Dean Foods’ Morningstar division has won FDA approval to extend the shelf life of its Hershey’s flavored Milks and Shakes and Folgers Jakada to 180 days and to store and ship the product at ambient temperature. The company produces the single-serve beverages on a custom-designed filling line from Stork Food & Dairy Systems in Mt. Crawford, Va. Dean officials have indicated that there are plans to install a similar line at a west coast plant.
Salmonella Outbreak in Ohio
Young’s Jersey Dairy, a Dayton specialty dairy that has a grandfather clause to sell raw milk products, has been linked to a December Salmonella outbreak that affected more than 40 persons. The company has since stopped selling unpasteurized milk and stopped using it in milk shakes. An infected employee may have introduced the Salmonella at the dairy.