Fresh Milk Mark applications limited to dairy processing plants: Council of Agriculture says self-produced and self-sold milk requires good quality control
The "cow head" fresh milk label has long been an important indicator for many people when buying fresh milk, but what the fresh milk label actually means, why some fresh milk bears it while some does not, and whether it carries public credibility often leave consumers baffled.
The fresh milk label is endorsed by the Council of Agriculture to guarantee "domestically produced fresh milk"
Although Laodie Fresh Milk does not have the fresh milk label, it has its own test reports, showing a protein content of 3.4, compared with the Taiwan average of 2.9 to 3.2, to explain its quality to consumers
However, being self-produced and self-sold, or lacking the fresh milk label, does not mean the product is poor. Wang Zhongshu cited High Milk Ranch and Fourways Fresh Milk Ranch as examples: although both ranches are self-produced and self-sold, both have processing plants and emphasize quality control, and High Milk Ranch even holds a production and sales traceability label, making it a model in the industry.
In addition, some dairy farmers do not have the fresh milk label, yet their products still win consumers' trust. For example, "Laodie Fresh Milk" produced by Yongrong Ranch in Chiayi County keeps 200 cows and produces one metric ton of milk per day. Even without the fresh milk label, the fresh milk is still in short supply, and the Council of Agriculture's cooperatives, National Cheng Kung University, and National Chengchi University often place orders with it.
Cao Rongxu, owner of Yongrong Ranch, explained: "Because we are a self-operated ranch and do not buy outside raw milk as an ingredient, under the current fresh milk management rules, we do not need to affix the fresh milk label."
Cao Rongxu believes that as long as producers guard the source and commission legal processing plants for contract manufacturing, even without the fresh milk label, they are just as accountable to consumers, and their products can stand up to testing. Before each batch of raw material for "Laodie Fresh Milk" is produced, its composition is analyzed, and samples are sent to the Hsinchu branch of the Council of Agriculture's Livestock Research Institute for testing; the public and health authorities are also welcome to send their products for testing.
When choosing, consumers can consider other aspects besides the fresh milk label. Cai Zuohong, special assistant to the general manager of Fourways Fresh Milk, said that Fourways Fresh Milk Ranch and other major manufacturers all participate in the processed food traceability network of the Food and Drug Administration under the Ministry of Health and Welfare (http://tfts-old.firdi.org.tw/), publishing each batch's product information online so the public can see the source and quality; Chen Mingru also said that the CAS label, production traceability label, and others are all indicators to consult when buying milk.