When most people hear the term dairy testing, they usually think of it within the context of an issue like poor quality or spoiled milk. Though drinking spoiled milk may seem like a minor inconvenience, it actually brings with it risks that extend far beyond an unpleasant taste.

But dairy testing is about more than just milk itself. Any dairy product you can purchase or consume actually goes through a rigorous testing process before it ever reaches store shelves. This is all done in the name of protecting end users everywhere, allowing them to enjoy all of the benefits of their favorite foods with as few of the potential downsides as possible.

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The Ins and Outs of Dairy Testing

Overall, dairy products can be tested for a wide range of different factors, including but not limited to ones like composition. Dairy producers must have total visibility into not only the fat content of their products, but also the solid and protein contents as well. Equally important is the matter of hygiene. Dairy testing is also critical in terms of maintaining the cleanliness and quality of milk and other dairy products.

All told, the quality of milk and other dairy-related items are hugely important for producing products that are not only safe to consume for both humans and animals, but that are also suitable for their intended uses. This is why dairy testing isn't just something that is performed after a product already exists. These and other best practices are applied at all parts of the dairy chain, thus guaranteeing that there is no such thing as a "single point of failure" between the dairy producers and the ultimate end users who will be enjoying everything they've worked so hard to create.

The book Standard Methods for the Examination of Dairy Products provides a very thorough overview of this process. It was designed for not only dairy producers but also regulatory bodies and commercial laboratories who regularly assess both the safety and quality of dairy products. It outlines testing methods and procedures that are commonly used in many such environments across the world.

Essential Items Used in Dairy Testing

As stated, the stakes are incredibly high when it comes to accurate dairy testing - this is absolutely one of those situations where the ideas of "getting the job done" and "getting the job done PROPERLY" are not the same thing and should never, ever be treated as such.

In an effort to make sure that people are able to consume the highest quality and safest dairy products possible, a number of critical items are used during the testing process. Milk tanker and dairy production thermometers, for example, are durable and highly accurate thermometers that are used to not only check the temperature of milk products during production, but also in the context of incoming tankers, too. A floating dairy thermometer would also be included in this category.

Many products that fall into this category feature a rugged stainless steel construction with stems that can be 36 inches or longer for easy reaching. With regards to milk tankers, many of these options have ranges from 0 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, with roughly one degree graduations. Dairy production temperatures can range from 0 all the way to 220 degrees Fahrenheit, using the same one degree graduations for ease of use.

Another example of an important item used in dairy testing would be dairy mastitis quad plates, available from a wide array of different manufacturers like Eurofins and others. These plates are used for Staph, Strep and Gram Negatives and enable screening methods that allow dairy producers to identify the quantities of these and other types of bacteria in lactating animals. If the levels of a particular type of bacteria are too high, dairy producers need to know about this as quickly as possible. At that point they'll be able to take corrective action to stop a small problem before it has a chance to become a much larger one, thus optimizing milk quality and going a long way towards maintaining the health of the herd at the exact same time.

Waterproof Portable Dairy and Meat pH Meters

Another important accessory commonly used in dairy testing takes the form of the waterproof dairy, meat and cheese pH meter manufactured by companies like Hanna Instruments. These are specially-designed pH meters that feature an electrode with a built-in temperature sensor. The benefit here is that units commonly include many important features that enable it to perform reliably WITHOUT damaging the sample. Examples like this one are not only portable, but incredibly easy-to-use - there are only two buttons and all necessary information is displayed on a straightforward LCD screen.

Most units that fall under this category feature a continuous battery life of 200 hours or more. They also include accessories like sachets of pH 4.7 buffers and cleaning solutions for effortless maintenance moving forward.

Learn About Weber Scientific

In the end, it's important to understand that the importance of dairy testing cannot be overstated enough - especially when you consider it within the context of all of the other critical work taking place in food and beverage laboratory environments around the country. But ultimately, we understand that those professionals are only as effective as the tools that they've come to rely on - which is why at Weber Scientific, we're committed to making sure they have access to everything they need when they need it the most.

Since 1985, Weber Scientific has worked hard to establish itself as one of the most trusted names in laboratory tools and general lab supplies. We've made it our mission to continue on in the fine tradition of our parent company NJDL Supplies, Inc., which itself was first established all the way back in 1959. Regardless of the new challenges that the industry faces as time goes on, we'll rise up to help you meet them - and we truly wouldn't have it any other way.

So if you'd like to find out more information about Weber Scientific, our products or our innovative solutions, click here. While you're there , you should also sign up for our free Weber Scientific newsletter to have important information and offers sent directly to your email inbox: Finally, earn points through purchases over $50.00 with our Frequent Buyers Program. Redeem your points for entertaining and/or practical FREE gifts. This program has been specifically created as a way for us to express our continuous gratitude to our valued customers. For more information on this popular program, please click here.