021. General

    UHT processing results in a commercially sterile product. The task of the aseptic packaging operation is to:

a) maintain the high microbiological quality of the product for the length of its intended shelf life; and

b) retain consumer acceptance with regard to the flavour, texture and nutritional value of the product during its promised shelf life.

    Four different principles of aseptic packaging are distinguished (74):

a) filling in a sterile working area;

b) aseptic filling into pre-formed containers;

c) aseptic filling into pre-formed sterile containers; and

d) the aseptic form-fill-and-seal method.

    By and large, only the aseptic form-fill-and-seal method will be covered, which is also the best and most successful technology. Such an aseptic packaging operation requires several functional steps (figure 1) (60, 61, 74, 86).