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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.

Chlorates - Chlorine-free cleaning of milking equipment

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

Further information


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