Billings milk plant faces suspension due to violations that may have led to 'spoilage'

According to MTN News' previous reporting, state inspectors found sanitation and contamination concerns at the Billings facility, including dirty equipment, mold, residue buildup and other conditions that inspectors said could contaminate milk products. The investigation was prompted by numerous complaints by Billings residents reporting their milk spoiling before its expiration date. 

The Gazette reached out to Meadow Gold for a response on Tuesday, and had not received a response as of press time on Wednesday.  

The paper also filed a public records request Wednesday seeking documents related to the violations of Montana’s Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, which is the state’s regulatory requirements for Grade A pasteurized milk. Based on FDA guidelines, it ensures milk is safe, properly processed and handled under sanitary conditions to protect public health.

Meredith said the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance requires the facility to take corrective action or make a request for a hearing with the department and should be received by the department within 48 hours of service of the notice. 

According to Meredith, the notice was sent out on Friday, July 31 and the department "received confirmation of receipt" on Tuesday, Aug. 4.  

Meredith said the facility has continued to operate with few interruptions. 

“To our knowledge, there has been no stoppage of production other than that required as a result of inspection and corrective maintenance," Meredith said in an emailed statement to the Gazette. 

The Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance is a 459-page document detailing regulations of every aspect of milk-processing, led by the milk sanitation program of the United States Public Health Service.

A forward to the text of the ordinance states that, despite progress in the regulation of milk," occasional milkborne outbreaks still occur, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance at every stage of production, processing, pasteurization and distribution of milk and milk products."

“While we have identified multiple issues of PMO noncompliance," Meredith told the Gazette, "The cause(s) of premature milk spoilage has not been identified with 100 percent certainty. Meadow Gold/DFA have expressed a strong commitment to resolving this issue as soon as possible and to our knowledge, are working to rectify identified items of noncompliance." 

“To our knowledge, there are no credible reports of illness as a result of the premature milk spoilage issue,” Meredith continued. “We would like to reiterate there is no indication the issues being reported are attributable to source dairies.”

City-county public health office RiverStone Health weighed in with an email response, letting the Gazette know the issue has not risen to a level of public concern at this time.

"It's not under our jurisdiction," RiverStone spokeswoman Rhianna Tretin said. "So, at this time, until a recall is issued or we receive verified foodborne illness complaints, we are not involved."