Milk Processing Plants / Milk Distributors
The final stop for milk before it comes to a refrigerator near you is the processing plant. Kansas Department of Agriculture's dairy inspectors license, inspect and sample products from Kansas milk processing plants. We also monitor dairy products which are imported other states. Sanitary conditions in processing plants must be maintained to ensure safe and wholesome dairy products.
Dairy processing plants and milk transfer/receiving stations are inspected at least four times a year. Inspectors make sure they comply with cleaning and sanitation requirements.
Pasteurization equipment is a primary focus of a plant inspection. We perform quarterly pasteurization equipment checks to see that temperatures and holding times during the pasteurization process are in compliance with federal requirements. This is to ensure that the raw milk is processed in a way that destroys all pathogens. All milk and dairy products sold at retail are required to be pasteurized to protect public health.
Also, all products processed by the plant are sampled monthly to make sure they comply with standards for bacterial limits, drug residues, coliform bacteria limits, phosphatase testing and vitamin addition, and to make sure they are correctly labeled according to butterfat.
Single-service dairy containers manufacturers are also inspected. These facilities produce cartons, containers and closures for packaging dairy products.
License application forms are available below:
Dairy Manufacturing Plant License Application
Dairy Distributors License Application
Single Service Dairy Container Manufacturing License Application
