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Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990)

Regulations

Classification, Packing and Marking of Dairy Products and Imitation Dairy Products intended for sale in the Republic of South Africa

Part I : Dairy Products

6. Standards for cultured milk

 

(1) Cultured milk shall—
(a) be obtained from heat treated milk and/or reconstituted or recombined milk that has been inoculated with a culture to produce a microbiological flora under controlled conditions: Provided that in the case of—
(i) Kefir the following specific starter cultures shall be used:

Starter culture prepared from kefir grains, Lactobacillus kefiri, species of the genera Leuconostoc, Lactococcus and Acetobacter growing in a strong specific relationship, where the kefir grains constitute both lactose fermenting yeasts (Kluyveromyces marxianus) and non-lactose fermenting yeasts (Saccharomyces unisporus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces exiguus): Provided further that microorganisms other than the afore-mentioned specific starter cultures may be added; and

(ii) Yeast Free Kefir starter culture comprising of lactic acid bacteria with characteristics of kefir grains shall be used;
(b) not be subjected to heat treatment after fermentation;
(c) contain at least 107 colony forming units per gram (CFU/g) of viable lactic acid or lactic acid and aroma producing micro-organisms, or in the case of Kefir and Yeast Free Kefir viable micro organisms constituting the specific starter cultures stated in sub-paragraph (a)(i) and (ii) above, per gram of a product;
(d) have a pH value of less than 4.6;
(e) in the case of Kefir, contain at least 104 colony forming units per gram (CFU/g) of yeasts per gram of product; and
(f) in the case of Yeast Free Kefir, contain no intentionally added yeasts.

 

(2) The word "maas" in the alternate class designation may be substituted by the word "amazi" or "amasi".

 

(3) The word "Kefir" in the class designation or alternate class designation may be substituted by the word "Kephir".