Method for preparing packaged sterilized mineral water, method for

Abstract

Sterilized and packaged mineral water comprises sterilized mineral water having a hardness of not less than 50 mg/l and a content of dissolved carbonic acid gas ranging from 9 to 30 mg/l (as calcium carbonate) and a number of bacteria of not more than 10.sup.-3 /ml which is obtained by sterilizing pumped-up mineral water having a hardness of not less than 50 mg/l and a content of dissolved carbonic acid gas ranging from 10 to 31 mg/l by filtering through a filter having a pore size of not more than 0.22 .mu.m. The packaged and sterilized mineral water can be effectively prepared by a method which comprises packaging pumped-up mineral water in a container without subjecting it to any heat-sterilization treatment wherein the mineral water is sterilized by passing through a filter having a pore size of not more than 0.22 .mu.m, packaged in a sterilized container under an aseptic condition of not more than Class 100 and then the container is airtight-sealed. Thus, packaged and sterilized mineral water having excellent keeping quality can be obtained without subjecting pumped-up mineral water to any sterilization by heating and without using any antibacterial agent and it has a high hardness and a high carbon dioxide content as well as good taste peculiar to the original mineral water.