Chlorates - Chlorine-free cleaning of milking equipment
If chlorine-based cleaning products are used as part of milking equipment cleaning protocols, it is increasingly difficult to achieve dairy product specifications with regard to Chlorate and Trichloromethane residues.
The removal of chlorine would significantly reduce the risk of these residues in milk and consequently, in final products, such as lactic butter and milk powder.
View below video, podcast and guidelines giving detailed information on the chemical content of chlorine-free products and cleaning protocols.
View relevant scientific publications on chlorates
Following the steps outlined is critical to maintain good microbiological quality of milk while minimizing residues.
Five new chlorine-free (CF) cleaning protocols have been evaluated at Moorepark for the cleaning of milking machines and three options are recommended for the cleaning of bulk milk tanks
Podcast
Milk Quality Workshop Presentations
- Chlorine-free cleaning of milking equipment (PDF)
- Effect of internal teat sealants at dry-off on SCC and mastitis (PDF)
- Water Heating Options for Dairy Farms (PDF)
- The efficacy of teat disinfectant products – Which product should I choose? (PDF)
- Understanding the impact of chlorine/chlorine-free cleaning approaches and other factors on the microbial composition of raw milk (PDF)
- In factory cip post Chlorine (PDF)
Further information
- Dairy Wash Trough Calculator - work out how much water is recommended for the rinse and wash routine on your milking machine.
- Chlorine-free Wash Routines (PDF)
- Chemical analysis of Chlorine-free detergent cleaning products Oct 2024 (PDF)
- Non-chlorine cleaning of milking equipment (PDF)
- Chlorine-free cleaning-Irish Farm Business article (PDF)
- Chlorate Review Paper (PDF)
- Monitoring residues during processing - Paludetti (PDF)
- Monitoring residues from farm to milk powder (PDF)
- Water Heating Options (PDF)
Scientific Publications
Minimizing Bacterial Counts in Bulk Tank Milk: A Review with a Focus on Chlorine-Free Cleaning - MDPI. January 2025
Evaluating the effectiveness of minimum chlorate technologies employed by manufacturers of skim milk powder from both microbiological quality and chemical residue perspectives - Journal of Dairy Science, November 2024
Chlorate and Trichloromethane Residues in Bulk Tank Milk Produced in the Republic of Ireland before and after Chlorine was Prohibited as a Cleaning Agent on Farms - MDPI, April 2024
An evaluation of dairy product quality where chlorine-free cleaning is employed across the dairy processing chain from bacterial and chemical residue perspectives - International Dairy Journal, November 2023
Chlorinated water as a source of chlorate contamination in farm bulk milk - Wiley Online Library, September 2023
Chlorate Levels in Dairy Products Produced and Consumed in Ireland - MDPI, June 2023