Quality Testing

During milk pick-up at each farm, a sample is taken from each farm’s milk tank.  These are stored in a cooler until reaching the plant.  (This is required for any dairy company.)

Once a week during our milk processing, a ‘finished product’ sample is taken and sent off site to an

independent lab for testing.  This assures that our milk passes our stringent quality standards.

State ODA (Ohio Department of Agriculture) inspectors have routine visits to ensure that we are maintaining a clean plant and quality milk products.

Federal inspections also occur yearly.

Our plant staff takes State training for milk hauling and milk testing.

Antibiotic Testing

The milk from our three farms is all picked and is taken to the plant.  Before the milk is unloaded, a sample is taken from the tank and tested within our lab at the plant. This is called a ‘Snap Test’ & is required by state law – this testing is for antibiotics.  If a cow is treated with antibiotics (usually for treatment of mastitus), its milk cannot be used for a period of time to allow it to clear out of its system.  Once that time allotted time has passed, the milk can be shipped to the plant.  If a farmer would give the cow the antibiotic but still ship the milk out, this test would find the antibiotic. 

At Hartzler's our cows stay healthy most of the time but there are cases when a cow will get an infection, mainly mastitis. Our farmers will treat the cow but it is milked separate from the herd. We return the cow to the herd only after the required withdrawal time has been met. Every load of milk brought into our plant is tested for antibiotics. We have never failed this test in 15 years of processing.

Bottle Testing

The ODA comes in for random inspections of our bottles to ensure they are being sanitized properly and within standards. Read more about our bottling process.

"..The Cream Rises to the top"