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Category Archives: Frequently Asked Question


What is Ultra-Pasteurization

Ultra-pasteurization, the most widely used pasteurization process for milk in Europe and throughout the world, is a more recently developed process. The ultra-pasteurization process is often referred to as “Ultra High Temperature,” or UHT pasteurization. The UHT process heats the milk to 280° F for only two seconds, and eliminates a larger percentage of bacteria than HTST pasteurization. When coupled with sterile packaging, the ultra-pasteurization process creates an extended shelf life.

Once the product is processed, it can be packaged in two different ways depending on the customer need. Many companies, especially those in Europe package the product in “shelf-stable” or “aseptic” packaging. This packaging will allow the product to be shipped and store unrefrigerated for a shelf life of up to one year. At Cumberland Dairy, we utilize ESL (extended shelf life) packaging technology which looks very comparable to a traditional dairy package, but is filled in a sterile filling environment. While this package looks similar to others on the shelf, we can achieve a much longer shelf life under proper refrigerated temperatures due to the combination of the ultra-pasteurization and the ESL packaging. Depending on the product we are producing, it can carry a refrigerated shelf life of 60 to 90 days.

Do Cumberland Dairy products need refrigeration?

Currently, all products produced at Cumberland Dairy are processed at ultra-pasteurized temperatures.  Even though the products are packaged under high hygiene conditions, these fillers are not aseptic fillers and therefore the products we pack require refrigeration.

Are Cumberland Dairy products free from artificial growth hormones?

Because the vast majority of our customers and their consumers are looking for dairy products that are free from artificial hormones, we have decided to produce products that are made with milk from cows that have not been treated with artificial growth hormones (rBST). All fluid milk, creams and ice cream mixes manufactured by Cumberland Dairy, is from farmers who pledge not to use artificial growth hormones on their herds.

Since cows naturally produce BST, bovine somatotropin, dairy products cannot be tested for the artificial version rBST” (recombinant bovine somatotropin). Even though this drug has been tested and approved by the FDA for use in dairy cows, the farmers that supply milk to our facility have pledged not to use artificial growth hormones

Do Cumberland Dairy products contain antibiotics?

All dairies, including Cumberland Dairy, test every load of milk arriving before it is accepted for antibiotics.  Any tanker of milk that shows any evidence of antibiotics is rejected prior to unloading.

Are Cumberland Dairy products gluten free?

Unflavored milk and cream are naturally gluten free.   When flavors or natural stabilizers are added to our products, we have our suppliers validate that these ingredients are also gluten free.  Based on this information, we can state that to the best of our knowledge our milks and creams are gluten free.

How do I know which products contain nuts or other allergens?

Cumberland Dairy recognizes the concerns of our consumers related to the potential presence of undeclared allergens in food products.  Currently, Cumberland Dairy does not produce any products with tree nuts.   Outside of milk, the only allergens present in our facility are the eggs used for our custard mixes and holiday drinks.   Due to the known hazards that allergens pose to our consumers with food allergies, we maintain a robust allergen control program at our manufacturing facilities to prevent cross contamination. These include: employee training, ingredient and product segregation, processing and packaging controls, labeling reviews, and verification/ validation programs.

Can Cumberland Dairy products be frozen for longer storage?

We do not recommend freezing refrigerated dairy products, as the texture of the items will change due to freezing.