Brands include Walmart's Great Value, Target's Good & Gather, and others. The incident reveals a behind-the-scenes regulation in dairy production.
“Got milk?” is a question we’ve been asking ourselves for the past three decades since those infamous “milk mustache” commercials first appeared on TV screens. But before you head to the grocery store to load up on the dairy staple, you may want to read up on a recently updated recall involving milk containers reportedly sold at stores such as Walmart, Target, and more, especially since the incident sheds light on some common misconceptions around the favorite beverage.
According to a September 10 report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a recall affected 27,736 total units of milk sold in various sizes by Hiland Dairy Foods Company, LLC, of Kansas City, Missouri, a dairy company that is more than 85 years old. The recall was in effect for roughly a year and a half.
The FDA’s report indicates the recalled milk had a “Best If Use By” date of April 18, 2024. Product details also included:
- One Gallon: Country Club, Price Chopper, Good & Gather, Hiland, Belfonte, Great Value, Hen House Vitamin D Whole Milk
- Half Gallon: Country Club, Price Chopper, Good & Gather, Best Choice, Good Nature Family Farms Vitamin D Whole Milk
- Quart: Belfonte, Hiland Vitamin D Whole Milk
The reason for the recall is sure to leave some scratching their heads: the milk was found to contain potable water, which is water considered safe for human consumption. The International Dairy Foods Association states that milk is naturally composed of about 87% water and 13% solids. But, according to the popular dairy brand Organic Valley, it is illegal for companies to add water and still call the product “milk.” In fact, milk with added water is considered an “adulterated product.” Diluting milk also dilutes its nutritional properties, meaning the product would then be misrepresented on the nutritional label.
Though it may be commonly assumed that low-fat milk is simply watered-down milk, this isn’t accurate, according to Organic Valley. Reduced-fat milk is made when “dairy processors skim the butterfat (also known as milkfat) from the top and then re-add cream in varying quantities to get the desired concentration of fat in the milk.”
Though it is not immediately clear how the incident was discovered, the milk was seemingly pulled from store shelves in two states: Kansas and Missouri. Additional details are available at the above FDA link.
On May 14, 2024, authorities gave the event a Class III label, indicating the lowest level of health threat to the public. The FDA says Class III recalls are situations “in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.”
As of this week, the recall has been officially terminated—but it serves as a valuable reminder that even something as simple as the unauthorized inclusion of safe water can sideline food production facilities.
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