FrieslandCampina Responds to Increasing Demand for Dutch VLOG-certified Cheese

 In this way, the dairy company wants to meet the German market demand for Dutch cheese in which milk has been processed from cows that are given feed free from gene technology and graze outside.

Fridjov Broersen, Managing Director Cheese Retail Europe: "By responding quickly to the demand for cheese made in conformity with the VLOG standard FrieslandCampina strengthened its position in the German market. As the demand from German customers for this cheese is increasing, we need more member milk that meets this standard."

Cheese plants ready for expansion of VLOG

In 2017, 183 member dairy farmers started a pilot for the production of milk in conformity with the VLOG standard. By producing cheese made in accordance with this standard, FrieslandCampina responds to the developments in the German market. Presently, this ‘VLOG cheese’ is produced in the cheese plants in Workum and Steenderen (NL).

Conditions

VLOG (Verband Lebensmittel Ohne Gentechnik) is a German association responsible for the certification and issuing of the ‘Ohne Gentechnik’ label. VLOG certification has impact on the whole chain from cow feed, dairy farm, logistics, milk processing to the shelf.

The goal is to produce products without the use of gene technology. Important conditions for meeting the VLOG standard are that participating dairy farmers give their cows feed that is free from gene technology.

Additionally participants apply full outside grazing at their farms. Also, the dairy processor has to guarantee that this milk is processed in a separate milk stream. Based on these conditions, a group of dairy farmers has been selected to qualify for the production of milk in conformity with the VLOG standard. They have been personally asked to participate.

At the moment, the number of member dairy farmers willing to switch to production of farm milk in conformity with the VLOG standard is unknown.

TheCattleSite News Desk