SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK DEFECTS 



239 



definite form. The disintegration of the mold hyphae (filament) 

 proved to be a slow process, extending over 5 to 6 months. 



Prevention of But- 

 tons. The prevention 

 or control of hese but- 

 tons may be accom- 

 plished by: 1. exclu- 

 sion of contamination, 

 2. low temperature. 3. 

 exclusion of oxygen. 



Exclusion of Con- 

 tamination. -Contam- 

 ination of the con- 

 densed milk with but- 

 ton-forming molds is 

 most likely to occur 

 during the cooling, 

 holding and filling 

 operations and as the 

 result of contaminated 

 cans and barrels. 



rig-. 82. 



Button in growing 1 state, molds 

 still very evident 



Courtesy of L. A. Rogers, U. S. 

 Dairy Division 



In condenseries where the milk is cooled by the old method 

 in open 10-gallon cans, revolving in a cold water tank and 

 stirred with wooden paddles it is not difficult to understand 

 the reason for buttons. In this system the condensed milk is 

 exposed to the air for hours, the 10-gallon cans and the wooden 

 paddles are never sterile and are an almost sure source of con- 

 tamination, unless special precautions concerning the sanitary 

 condition of equipment and of the air are observed. 



In condenseries which use the continuous plan of cooling 

 and holding of the sweetened condensed milk, the product is 

 protected against the atmosphere of the factory from the time 

 it leaves the vacuum pan until it enters the tin cans, and if 

 this equipment is kept clean and is steamed out thoroughly 

 before use, which is readily and quickly done with this type 

 of equipment, contamination .should be very largely eliminated 

 and buttons guarded against. 



