Ever wonder about your milk jug or the foil on your yogurt cup?
Single-service containers and closures have been used in the dairy industry for many years. There are standards established by the FDA to ensure the production of sanitary containers and closures for milk and milk products.
The standards set down specific requirements for the plants that fabricate the containers. This includes blow molders for your plastic milk gallon and the paper and laminators for milk cartons. It also includes plants that produce the caps for that jug and the foil you pull off the yogurt cup or the creamer in the restaurant.
The standards cover everything about the plant and the manufacturing lines. They include requirements regarding the floors, walls and ceilings. There are standards for ventilation and the water supplies. They also cover personnel practices and handwashing facilities. These are just a few. After a plant has been inspected and meets all of the requirements, the plant is certified and can produce caps and containers for the dairy industry. They are also inspected quarterly.
There are bacterial standards for the final containers and closures. The plants are required to test several samples of the final product at least 4 out of every 6 months. The testing of the final product must be done by a laboratory that has also been inspected and certified by the FDA. The lab is then approved to perform the testing on the caps and jugs.
Similar standards exist for bottled water containers.
Would you like to see how a milk jug is made?
Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKiLPW1BBZw
