Question:

The maximum Thermophilic spore, count in Canners's grade sugar used for ice cream preparation should not exceed

Show Hint

Remember the National Canners Association (NCA) sugar limits:
- Average total thermophilic spores \(\le 125/10\ \text{g}\).
- Absolute maximum for any single sample \(\le 150/10\ \text{g}\).
  • 450/10g
  • 220/10g
  • 150/10g
  • 375/10g
Show Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Ingredients used in heat-processed foods must meet strict microbiological standards to prevent spoilage during subsequent storage.
Sugar used in canning and dairy processing can harbor highly heat-resistant thermophilic spores.
If these spores survive thermal processing, they can germinate and cause rapid spoilage.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The National Canners Association (NCA) defines strict microbiological specifications for "Canners' Grade" sugar.
These standards are applied to ingredients used in products like ice cream mixes and condensed milk:
- Thermophilic bacteria grow at high temperatures (typically 55°C) and produce heat-resistant endospores.
- The standard assay involves boiling a dissolved sugar sample to kill all vegetative cells, plating it on standard agar, and incubating the plates at 55°C.
- The NCA standards specify that:
1. The average total thermophilic spore count across five samples must not exceed 125 spores per 10 grams of sugar.
2. No single sample container may exceed a maximum limit of 150 spores per 10 grams of sugar.
Restricting thermophilic spores to this level prevents flat-sour and anaerobic gas spoilage in the finished products.

Step 3: Final Answer:

The maximum thermophilic spore count in any single sample of Canners' grade sugar must not exceed 150 per 10 grams.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0