container filled with the beverage with the lid in an environment where harmful bacteria are sterilized;
The method for producing a beverage in a resin container according to claim 6, comprising tilting the resin container filled with the beverage to bring the beverage into contact with the inner wall of the lid to sterilize the inner wall. Method. A beverage in a resin container produced by the production method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 .

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