Dairy Foods Columnists - Articles

The importance of environmental swabbing

A robust environmental swabbing program will greatly help dairy processors in ensuring the prime directive: public health.

Steve Decker

June 12, 2018

The importance of environmental swabbing in dairy operations cannot be overstated. Some reasons are rather obvious, while others may not be so. But the responsibility falls on all food and beverage manufacturing companies to ensure that public safety, health and trust are not compromised in any way.

Be prepared for dairy price fluctuations

Understand the indicators to help anticipate changes in dairy prices

Nate Donnay

June 6, 2018

What are the top four indicators we should be watching to help us understand and anticipate changes in dairy prices? With the amount of data and commentary on the dairy markets, it's easy to get overwhelmed or become distracted from the big underlying drivers. It was hard to whittle the list down to just four, but here they are.

Understanding the fat, sugar and calories in cow’s milk to make the best choices

Decoding dairy

Gregory Miller

June 5, 2018

What type of milk is best? Is fat in or out, and what about sugar? These are questions swirling in the minds of many consumers. By providing people with information about the fat, sugar and calories in cow"s milk options in the marketplace, the dairy community can help people choose the right dairy foods to meet their needs.

Dairy might help to promote healthy aging

Whey protein and fermented dairy foods could help minimize inflammation

Sharon Gerdes

June 4, 2018

Anti-inflammatory diets are trendy, and some of my friends are avoiding dairy because they've heard that it causes inflammation. According to Greg Miller, chief science officer for National Dairy Council, "The current scientific evidence suggests that the opposite may be true."

Ensure hygienic-installation success

The successful integration of processing and packaging operations comes down to choosing and installing the right equipment.

Juan Paulo Hidalgo Ríos

May 16, 2018

Integrating processing and packaging requires the process to be well-specified in terms of design and technical expectations. Global and local standards play an important role and need to be considered for every single piece of equipment purchased.

Ice cream

Successfully flavor ice cream in a cost-competitive environment

The management of flavor-related costs also requires a focus on elements that influence body, texture, sweetness and other factors.

Bruce Tharp

Steven Young

May 9, 2018

The perception of any given added ice cream flavoring is influenced, for good or bad, by appearance, aroma, acidity, taste (sweet, salty, bitter, sour), texture (smooth, creamy, rich) and temperature, including appropriate temperature-related chemistries of any given flavor.

The acid 'whey' — a new hero's journey?

The byproduct of Greek yogurt manufacturing could be the magic elixir for creating a new superhero in your portfolio.

Samuel D. Alcaine

May 8, 2018

To the yang of every superhero’s rise, there is the yin of an equally formidable foe. Batman and the Joker, Spiderman and the Green Goblin, and in the fermented dairy aisle, Greek yogurt and acid whey.

The ins and outs of clean labeling

Customers want dairy with all-natural ingredients and nothing artificial

Sharon Gerdes

May 7, 2018

Clean-label dairy can be more about perception than actual health benefits. It's also a moving target. Dairy processors must scrutinize the latest market research to understand what consumers what in their dairy delights, and what they want taken out.

European Union trade influence grows

But the United States remains undeterred

Beth Hughes

May 4, 2018

When the United States withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership shortly after President Donald Trump took office last year, it was unclear what would happen next. Would the remaining 11 countries renegotiate or abandon the deal altogether?

Dairy industry need to step up sustainability efforts

The dairy industry is committed to reducing its environmental impacts, but it could do more

John A. Lucey Ph.D., Director, Center for Dairy Research

April 5, 2018

At its core, sustainability within the food industry is about creating products that provide maximum nutrient density for the consumer, while creating a minimal impact on the environment.