Frequently Asked Questions

What is ultra-filtered milk?

Farm-fresh milk passes through ultra-fine filters to concentrate protein and reduce sugar. An enzyme breaks down the lactose. The result is delicious milk with more protein, less sugar and zero lactose.

What is our policy on artificial bovine growth hormone (rbST)? 

Darigold takes pride in providing consumers with a full line of healthy, fresh, wholesome dairy products.

Darigold, one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading farmer-owned cooperatives, understands that some consumers have voiced a concern about rbST, the genetically engineered bovine growth hormone that stimulates milk production in cows.

According to the FDA, no significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rbST and non-rbST treated cows. There is no taste difference, and currently no test is available for determining whether supplemental BST has been used.

To be responsive to consumer’s choices, Darigold has made the decision to become an rbST-free cooperative. Darigold has instituted a program that requires that the milk being provided to our processing plants is certified as coming from farms where rbST is not used.

We operate 11 processing facilities located in close proximity to the roughly 300 northwest dairy farms that supply the milk that is in your favorite Darigold products.

The information on this page can be useful in ensuring the freshness and enjoyment of your dairy products.

Code Date on the Container

The Sell By date on the container means that the product should remain fresh up to that date when unopened and properly stored.

The proper temperature for a refrigerator is 33°F – 40°F.

Freezing Dairy Products

• Milk – Can be frozen for up to 30 days but you may detect some off flavors after thawing. Always thaw frozen milk in the refrigerator, never at room temperature!
• Cottage Cheese – When cottage cheese is frozen, ice crystals swell and break the curd structure resulting in a mushy, watery texture when thawed so it’s a good idea not to freeze it.
• Sour Cream – For most sour creams, freezing is not recommended because it will change the appearance and texture. The product becomes grainy, curdy and watery. Fat Free sour creams tend to be more freeze / thaw stable than lowfat or regular sour cream. But for best quality, we do not recommend freezing.
• Creams – Whipping cream will not whip up properly if it has been frozen so we advise you to avoid freezing it. If you accidentally freeze cream, thaw it in the refrigerator, never at room temperature!
• Eggnog – Yes, you can freeze eggnog for later use though you may detect some off flavors after thawing. Always thaw frozen product in the refrigerator, never at room temperature! You may want to keep a box of baking soda in your freezer to absorb food odors.

Product Shelf Life After the Expiration Date

Dairy products are very perishable. For best quality, you should use the product before the expiration or sell by date.

The product may be fine to use for a number of days beyond the “sell by” date only if it has been properly handled and stored after leaving the plant. The number of times the product has been opened and resealed and the amount of time left out of the refrigerator during each use impacts how long it will last.

Your sense of smell and taste are great indicators of how fresh the product is. If the product looks, smells and tastes OK, it is probably OK to consume.

Product Shelf Life After Opening

How long a dairy product lasts after opening depends on several things:

• How close to the sell by date the product was originally opened
• How many times it has been opened and resealed
• How long is it out of the refrigerator or freezer each time
• Was product consumed directly from the container

Your sense of smell and taste are great indicators of how fresh the product is. If the product looks, smells and tastes OK, it is probably OK to consume.

Traditionally pasteurized milk should remain fresh 5-7 days after opening, and ultra-pasteurized milk should remain fresh 12-15 days after opening. This is only true if the milk is treated properly and if no one sneaks a drink or two directly from the container! If you open your milk for the first time on or near the sell by date, the milk may not last the full 5-7 or 12-15 days.

Bacteria from your mouth may cause the product to spoil faster. For products such as milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, dips, yogurt and dressings, take the desired amount out of the container before consuming. Avoid eating out of a container if it is not a single serve.

What is Ultra-Pasteurization

• Ultra pasteurized simply means that the milk has been heated under pressure at a higher temperature for a shorter period of time (280° for two seconds versus 167° at 15 seconds for standard pasteurized).
• This advanced technology extends the shelf life to 60 + days (from 18 days).

NOTE: Shelf life is the amount of time the unopened milk carton can be safely refrigerated while still retaining freshness.

• Recommended storage temperature is (as always) 33 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The product is best-used seven days after opening for single serve milk and fifteen days after opening for half gallon and quart size milk. (Smelling and tasting the product is the consumer’s best guide for freshness.)
• The freshness, quality, composition and nutrition are the same as standard pasteurized milk.
• Ultra pasteurized products have been around for many years, especially in the finest dairy countries of Europe. Because they feature longer shelf life, they provide consumers with longer possibility of enjoyment.

HELPFUL HINT: Ultra pasteurized whipping cream has been stabilized to enhance body and holding quality. Whipping time will be longer. Reduction time will be shorter.

The Darigold brand legacy began in 1918.

Headquartered in Seattle, Darigold, Inc. is the marketing and processing subsidiary of the Northwest Dairy Association (NDA), which is owned by about 300 dairy farm families in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. One of the largest US dairy processors, Darigold produces a full line of dairy-based products for retail, foodservice, commodity and specialty markets. We operate 11 plants throughout the Northwest, with another one under construction.

A Darigold year involves a lot of milk, butter, cheese and plenty of coffee with cream to keep us fueled for the 24-7-365 effort it takes to get milk and dairy products from farm to fridge.

Our milk comes from family-owned farms in the Northwest.  Cows thrive in our naturally animal-friendly environment, where the air is clean, the soil rich and the water pure. The Northwest’s comfortable climate and ample rainfall support both the delicious dairy of our farms and the abundant harvests of our neighbors’ orchards, fields and vineyards.