How we make UHT Milk | Westgold AU

Raw ingredients.

Our milk is supplied by a small group of South Island farmers using sustainable practices and time-honoured farming traditions. Their grass-fed, free-rangeherds produce a rich, natural milk with exceptional flavour.

Milk collection from farm to factory.

As their cows file out of the milking shed, our farmers are already busy chilling the milk and preparing it for collection by one of our fleet of tankers. The entire process, from milking the cows to transporting their milk to the factory, is fast and efficient, preserving the milk’s quality.

Separation & standardisation.

Once it gets to our factory, fresh raw milk is separated into two different streams: skim milk and cream. During this process, the protein and fat content of the milk can be adjusted. This is useful when we’re making long-life products because it allows us to make the flavour and richness consistent across the year, no matter when the milk is collected and processed. To give our UHT milk the right level of creaminess, we adjust the fat ratio until it’s exactly right.

Ultra-high processing treatment.

We make our milk shelf-stable by using an ultra-high processing treatment (UHT). This sterilisation process is a critical step for any long-life product because it allows it to be safely stored at ambient temperatures for a long time. By heating the milk to a high temperature for a very short amount of time, we are able to destroy all bacteria without changing the composition of the milk or destabilising its natural proteins. Once this process is completed, the milk can be stored safely at room temperature for 12 months.

Safety first.

After sterilisation, the UHT milk is held in a special sterilised tank in ambient conditions before being sent to be packed. During the packaging, it’s crucial that all packs are filled and sealed without introducing any bacteria to the freshly sterilised milk. That’s why all of our packaging happens in an aseptic environment where no microorganisms are present. This keeps these products pristine and bacteria-free until they are opened.

Storage and shipping.

Before being sent off into the world, our UHT milk gets stored in our warehouse, which is located next to the rail line – extra handy for getting to local ports and out to our customers. When necessary, it may also be stored with trusted partners until they can transport it to its final destination – cupboards and kitchens all over New Zealand .

Convenience you can count on.

Raw ingredients.

Milk collection from farm to factory.

Separation & standardisation.

Ultra-high processing treatment.

Safety first.

Storage and shipping.

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