Dairy Plant Research Articles

Application of Ultrafiltration to Produce Sheep's and Goat's Whey-Based Synbiotic Kefir Products.

Membrane filtration technologies are the best available tools to manage dairy byproducts such as cheese whey, allowing for the selective concentration of its specific components, namely proteins. Their acceptable costs and ease of operation make them suitable for application by small/medium-scale dairy plants. The aim of this work is the development of new synbiotic kefir products based on sheep and goat liquid whey concentrates (LWC) obtained by ultrafiltration. Four formulations for each LWC based on a commercial kefir starter or traditional kefir, without or with the addition of a probiotic culture, were produced. The physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of the samples were determined. Membrane process parameters indicated that ultrafiltration can be applied for obtaining LWCs in small/medium scale dairy plants with high protein concentration (16.4% for sheep and 7.8% for goats). Sheep kefirs showed a solid-like texture while goat kefirs were liquid. All samples presented counts of lactic acid bacteria higher than log 7 CFU/mL, indicating the good adaptation of microorganisms to the matrixes. Further work must be undertaken in order to improve the acceptability of the products. It could be concluded that small/medium-scale dairy plants can use ultrafiltration equipment to valorize sheep's and goat's cheese whey-producing synbiotic kefirs.

Subsidizing the dairy industry in Kazakhstan: status, problems, solutions

The goal is to increase the competitiveness of domestic dairy products, which can be achieved through the use of advanced technologies and effective public support measures that stimulate the growth of labor productivity and ensure the country's food security. Methods – the study was conducted on the basis of the use of monographic and abstract-logical methods. Results – it is shown that the level of state regulation depends on each industry. The most common method of specialization in agricultural sector is subsidizing agricultural enterprises, aimed at reducing costs of low-profit farms, increasing the volume of food production. In Kazakhstan, one of the problematic areas of the agro-industrial complex that needs subsidies is production of milk and dairy products. The article discusses the current situation in this market segment of the republic, the degree of provision of the population with them, based on consumption rates per capita and the features of public assistance measures in the development of dairy cattle breeding. An analysis of target payments from the budget for the dairy subcomplex, dynamics over the past five years (2018-2022) is given. The provision of the population with dairy products depends on the current system of dairy processing enterprises and their workload with raw materials. Conclusions – the article focuses on production of raw milk, hard cheese, milk powder, butter. The loading of dairy plants with raw materials must be increased to 80%. There is an urgent need to solve the problems of reducing import dependence. As part of these tasks, the State has significantly expanded support for farmers engaged in dairy farming, taking into account the strengthening of forage base, improving quality of fodder, rational land use, increasing the yield of fodder and fodder crops, improving the structure of sown areas, innovative and investment modernization, and providing highly qualified personnel.

Some Quality Measures of Pasteurized Milk Produced in Khartoum State, Sudan

This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of pasteurizedmilk which is produced in three dairy plants in Khartoum State during astorage period of 10 days. Forty- five samples of pasteurized milk wererandomly collected from three different plants (A, B and C) to determinethe chemical composition {fat, protein, solids-non-fat (SNF), lactose,acidity and density} and microbiological quality {total viable bacteria(TVB), coliform bacteria and psychroptrophic bacteria counts} at 1, 4, 6,8 and 10-day intervals. The results showed that fat, protein, lactose,density and acidity were significantly affected by the source of milk,while SNF was not affected. Coliform and psychrotrophic bacteria countswere significantly affected by the plant from which the milk samples werecollected, whereas TVB was not affected. During the storage period, fatcontent decreased, while protein, density and acidity increased, and SNFand lactose contents did not significantly change. Coliform bacteria countdecreased, while psychrotrophic bacteria count increased, and nosignificant change was obtained for total viable bacteria (TVBC) count.

The Influence of Dietary Interventions on Arterial Stiffness in Overweight and Obese Subjects.

Arterial stiffness is often increased in overweight/obese subjects before the development of hypertension. It is also one of the earliest indicators of increased cardiovascular disease risk and can be considered a good predictor of the development of subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction. Arterial stiffness is a significant prognostic factor influencing cardiovascular risk, which dietary habits can modify. Obese patients should use the caloric-restricted diet because it augments aortic distensibility, diminishes pulse wave velocity (PWV), and increases the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthases. High intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA), trans fats, and cholesterol, typical for the Western diet, impairs endothelial function and raises brachial-ankle PWV. The replacement of SFA with monounsaturated (MUFA) or polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) derived from seafood and plants diminishes the risk of arterial stiffness. The dairy product intake (excluding butter) decreases PWV in the general population. The high-sucrose diet causes toxic hyperglycemia and increases arterial stiffness. Complex carbohydrates with a low glycemic index (including isomaltose) should be recommended to keep vascular health. The high sodium intake (>10 g/day), particularly associated with low potassium consumption, has a deleterious effect on arterial stiffness (↑ baPWV). Since vegetables and fruits are good sources of vitamins and phytochemicals, they should be recommended in patients with high PWV. Thus, the dietary recommendation to prevent arterial stiffness should be similar to the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in dairy products, plant oils, and fish, with a minimal red meat intake and five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

Wealth and Sedentary Time Are Associated With Dietary Patterns Among Preadolescents in Nairobi City, Kenya

ObjectiveThe study aimed to compare dietary patterns in preadolescents in urban areas with different physical activity and socioeconomic profiles in Nairobi, Kenya. DesignCross-sectional. ParticipantsPreadolescents aged 9–14 years (n = 149) living in low- or middle-income areas in Nairobi. Variables MeasuredSociodemographic characteristics were collected using a validated questionnaire. Weight and height were measured. Diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and physical activity by accelerometer. AnalysisDietary patterns (DP) were formed through principal component analysis. Associations of age, sex, parental education, wealth, body mass index, physical activity, and sedentary time with DPs were analyzed with linear regression. ResultsThree DPs explained 36% of the total variance in food consumption: (1) snacks, fast food, and meat; (2) dairy products and plant protein; and (3) vegetables and refined grains. Higher wealth was associated with higher scores of the first DP (P < 0.05). Conclusions and ImplicationsConsumption of foods often deemed unhealthy (eg, snacks and fast food) was more frequent among preadolescents whose families were wealthier. Interventions that seek ways to promote healthy lifestyles among families residing in urban areas of Kenya are warranted.

Effectiveness of essential oils against dual-species biofilm of Listeria monocytogenes and Pseudomonas fluorescens in a Ricotta-based model system.

Biofilms represent an evolutionary form of life, which translates from life in free-living cells to a community lifestyle. In natural habitats, biofilms are a multispecies complex, where synergies or antagonisms can be established. For example, Listeria monocytogenes and Pseudomonas fluorescens are associated with a dual-species biofilm that is widespread in dairy plants. In food plants, multiple strategies are devised to control biofilms, including natural compounds such as essential oils (EOs). In this respect, this study evaluated the effectiveness of Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. (TEO) and Cinnamomum zeylanicum (CEO) against a dual-species biofilm of L. monocytogenes and P. fluorescens, mimicking dairy process conditions. Based on Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations results, the EOs concentration (10 μL/mL) was chosen for the antibiofilm assay at 12°C on polystyrene (PS), and stainless-steel surfaces for 168 h, using a Ricotta-based model system as culture medium. Biofilm biomass was assessed by crystal violet staining, and the planktonic and sessile cells were quantified in terms of Log CFU/cm2. Results showed that CEO displayed the greatest antibiofilm activity, reducing significantly (P<0.05) P. fluorescens and L. monocytogenes sessile cells of about 2.5 and 2.8 Log CFU/cm2 after 72 h, respectively. However, L. monocytogenes gained the protection of P. fluorescens, evading CEO treatment and showing a minimal sessile cell reduction of 0.7 Log CFU/cm2 after 72 h. Considering the outcome of this study, CEO might have promising perspectives for applications in dairy facilities.

COMPARISON OF SHORT-TERM FORECASTING METHODS OF ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION IN MICROGRIDS

Context. The current stage of development of the electric power industry is characterized by an intensive process of microgrid development and management. The feasibility of using a microgrid is determined by the fact that it has a number of advantages compared to classical methods of energy generation, transmission, and distribution. It is much easier to ensure the reliability of electricity supply within the microgrid than in large energy systems. Energy consumers in a microgrid can affect the power balancing process by regulating their loads, generating, storing, and releasing electricity. One of the main tasks of the microgrid is to provide consumers with electrical energy in a balance between its generation and consumption. This is achieved thanks to the intelligent management of the microgrid operation, which uses energy consumption forecasting data. This allows to increase the efficiency of energy infrastructure management.&#x0D; Objective. The purpose of this work is to develop short-term electricity consumption forecasting models for various types of microgrid electricity consumers, which will improve the efficiency of energy infrastructure management and reduce electricity consumption.&#x0D; Method. The SARIMA autoregressive model and the LSTM machine learning model are used to obtain forecast values of electricity consumption. AIC and BIC information criteria are used to compare autoregressive models. The accuracy of forecasting models is evaluated using MAE, RMSE, MAPE errors.&#x0D; Results. The experiments that forecast the amount of electricity consumption for the different types of consumers were conducted. Forecasting was carried out for both LSTM and AR models on formed data sets at intervals of 6 hours, 1 day, and 3 days. The forecasting results of the LSTM model met the forecasting requirements, providing better forecasting quality compared to AR models.&#x0D; Conclusions. The conducted study of electricity consumption forecasting made it possible to find universal forecasting models that meet the requirements of forecasting quality. A comparative analysis of developed time series forecasting models was performed, as a result of which the advantages of ML models over AR models were revealed. The predictive quality of the LSTM model showed the accuracy of the MAPE of forecasting electricity consumption for a private house – 0.1%, a dairy plant – 3.74%, and a gas station – 3.67%. The obtained results will allow to increase the efficiency of microgrid management, the distribution of electricity between electricity consumers to reduce the amount of energy consumption and prevent peak loads on the power grid.

Isolation and Diagnoses of Some Microbial and Chemical Pollutants in Raw Milk Samples Which Collected From Some Regions in Salah al-din Province

Samples of raw milk were collected from different regions in salah al-din province which marketing to one of ice houses and appropriation to the collection and cooling of raw milk storage at (5 Co) for 24-48 hours before rew marketing to the dairy plants or dealers, the number of samples which taken were (20) Samples. Swabs were taken from the udder of cows belonging to suppliers to determine the causes and incidence of microbial contamination. It was after that diagnosis types of micoorganisms that can found in such circumstances of storage and study their properties with focus on Listeria monocytogenes.&#x0D; It was farther determine the degree of contamination of milk samples with some heavy metals, Which including, cadmium, Lead , Zinc , Copper.&#x0D; Many types of bacteria were isolated and dignosed belongs to aerobic bacteria and coli from group of lactose fermented species, E. Coli and Klebsiella sp. And non lactose fermented which is Enterobacter aerogenosa, L. monocytogenes and staphylococcus aureus bacteria isolated, as well as yeast and molds , and the rate of total number reached: 5.78, 5.95, 5.71, 2.53, 2.33 log10 cfu/ml. Isolation function are also given other types of bacteria which belongs to Bacillus sp. , Pseudomonus sp., Staph. Aureus , and Micrococcus sp. In 8 swab samples.&#x0D; The results showed that the highest concentration of heavy metals of Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu in raw milk samples was 0.18, 0.25, 2.10, 1.05 mg/lit respectively. A sensitivity test of L. monocytogenes toward a number of antibiotics was found that this bacteria sensitive towards both of Ampicillin, Chloramphinicol, Erythromycin, and Tobbramycin. But it is resistant to antibiotics, Naldixic acid, Novabiocin , and cefotaxime.

Water Reuse through Membrane Technologies for a Dairy Plant Using Water Pinch Simulation Software

The main goal of this study is to evaluate possible reuse routes of effluents from adairy plant. First, the water flow in the plant was evaluated. All water consumed and effluents generated by the industrial process were quantified and characterized. In addition, the water quality parameters required for different industrial activities were assessed. Secondly, a treatment system using a membrane bioreactor and a nanofiltration reactor, from a study previously conducted by the authors, was considered. Then, a water pinch analysis was carried out through the application of the collected data using the Water Pinch software. Both direct reuse/recycle and regeneration schemes were investigated. In this context, although the direct reuse/recycle of effluents were shown to be able to reduce the freshwater use for the clean-in-place process (CIP) by 33.4%; the schemes with the regeneration of the effluents showed up to 66.7% and 95.4% of freshwater reduction for the CIP and general processes, respectively. Finally, four water reuse routes were proposed. The proposed route combining the most advanced treatment technologies studied showed the best performance in terms of reduction of the total freshwater consumption (69.5%) in the dairy plant.

Alga-based dairy wastewater treatment scheme: Candidates screening, process advancement, and economic analysis

The common means of wastewater pre-treatment is impractical in large-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). There is still a lack of suitable microalgae to treat raw dairy wastewater (DWW) with high organic matter concentration. For screening more diverse microalgae to treat raw DWW, the growth characteristics and metabolite production of ten algal strains cultured in undiluted DWW were studied in this paper, among which three were able to tolerate excessive chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration and yielded high biomass concentration. Under the condition of 25 ± 1 °C and 55 μmol/m2/s, the most suitable strain were Scenedesmus SDEC-13, Chlorella pyrenoidosa SDEC-35, and Chlorella vulgaris SDEC-34, all of which had biomass concentrations above 1.2 g/L and protein contents above 45%. Based on the feasibility of cultivating microalgae with raw DWW, an alternative alga-based WWTP strategy was provided for the first time. The most important modification was the construction of the photobioreactor (PBR) to replace hydrolytic upflow sludge bed (HUSB) reactor and remove anaerobic-aerobic (AO) pond. The dairy WWTP with a PBR unit (1.68 × 104 m3) will yield a biomass production of 1.44 × 106 kg/year while capturing 2.59 × 106 kg CO2/year. Through carbon comparison and economic analysis, we believe that the use of microalgal PBRs for the treatment of wastewater from dairy plants presents a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative for the future. And future research should focus on pilot scale photobioreactor in the natural environment and large-scale treatment of dairy wastewater.

EVALUATION OF NITRATE REMOVAL FROM DAIRY WASTEWATER BY MEMBRANE DISTILLATION: A LABORATORY MODEL APPROACH

The dairy industry is considered one of the main industries not only in Iraq in particular but throughout the world. Different treatment methods have been used over time and in different countries. Here, membrane distillation has been used to treat wastewater generated by this industry to reduce the burden on the environment. In this paper, direct membrane distillation was used to remove nitrates from wastewater discharged from dairy plants. This method is easy to operate, easy to manage, and has many economic benefits. This article has been using the HACH instrument with all kits needed to achieve the tests. For determination of nitrates in samples by the Calmagite Colorimetric method. HACH Method 8030. 100 mL Marked Dropping Bottle. All other instruments have been achieved according to APHA, AWWA, and WEF. On the other hand, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used to watch the formation of nitrate on membrane surfaces. The results obtained in treating the samples that were synthesized and prepared according to the characteristics of dairy wastewater showed the ability of this method to remove nitrates by up to 80-85%, on the other hand, temperature affects the value of MD and is directly relative to flux. The temperature of the treated water plays an important role in determining the percentage of nitrate removal through the membrane, as well as the latter's enjoying chemical and physical features that give them positive points in its removal of wastewater when the liquid temperature had been raised.

An IoT-based integrated health monitoring of bulk milk cooler

Bulk Milk Cooler (BMC) Health Monitoring at the milk collection centre assists the reception of the quality of milk at the dairy plant level, which improves the quality of milk received by the dairy plants and reduces the rejection or wastage of milk when it arrives at the dairy plant. The BMC health monitoring includes the pH of the milk storage tank, digital temperature sensor which is free from frequent external calibration, and accuracy does’t with lengthy cables, agitator rpm monitoring which is used to access the health of the agitator in BMC. Similarly, the health of the compressor which maintains 4 degrees C is also accessed. Based on cloud server/webpage-based analytics software as well as mobile phone-based software for live health monitoring, the agents/dairy plant supervisor can take a quick decision to recover the health of BMC, by mobilizing the manpower/service engineer, so that the quality of milk can be maintained at the collection/storage centre level.

Associations of protein intake, sources and distribution on muscle strength in community-dwelling older adults living in Auckland, New Zealand.

Protein intake, sources and distribution impact on muscle protein synthesis and muscle mass in older adults. However, it is less clear whether dietary protein influences muscle strength. Data were obtained from the Researching Eating Activity and Cognitive Health (REACH) study, a cross-sectional study aimed at investigating dietary patterns, cognitive function and metabolic syndrome in older adults aged 65-74 years. Dietary intake was assessed using a 4-d food record and muscle strength using a handgrip strength dynamometer. After adjusting for confounders, in female older adults (n 212), total protein intake (β = 0⋅22, P < 0⋅01); protein from dairy and eggs (β = 0⋅21, P = 0⋅03) and plant food sources (β = 0⋅60, P < 0⋅01); and frequently consuming at least 0⋅4 g/kg BW per meal (β = 0⋅08, P < 0⋅01) were associated with higher BMI-adjusted muscle strength. However, protein from meat and fish intake and the coefficient of variance of protein intake were not related to BMI-muscle strength in female older adults. No statistically significant associations were observed in male participants (n = 113). There may be sex differences when investigating associations between protein intake and muscle strength in older adults. Further research is needed to investigate these sex differences.

Carbon Footprint of Milk Processing: A Life Cycle based Approach

This study was undertaken with the aim to assess and enumerate direct and indirect CO2 emissions from Student Training Dairy Plant, WSDT, using an LCA approach. One litre of milk was chosen to be the functional unit and the operations from milk reception to packaging were considered to be the system boundary for the research. The activity level for Life Cycle Inventory was collected by consulting the personnel at the plant and the data registries available at the plant and the emission factors for the various sources were taken from various international registries such as IPCC and NDRC. The results showed that the indirect emissions contributed the most to the overall carbon emissions, i.e., 19.675 KgCO2 e. The LCIA showed the Global Warming Potential of Indirect emissions to be higher than direct emissions.

A Case Study of Food Safety Training Delivery Methods in Dairy Processing Plants

Computer-based and supervisor-led trainings are the most common approaches to training employees on food safety across the food industry. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of training format on changes in food safety knowledge, intentions, and compliance. Individualized and group trainings were developed using behaviorism and constructivism learning theories on four food safety topics. The training programs were implemented at 66 dairy processing plants. Pre- and posttest evaluations were received from 793 employees at 22 dairy plants using a validated evaluation method. Data were collected in the form of 14 pre- and posttraining supervisor audits and employee surveys. Group trainings that involved direct instruction and social learning methods were more effective for increasing knowledge than were individual trainings utilizing programmed instruction. The change in noncompliance associated with receiving training was not significantly different, however, possibly due to the limitations of the study such as the small sample size. Regressions also revealed that knowledge was a significant positive predictor of compliance, whereas intention was not.

Value Chain Mapping of Standardized Milk in Cooperative and Private Dairy Plants in Andhra Pradesh

Value Chain Mapping of Standardized Milk in Cooperative and Private Dairy Plants in Andhra Pradesh

The Sources of Bacillus cereus Contamination and their Association with Cereulide Production in Dairy and Cooked Rice Processing Lines

Abstract Bacillus cereus, a spore-forming bacterium and frequent cause of food poisoning, poses a safety threat to dairy and rice industries due to its high contamination rates and ability to produce toxins such as cereulide. Because of widespread presence and thermal resistance of the spores, B. cereus cannot be eliminated from the environment and may survive in processing plants. Surviving spores can develop into vegetative cells, leading to a heightened risk of cereulide production in the processing environment. Both spores and vegetative cells have the ability to adhere to the surfaces of dairy plants and form biofilms, serving as the site for cereulide production and accumulation. Therefore, it is crucial for the food industry to address potential sources and pathways of B. cereus contamination and their connections to cereulide production in processing lines. In this review, sources of contamination of B. cereus, including spores, vegetative cells, and biofilms and their potential role in cereulide production at each stage of dairy and cooked rice processing were analyzed. In addition, control methods to prevent B. cereus contamination and cereulide production in processing lines were proposed, offering valuable insights for improving microbial risk management in the food industry.

Effects of Adding Probiotics on Food and the Human Body

The normal growth and reproduction activities of probiotics have beneficial effects on the human body: regulating the human intestinal flora, promoting digestion and absorption, forming a barrier to protect the intestinal mucosa, reducing blood sugar and cholesterol, enhancing human immunity, scavenging free radicals to delay aging, etc. In addition, the active metabolites secreted by it also play an important role in the human body: decomposing cholesterol to produce acids to inhibit pathogenic bacteria, breaking down fats to produce short-chain fatty acids to promote the self-regulation of gastrointestinal mucosal cells, and metabolizing macromolecular substances (proteins, polysaccharides) to produce nutrients (amino acids, monosaccharides). And it is also widely used in food processing, human health and aquaculture. Probiotics also play an important role in food processing, where can change the pH value of food, extend the shelf life of food, improve the flavor of food, as a substitute for additives and increase the nutritional value of food. Although the traditional concept is that only live probiotics can exert their probiotic effects, more and more studies have shown that some of the probiotic effects of probiotics are closely related to their active metabolites, and some of the active metabolites produced by probiotics can stimulate tissue development and affect the body’s nutritional level and physiological functions. At present, the more studied probiotic active metabolites mainly include extracellular polysaccharides, bacteriocins, organic acids, short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, which has been shown to play an antibacterial, where can prevent and treat diseases, regulate and improve the state of the gastrointestinal tract, promote digestion and absorption and other effects. In this paper, two effects of probiotics on the human body are analyzed, including the effects of growth and reproduction and active secretions on human health, and the research progress of probiotics on dairy products and plant products. In addition, the relevant mechanisms of action are highly summarized. The effect of the clinical effective dose of probiotics on functional foods and improving physical health is elaborated, as well as the influencing factors of probiotic intake on intestinal health, and the recommendations of current international standard regulations on probiotic intake are introduced. Through the analysis of the effect of probiotic intake on human intestinal health, the types, functions and applications of probiotic active metabolites are reviewed, and the current existing problems are proposed, and it is hoped to provide practical reference for the industrialization and R&amp;D application of food processing, health care, livestock breeding and other fields, as well as the formulation of probiotic-related standards and regulations.

Process optimization and kinetics for ultrasonication assisted extraction of phospholipids from ghee residue

AbstractGhee is a major Indian dairy product with a pleasant flavor. During its manufacture, ghee residue is obtained as the by‐product, which consists of substantial quantity of phospholipids. Phospholipids exhibit emulsifying properties and offer some health benefits. The present study aimed to optimize the process parameters for the extraction of phospholipids from ghee residue (GR) using ultrasonication. The GR was subjected to a series of pre‐treatments before ultrasonication. The hot water treatment led to reduction in nonpolar lipids and improved polar lipids (35.47% fat basis). Taguchi orthogonal array design was employed for optimization of ultrasound power, treatment temperature, time and solvent:solid (S:S) ratio with phospholipid content and antioxidant activity as the response variables. The phospholipid content ranged between 18.54% and 23.89% and antioxidant activity of the extracted samples varied from 47.01% to 50.64% expressed as radical scavenging activity by DPPH assay, while for the untreated GR, the PL and antioxidant activity were 4.98% and 32.75%, respectively. The power level of 80%, 80°C treatment temperature, S:S ratio of 15 and sonication time of 4 min. resulted in maximum extraction of phospholipids (24.12%). The yield of phospholipids was quantified as 13.1% and 8.88% by two elution techniques using solid phase extraction methods. The predicted and experimental values for the responses were in good agreement with R2 value of 0.98. Power and temperature were found to be significant (p &lt; 0.01) in influencing phospholipids yield. For antioxidant activity of the extract, S:S ratio exerted significant effect (p &lt; 0.01). The experimental data were fit in four defined empirical models for understanding the extraction kinetics. Based on the R2 values, the models explained the kinetics in the following order: Parabolic model&gt;Power law&gt;Peleg's model&gt;Elovich's model.Practical applicationsPresently, ghee residue is often discarded as waste or used as animal feed by most of the ghee manufacturing dairy plants. Few studies were conducted to incorporate ghee residue as an ingredient in different food products. However, the present study opens new avenues for utilization of this by‐product for extraction of high value bioactive components, that is, phospholipids, with the help of novel technology; namely ultrasonication. The phospholipids have techno‐functional properties as an emulsifier. One of the classes of phospholipids, that is, sphingomyelin has unique health benefits, therefore this extract will also have scope as a nutraceutical. Thus, there is great practical utility for the present findings. In addition, for the scaling up of extraction techniques, the understanding of mass transfer kinetics is very vital and the same had been studied in the present investigation. Thus, the findings of this study are helpful in determining the ideal ultrasound‐assisted extraction conditions for extraction of phospholipids from ghee residue. Kinetics of extraction will help to explore opportunities for scale‐up of the process.

COMPETITIVENESS OF POLISH DAIRY PRODUCTS IN THE OPINION OF MANAGERIAL PERSONNEL

In this paper we aim to recognize competitiveness of Polish dairy products by surveying managerial personnel in dairy companies. The opinions of dairy plant managers on dairy product diversification constitutes a valid research problem. The study was conducted in 100 dairy companies in Poland in 2021. An online questionnaire was initially designed for surveying all dairy plants in Poland (163). However, the survey proved to be problematic, and the study was ultimately carried out with the personal involvement of the research team. The results were processed and presented with the use of tabular, graphic, and descriptive methods. To check if COVID-19 pandemic had impact on competitiveness we used the logit model.&#x0D; The respondents evaluated dairy products, variations in product prices, determinants of product success, product-related activities, and other factors. Dairy products received the highest scores for quality, demand, and brand on a scale of 1-5 points. Production, marketing, and reputation were regarded as the key determinants of market success.. We wanted to recognize which factors decrease the negative impact of COVID-19 in Polish dairy enterprises. We found that it was ease of shopping, use of transport companies and competition in the sector.