Microbiological parameters of a non-alcoholic drink based on velvet antler hydrolysate

The aim of the study was to determine the microbiological parameters of a soft drink based on maral antlers, depending on the preservatives used and the temperature regimes of processing. The study was carried out at the All-Russian Research Institute of Antler Reindeer Breeding in 2020. The following preservatives were tested: fermented glucose (Aibi), sodium sorbate, which were added to the finished product in an amount of 0.5 to 2.0 %, and ethyl alcohol, introduced into the product in an amount from 0.5 to 1.0 %. To determine the optimal parameters for the temperature treatment of the antler product, three temperature regimes were investigated: 60 and 100 °C (on a water bath), 120 °C (in an autoclave). The processing time of the product was 1 and 2 hours. After exposure to temperature, a soft drink was sampled to identify microbiological indicators. The assessment of the storage of the product for 6 months at various temperature conditions: +2, +6 °C (refrigerator); +20, +25 °C (room temperature) was made. It was found that the use of the natural preservative Aibi "1.01 L" at a concentration of 2 % contributed to the production of a pure product, but at the same time the organoleptic characteristics of the finished product deteriorated. It was shown that the use of ethyl alcohol in low concentration (from 0.5 to 1.0 %) as a preservative made it possible to reduce microbiological contamination to the third and second dilutions. Samples of the soft drink, in which sodium sorbate was used as a preservative in the amount of 1 and 2 %, showed no growth of microflora. The study of the temperature regimes of processing antler hydrolyzate showed that the sterility of the samples provides a temperature effect of 100 and 120 °C for 2 h. A soft drink based on maral antlers, containing sodium sorbate as a preservative and heat-treated by autoclaving, retains microbiological stability for 6 months subject to the tightness of the package, after opening the package - within 60 days.