NEHA Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Practice Exam

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A negative phosphatase test indicates what about pasteurization?

Insufficient pasteurization

Correct pasteurization

A negative phosphatase test indicates that the pasteurization process has effectively eliminated phosphatase enzymes, which should be inactivated when proper pasteurization is achieved. Phosphatase is an enzyme found in raw milk and is sensitive to heat; therefore, a negative result signifies that the milk has been heated to a sufficient temperature and duration to ensure that harmful pathogens have been destroyed.

In contexts where pasteurization is applied, such as in the dairy industry, ensuring that proper levels of heat processing occur is essential for food safety. A successful pasteurization process would lead to a slightly acidic condition that inhibits the activity of the phosphatase enzyme, hence yielding a negative test result. This ensures that the milk is safe for consumption and maintains quality. Consequently, the correct inference from a negative phosphatase test confirms that the pasteurization process was adequate.

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Excessive pasteurization

Compromised pasteurization

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