High Temperature Short Time (HTST) Pasteurizer Workshop

Learn to make milk and milk products safe for human consumption by destroying harmful bacteria.

This workshop is designed for pasteurizer operators, but is beneficial to all involved with milk pasteurization, including production, QA/QC & maintenance personnel.

The course, instructed by industry experts and representatives from NYS Agriculture & Markets, provides an overview of the design, operation, cleaning, and maintenance of HTST systems.

To meet the training requirements for HTST system testing under the NY State Broken Seal Policy, all required regulatory tests for HTST pasteurizers will be discussed and presented hands-on. Additional topics include UHT systems, dairy microbiology, product safety, and cleaning and sanitizing.

Overview

This course provides instruction on the operation and regulatory requirements for HTST and HHST pasteurization. It includes hands-on exercises and demonstrations designed to give participants practical skills in HTST system testing. The course meets the training requirement for dairy plant employees participating in the NY State HTST Broken Seal Program (e.g., testing HTST equipment after repairs).

It also fulfills the pasteurization course requirement (an alternative to the vat pasteurization workshop) for the Dairy Foods Extension Certificate Program. The workshop is a three-day course offered at least three times a year on the Cornell campus or virtually.

Learning Outcomes

This course will provide attendees with information about the key program areas listed below:

Basic Dairy Microbiology/Food Safety (brief overview); Participants Will:

Learn the basics of dairy microbiology important to dairy product quality, including factors that influence microbial growth of both desirable and undesirable organisms.
Understand the importance of pasteurization and sanitation procedures in controlling food-borne pathogens and spoilage organisms associated with raw milk and dairy products.

Unit Operations in High Temperature Short Time Pasteurization (HTST); Participants Will:

Learn the key components and their functions in HTST systems, including the STLR, all sections of the HTST plate heat exchanger, timing and booster pumps, homogenization, separation and standardization, and flow diversion devices.
Understand HTST control systems and how they ensure proper pasteurization.
Learn the record-keeping requirements of pasteurization.
Learn the importance of preventative maintenance in pasteurization systems.

Regulatory Requirements and Testing of HTST Systems; Participants Will:

Understand the general requirements and where to find specific regulatory information (e.g., the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance – PMO) on the operation and testing of legal HTST pasteurization systems.
Learn the requirements of the NYS Broken Seal Program.
Learn through hands-on exercises and demonstrations the required HTST system tests that ensure proper operation and milk product safety, including flow diversion valve tests, indicating, and recording thermometer checks; safety thermal limit recorder operation; flow rate determinations, and others.

Cleaning, Sanitation & Maintenance for HTST Systems; Participants Will:

Understand the importance of cleaning, sanitation, and maintenance programs as applied to HTST systems and associated equipment.

Evaluation

A pretest will be administered to determine the incoming knowledge base of course participants on HTST concepts. A post-test will be administered at the end of the course, covering the materials presented during the training. Participants must receive a passing grade on the post-test to receive a certificate of completion. The certificate received from successful completion of this course will meet the training requirements of the NYS Broken Seal program and satisfy the pasteurization course requirement for those enrolled in a Cornell Dairy Foods Certificate Program.

Agenda

Day 1:

Welcome and Introductions
Dairy Food Safety and Basic Microbiology
UHT & HTST Equipment Design
UHT & HTST Instrumentation

Day 2:

UHT & HTST Testing
Operating with a Broken Seal
Cleaning and Sanitizing UHT & HTST Systems
Recording Charts

Day 3:

Preventive Maintenance
HTST Testing Demonstrations and Hands-On Sessions
Broken Seal Review

Fees

Tuition:
- $725-$880 for in-state registrants
- $880- $1,100 for out-of-state registrants

Instructors

Heather Spraker - Lead Instructor
Dairy Foods Extension Specialist
krb14 [at] cornell.edu (has248[at]cornell[dot]edu)
NY State Agriculture & Markets Representatives
Guest Instructors From Industry & Outside Academia
Extension & Dairy Plant Staff of Cornell Food Science

Course Dates

April 7-9, 2026, In-person, Cornell University-COURSE FULL, please contact Louise at lmf226 [at] cornell.edu (lmf226[at]cornell[dot]edu) to be added to the waiting list
July 21-23, 2026, In-person, Cornell University
October 6-8, 2026, Live via Zoom