What is Velcorin® dosing and why is it needed?

Velcorin® is a beverage preservative that extends the shelf life of products by preventing the growth of yeast, mould and other microbiological contaminations. It is a cold sterilisation agent for beverages. Odorless and tasteless, the chemical is added to the beverage product during packaging, through a dosing machine. This machine doses the product with the precise amount required and is regularly monitored during the packaging run. Velcorin® is free from any known allergens and may also be referred to as dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC), dimethyl pyrocarbonate (DMPC), pyrocarbonic acid dimethyl ester.  

Why is it important to add velcorin® to beverage products?

Microorganisms in beverages are best avoided as they can create off flavours the consumer will not enjoy. Dosing the product with velcorin® ensure the flavours created by the beverage production team are maintained for the entire shelf life of the product.

How do you velcorin® dose a product?

Here at Idyll, we use velcorin® on all our packaging lines for cider and ready-to-drink beverage products. We also velcorin® dose sparkling wine products as it decreases the risk of bottle explosions which can pose a serious OH&S risk. This is because a yeast build up can create a pressure build up, as when yeast remains in a product it forms Co2 which can lead to bottle explosions.

How do you correctly store velcorin®?

Storing of velcorin® must be done in compliance with the health and safety laws of your area. Here at Idyll, we store spare bottles in specialised corrosive cabinets from storemasta. Velcorin® should be stored between 20-30 degrees. If stored below 20 degrees it can crystalise. If this happens, you should slowly warm it up slowly by leaving it in an environment at 20-30 degrees.

Who should handle velcorin®?

Only trained individuals should be permitted to handle velcorin®. The product can be lethal if not handled correctly which is why proper training is imperative.

How long after velcorin® dosing can the product be consumed?

After a product is velcorin® dosed, it takes around 4 hours for it to break down inside the product. The general rule of thumb is that 24 hours after production the product can be consumed.

Idyll utilises velcorin for a range of our bottling, canning and kegging services. Velcorin is purchased from Victus and is always properly stored and handled.