Meadow Gold Billings in process of meeting milk ordinance after threat of suspension
Sanitary issues found twice by investigators included residue on the inside of tanks, uncapped piping near a plate used for cream cooling, birds nesting in the loading dock and more.
Meadow Gold Billings is in the process of correcting noncompliance issues.
In an email statement to the Gazette, Montana’s Department of Livestock spokesman Riley Meredith confirmed they have heard from the Billings milk plant, describing actions the facility has completed recently and are in the process of to meet compliance standards.
The Meadow Gold processing plant is located on the 2700 block of First Avenue South.
“Department of Livestock has reviewed the corrective actions and will reinspect to verify all noncompliant issues have been corrected or are in the process of being corrected,” Meredith stated. “If the noncompliant issues have been addressed, DOL will withdraw the notice and there will be no suspension of license or stoppage of production at this time.”
The facility was first investigation on June 16, according to the Livestock Department's notice to Meadow Gold on July 31. In the document, issues noted included pooling water on top of a wash tank, built-up residue on the inside and tops of tanks, a gap above a production line resulting in a lack of overhead protection, uncapped stainless piping near a plate used for cream cooling and birds found nesting in the loading dock areas near the door. According to the notice documents, the violations found in June were discussed with facility staff and a copy of the report was provided to workers.
The facility was inspected again on July 27. During reinspection, the investigator noted the same violations. The department's milk sanitarian noted rust-colored staining, chemical or mineral residue and other buildup on the interior surfaces of tanks. The gap over the production line was noted again, as well as the birds' nests, which now included an accumulation of bird droppings near a door of the loading dock area. Noted within the notice, the violations were discussed with facility staff again on July 27, including a copy of the report.
The Livestock Department regularly conducts inspections, Meredith said, including milk testing and monitoring of consumer complaints. It will continue to monitor any additional consumer complaints related to the premature spoilage issue reportedly seen in Yellowstone County recently and will take additional actions “if appropriate and necessary.”
“We do not believe the closure ― temporary or permanent ― of a dairy processing facility in Montana would benefit the industry, dairy producers, retailers, or consumers,” Meredith said. “However, it is the responsibility of milk processing facilities to produce safe, wholesome milk for the people of Montana and we will apply regulatory enforcement to ensure the standards set forth by state law and the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance are met.”
The department's inspection of the Meadow Gold Billings processing facility at the end of July found the facility to be noncompliant of federal Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, which subsequently led to the Livestock Department issuing a Notice of Proposed Suspension on July 31. The facility is required to respond within 48 hours of the notice, Meredith explained, and reply either detailing efforts to meet compliance or to schedule a hearing with the department to plead their case.
Meadow Gold Billings opted to take corrective action.
“Milk has to be safe. We want to keep consumers safe. It’s our job to enforce that,” Meredith told the Gazette over the phone on Wednesday. “If a facility is producing milk that isn’t safe, we will shut them down, but it would have a significant impact locally.”
While places could still source milk from out of state, figuring out an alternative milk supply “would be seriously challenging,” he said.
Locally produced milk is split between three milk processing plants in Montana, located in Billings, Bozeman and Great Falls. Meredith said it would likely be the small, mom and pop shops that would be particularly impacted by a milk disruption.
“Things like that happened during COVID. “The last thing we want is for the dairy industry in Montana to be harmed."