Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and its global impact, we understand our customers have concerns with both the supply of products and how they may be affected. All products manufactured by United Dairymen of Arizona are of US origin. Supplies, such as product-contact packaging, are also sourced within the US.
Information from the FDA suggests:
- There is no information that this virus (SARS CoV-2) is present in domestic livestock, such as cattle.
- There is no information showing that the virus may be present in milk.
- In the event milk was contaminated, pasteurization is expected to inactivate the virus based on what is known about other coronaviruses.
We are confident that the dairy products manufactured and processed in the United States are safe and wholesome, and the system in place to ensure the safety and integrity of dairy foods is working as intended.
Additionally, UDA leadership continues to monitor the situation closely and take every precaution to keep our customers and employees safe.
We have implemented the following to our already robust food safety and sanitation procedures:
- Increased frequency of cleaning in common areas
- Encouraged more frequent hand washing and sanitizing
- Installed additional sanitizing stations in common areas
- And reminded employees to stay home if they exhibit symptoms of illness
These are all standard practice in a food manufacturing facility, but continued awareness is key.
UDA leadership has also discussed contingency plans for supplies, but are not currently experiencing any shortages that would affect business as usual. We anticipate no supply interruption and will continue to remain committed to providing safe, quality food.
Other Resources:
- The USDA’s coronavirus response and information page: https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus
- The FDA’s coronavirus page: https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-issues/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-frequently-asked-questions
- The CDC’s coronavirus page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
- Case tracker, courtesy of Johns Hopkins: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
