A note on the use of the Catalasemetre in assessing the quality of milk

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Abstract
The Catalasemetre, for assessing the quality of raw and pasteurized milk, has been studied. No correlation was found between catalase activity and bacterial counts for farm bulk tank milks within the range 5.2 .times. 102-5.4 .times. 105 cfu/ml. Similarly, no relation was observed between catalase activity and somatic cell counts of milk (range of counts from 0.08 to 3.5). However, the catalase activity and bacterial count of pasteurized milks which had been pre-incubated at 21.degree. C for 25 h in the presence of crystal violet-penicillin-nisin to inhibit Gram-positive bacterial growth were significantly related. Thus, the use of this pre-incubation procedure coupled with the Catalasemetre to estimate bacterial growth, has potential in assessing the keeping quality of pasteurized milk samples within 25.5 h of production. Results on the thermostability of native milk catalase are also presented.