When compared to the most popular preservation approach, holding pasteurization (HoP), nonthermal procedures are more efficient at maintaining certain biological characteristics of human milk. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of nonthermal processing on bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli in human milk. HoP processed milk samples obtained from the Regional Human Milk Bank in Warsaw at Holy Family Hospital, irradiated with ultraviolet-C (UV-C) for 5, 10, and 15 minutes, and subjected to two variations of high-pressure processing (HPP): 450 MPa for 15 minutes and 200 MPa for 10 minutes + 400 MPa for 10 minutes, with a 10-minute break. A bactericidal test was then performed on the samples. Bactericidal power was retained in 12.1 percent of samples following HoP, indicating a substantial drop in bactericidal capabilities when compared to raw milk. The differences between nonthermal preserved samples and raw milk were not statistically significant.
When compared to holder pasteurization, nonthermal techniques of human milk treatment maintain the bactericidal potential better. Following further study, such alternate technologies to HoP for milk processing for Human Milk Banks facilities can be offered.
