Novel, more efficient processes to extend the shelf life of food are gradually replacing thermal processes
and chemical additives. Pulsed UV radiation, a non-thermal process, is a promising alternative for inactivating
food pathogens and preventing its degradation by microorganisms. This study aimed to investigate
pulsed UV light’s efficacy for inactivating Escherichia coli in goat milk and its effect on milk’s
organoleptic attributes. The goat milk samples were first inoculated with E. coli and then irradiated with
different doses of pulsed UV light generated using an exciplex laser unit. The results showed that a 6-log
reduction of the initial microbial population was achieved using 10,000 mJ cm2 of pulsed UV. Samples
irradiated with 5000 and 10,000 mJ cm2 doses exhibited aromatic changes compared with the non-irradiated
control sample. No significant differences in the physical or compositional parameters of
the irradiated and control samples were found.