α-Amylase in whole egg and its sensitivity to pasteurization temperatures

Abstract

The activity of the enzyme α-amylase of whole egg is known to be sensitive to pasteurizing temperatures and the possibility that this property could be used as a control test for the adequacy of pasteurization has been examined.The occurrence of the enzyme, the physico-chemical characteristics of its heat inactivity, the consistency of its behaviour in large numbers of eggs and the influence on its of packing station procedures has been studied.By sampling eggs from many sources for 11 months it was concluded that the activity of the enzyme was consistent, the inactivation by heat was a first-order reaction, and freezing, thawing, homogenization, spray-drying and in the laboratory freeze-drying did not affect its inactivation. But there was some interference from added citrate and sucrose.