International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Preeti, Monika Sodhi, Pamela Singh
Abstract: Milk is a biologically complex and nutritionally valuable food that has played an important role in human nutrition and the development of the dairy industry. It contains high-quality proteins, lipids, lactose, minerals, vitamins, enzymes and numerous bioactive compounds. At the same time, its high water activity and nutrient availability make raw milk highly susceptible to microbial contamination and deterioration. Consequently, milk production and processing require the integration of food science, microbiology, biotechnology, chemical analysis, engineering and information technology. This review examines milk from a science and technology perspective, covering its chemical composition, nutritional significance, microbiological characteristics, conventional processing methods, quality and safety challenges, and emerging technologies. Conventional heat treatments such as pasteurization and ultra-high-temperature processing remain fundamental to milk safety, but thermal treatment can influence proteins, vitamins, flavor compounds and other quality attributes depending on treatment intensity. Recent research has therefore investigated high-pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, ultrasound, microfiltration, cold plasma, ohmic heating and other non-thermal or hybrid technologies. These approaches aim to improve microbial safety while retaining nutritional and functional properties. The review also discusses advances in spectroscopy, biosensors, Internet of Things (IoT) systems and artificial intelligence (AI) for rapid detection of adulteration, contaminants, microbial deterioration and compositional changes. Sustainability is another major technological challenge, involving methane emissions, feed production, manure management, water use, energy consumption and waste generation throughout the dairy value chain. Precision livestock farming, improved nutrition, resource-efficient processing and data-driven management offer potential pathways toward more sustainable milk production. Future development will increasingly depend on the integration of biotechnology, advanced processing, smart sensing, artificial intelligence and sustainable engineering. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for producing safe, nutritious, affordable and environmentally responsible milk and dairy products.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23115697
