Sensory and chemical quality of UHT‐milk stored in paperboard cartons with different oxygen and light barriers

The sensory and chemical shelf-life of UHT-milk stored at room temperature and at 6 degrees C in aluminium-foil, non-foil barrier (X-board) and PE cartons were investigated. UHT milk in aluminium-foil stored in the dark has a minimum shelf-life of 6 months, while the shelf-life is 4-5 months in X-board and PE cartons. When PE cartons and X-board cartons are stored with strong light exposure at 6 degrees C, a development of light-induced off-flavour is detected after 2 and 8 weeks, respectively. The light-induced off-flavour effect is more pronounced than the effect of non-light induced oxidation of unsaturated lipids.