Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of improving the safety, the quality and the durability of foodstuffs and raw materials which are used in the production of foodstuffs, and to a foodstuff or a foodstuff raw material. A foodstuff or a foodstuff raw material is treated with pure nitrogen gas in order to prevent the growth of microbes in the foodstuff or the foodstuff raw material. The nitrogen gas method according to the present invention makes it possible to eliminate efficiently the bacteria which produce large quantities of phospholipase from the foodstuff or the foodstuff raw material. The nitrogen gas method is especially suitable for the treatment of milk products, particularly raw milk.

Abstract: A rapid method for diagnosing mastitis is described. The method is based on DNA sequence identification comprising the steps of determining the presence of the following DNA sequences in a milk sample: a DNA sequence specific for somatic cells for indicating inflammation; a DNA sequence specific for a mastitis pathogen for indicating infection; and a DNA sequence specific for an antibiotic-resistance-encoding gene of a pathogen for assisting a proper drug therapy. Test kits and genus- or species-specific oligonucleotides and their use in said method are also described.