Raw milk testing blog image
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Raw Milk Testing for the 21st Century: Key Parameters for Achieving High Quality 

ByNicole Martin, PhD

The quality of processed dairy products is inextricably tied to the quality of raw milk at production, and throughout pre-processing storage and handling. Pasteurization, while quite literally a lifesaver, is no magic bullet when it comes to improving quality. As domestic and international markets for US dairy products evolve, expectations of increasing shelf life are…

Beyond the Dairy Aisle: Safety and Quality in Plant-Based Beverages
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Beyond the Dairy Aisle: Safety and Quality in Plant-Based Beverages

ByMara Herschbach

The plant-based beverage market has witnessed exponential growth in recent years, driven by increasing consumer demand for sustainable and health-conscious alternatives to traditional dairy products. However, with this rise comes the critical need to address safety and quality concerns unique to these products. Ensuring the safety and quality of plant-based beverages is not only imperative…

Yeast in Cheese Production - Little girl peeking through cheese whole
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Controlling Yeast in Cheese Production: Strategies for Quality Assurance

ByClarence Johnson

Yeast contamination is of minimal concern in fluid milk production, but its impact can be significant in cheese and fermented dairy products where unwanted yeast may alter flavor, texture, and overall product quality. Understanding the growth parameters and spoilage mechanisms of yeast in cheese production is key to developing effective control strategies. Process monitoring strategies…

Combating Beer Spoilage Bacteria
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NoLo Beer Trends and Issues with Beer Spoilage Bacteria

ByGwen Raddatz

The NoLo beer segment is experiencing significant growth, with a 40% increase in sales in recent years. (Howarth, J., 2024) This trend is part of a broader shift in the beverage industry towards healthier options and diversified product lines. According to Beverage Industry, the low- and no-alcohol category is spearheading market growth, with more consumers seeking…

Preventive and Predictive Maintenance Theme Image
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Preventive and Predictive Maintenance: What is the Difference?

ByNeil Bogart

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the liquid food industry, maintenance strategies play a pivotal role in ensuring operational efficiency, product quality, and safety. Among these strategies, preventive and predictive maintenance stand out as two fundamental approaches, each with its distinct methodology and impact on the production lifecycle. Understanding the nuances of the these maintenance…

Representative Sampling for Butterfat Verification
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Representative Sampling for Butterfat Verification

ByAnne Bigalke

Why is representative sampling for butterfat verification important? Because reliable data equals accurate payment! Butterfat percentages in milk have been on the rise over the last decade, along with a substantial upward trend for butterfat pricing. That’s great news for farmers. It also raises the stakes regarding the accuracy and reliability of the data upon which…

Raw milk string sampling
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Raw Milk String Sampling to Help Increase Feed Ration Efficiency

ByDr. Kraig Peel

Raw milk string sampling has become increasingly important. This post examines the potential value of string sampling of milk to help nutritionists fine-tune ruminant formulations to provide better information and manage costs. Current feed market prices have milk producers looking for every possible way to manage costs, making the role of ruminant nutritionists increasingly important. We scrutinize…

Psychrotrophic bacteria in pasteurized milk
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Psychrotrophic Bacteria in Pasteurized Milk—Spoilage, Testing, and Line Sampling

ByDarrell Bigalke

Bacteria in pasteurized milk is the leading cause of spoilage and reducing shelf-life. Refer to my earlier posts, How Bacterial Generation Times Impact Fluid Milk Quality and Shelf-life and Heat-Resistant Psychrotrophic Bacteria and Their Effect on the Quality of Pasteurized Milk. In those posts, I discussed the collective efforts of the dairy industry and regulatory…

Aseptic and representative sampling system from QualiTru
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Aseptic and Representative Sampling for Dairy Farms — Importance of Being Proactive (Part 2)

ByMara Herschbach

Aseptic and representative sampling for dairy farms is a big topic. This post is the second part of an in-depth conversation I had with Denise Sutton, our DFA Farm Supplies partner’s Sales Manager. Denise’s extensive experience in the dairy farm industry ranges from being a herd manager and running a dairy farm, being a trusted…

fluid milk shelf life
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How Bacterial Generation Times Impact Fluid Milk Quality and Shelf Life

ByDarrell Bigalke

Bacterial generation times have a significant impact on the quality of fluid milk and its shelf life regardless of the source of microbial contamination. While many factors can lower the quality of fluid milk and reduce shelf life, the most significant is microbial spoilage. “As the ability to kill, remove, or control microbial growth in…