Dairy Dialog podcast 146: Arla, Cheer Pack, Tamarack Biotics

By Jim Cornall

- Last updated on GMT

Dairy Dialog podcast 146: Arla, Cheer Pack, Tamarack Biotics
Dairy Dialog podcast 146: Arla, Cheer Pack, Tamarack Biotics

Related tags Arla Arla foods Whey protein lactoferrin Packaging Flexible packaging Unilever Ice cream Milk

This week, we have conversations with Stephanie Nish, EHS coordinator at Arla’s Lockerbie plant; Al Madonna, vice president of marketing at Cheer Pack; and Bob Comstock, CEO of Tamarack Biotics.

Cheer Pack teams up with Unilever on Klondike Shakes

Cheer Pack North America has teamed up with Unilever, the makers of Klondike Bars, to become the first partnership to market frozen novelty shakes in flexible spouted pouches in the US.

Available in chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry, the new Klondike Shakes in a pouch are now available in grocery stores.

In addition to ice cream, CPNA’s flexible spouted pouches are also suitable for non-dairy frozen confections such as slushies and other frozen beverages.

Cheer Pack North America is the leading manufacturer of spouted pouch packaging in North America.

The company is a fully integrated manufacturer of proprietary UHD five-color printed film standard and custom injection molded parts, flexible pouches, and supplier of pouch filling equipment.

Cheer Pack also offers pre-made spouted pouches or the individual components separately.

Its pre-made pouches feature a sealed-in, easy-flow spout with a re-closeable, tamper-evident cap, and are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and materials.

Cheer Pack film, spouted or flat pouches, caps and fitments are suitable for all types of liquid and dry food and non-food products across a range of processes that include hot fill, retort, cold/ambient fill, and high-pressure processing.

Tamarack Biotics announces EU approval for TruActive products

Tamarack Biotics, LLC has announced the European Commission has approved its TruActive products for production and sales throughout the EU.

The approval covers all ultraviolet treated TruActive products, including TruActive MPC 85, TruActive WPI 90, and TruActive LTF, a lactoferrin product. 

“TruActive products utilize proprietary UV treatment and low temperature drying processes that retain more of raw milk’s immune active proteins and enzymes than any other product available today,”​ said Bob Comstock, CEO of Tamarack Biotics.

“These immune active proteins offer health benefits to everyone, but particularly young children, sports enthusiasts, and the elderly.”

Tamarack is currently negotiating with potential European production partners and hopes to offer samples by the end of the year.

A University of California Davis-led clinical trial showed TruActive restored immune function in an elderly population. The company said raw milk proteins positively impact gut health, and the non-denatured proteins have significantly higher bioavailability. Additionally, the company said the taste, smell, and dissolution are far superior to existing thermally pasteurized products.

Tamarack said it also plans to test TruActive’s ability to reduce allergy development in children.

Arla Lockerbie student wins SDT Eden Student of the Year Award

For the second year running an Arla Foods Lockerbie Eden Student has won the Society of Dairy Technology (SDT) Eden Student of the Year Award.

This year’s winning employee is Stephanie Nish, who joined the company three years ago to embark on the Eden Dairy Technology foundation degree course. Previously, Stephanie worked for Marks and Spencer Plc for 11 years as visual project coordinator.

It was during this time that Nish’s husband, Lee, was selected for the Eden Course and Stephanie supported him with his learning, especially during exams. Stephanie said, “Lee was the reason I applied for the Eden program after seeing how he excelled on Eden himself and seeing the many opportunities it brings throughout the course and afterwards. Dairy technology is a subject I found so interesting that I quickly realized that I admired what he was doing and aspired to follow in his footsteps.”

Nish’s project looked at utilizing new technology from Chr. Hansen to determine the optimum firmness of cheese curd at cut to increase fat retention within the cheese, thereby increasing yield.

Richard Collins, senior site director at Lockerbie Creamery, said, “At Arla Foods Lockerbie we take great pride in the success of our students and this year Stephanie has been an excellent example of the value programs such as Eden can add to the students and the manufacturing sites. Stephanie has been breath of fresh air putting the skill and knowledge she has learned during her time on Eden into practice, with enthusiasm and determination to succeed.

“Through utilizing new technologies, completing trials and analyzing results, Stephanie has delivered a significant step change in fat retention and therefore increased daily cheese yields. Not only has Stephanie proactively enabled her own development, she has also completed work that can be shared across many cheese process applications and has delivered a significant financial saving for the business.”

Nish’s project, along with the others from Eden Cohort 10, were judged during online presentations over two days, organized by Mike Bennett, processing hall manager from Reaseheath College. More than 50 people, from the companies that support the Eden course, viewed the presentations and a team of four SDT judges scored the projects based on a range of criteria, including scientific explanation, technical complexity and value to the employer/dairy industry.

The team agreed Nish was the award winner, closely followed by Sharlene Harrison (Muller Dairies) and Mark White (Saputo Davidstow), who were both awarded runner-up awards. The awards will be presented at the SDT annual dinner on the evening before the International Cheese and Dairy Awards at Staffordshire County Showground.

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