PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for sterilizing liquid food product by shortwave electric field which is capable of efficiently sterilizing heat resistant spores contained in liquid food product even which contains a lot of protein, such as raw milk and soymilk.SOLUTION: This method for sterilizing liquid food product by shortwave electric field includes applying electric field of 10-50 MHz frequency to the liquid food product through an insulated thin film provided on an electrode surface. The insulated film is obtained preferably by sticking to an electrode surface or directly forming, a thin film of not more than 50 &mum film thickness non-viscous and high in electric insulating properties. The sterilizable liquid food product is, for example, food containing protein having possibility of changing in quality by high heat. Sterilization is executed by deactivating heat resistant microorganisms in the liquid food product by applying electric field.COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT【課題】 生乳や豆乳などタンパク質を多く含む液状食品であっても、そこに含まれる耐熱性芽胞を効果的に殺菌することができる液状食品の短波電界殺菌方法および短波電界殺菌装置を提供する。【解決手段】周波数10MHz~50MHzの電界を、電極表面に設けた絶縁薄膜を介して液状食品に印加する。前記絶縁被膜は、非粘着性かつ電気絶縁性が高い膜厚50μm以下の薄膜を、電極表面に密着させるかまたは直接形成させたものであることが好ましい。殺菌処理可能な液状食品としては、高熱により変質する恐れのあるタンパク質を含むものが挙げられ、殺菌は、前記電界の印加により液状食品中の耐熱性の微生物を失活させることにより実施される。【選択図】 図1
