USFDA approves Stork filler line

USA – The Morningstar Foods division of Dean Foods in the USA has received approval from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for the aseptic filling of dairy beverages.

The plant, which is in Virginia, is equipped with filling equipment from Dutch supplier Stork.

The bottle filling technology extends the shelf-life of Morningstar’s dairy-based beverages to 180 days and allows them to be stored and shipped at ambient temperatures rather than in a traditional chilled distribution chain.

The company will start processing single-serve Hershey’s flavoured milk drinks and its Folgers Jakada coffee beverages. In a statement Dean Foods said that it anticipates installing another similar line in a California plant later this year.