United States Department of Agriculture
Dairy Plants
Marketing and Regulatory Programs
Surveyed and
Agricultural Marketing Service
Approved for USDA
Dairy Programs
December 01, 2024
Grading Service
PREFACE
The dairy plants listed in this publication are inspected at least twice yearly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Plant approval is determined by unannounced inspections covering more than 100 items, including milk supply, plant facilities, condition of equipment, sanitary practices, and processing procedures. USDA inspection and grading services are performed under the Regulations in 7 CFR Part 58, Subpart B Grading and Inspection, General Specifications for Approved Plants and Standards for Grades of Dairy Products administered by the Dairy Grading Branch of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
USDA assigns dairy plant approvals using the two following categories:
Section I: Plants listed in this section produce products that are manufactured from dairy ingredients meeting the requirements found in the regulations or originate from USDA-approved plants and are therefore eligible for USDA grading or inspection service. These products are designated by B, C, D, F, M, S and W codes.
Section II: Plants listed in this section may have products produced from dairy ingredients that did not originate from USDA-approved plants (unapproved source plants). Unapproved source plants are plants that, upon inspection, are found not to meet USDA minimum requirements or plants that do not participate in the voluntary USDA plant inspection program. In all other respects the plant must meet the same requirements as a Section I plant. These operations are designated by P codes. The products processed or packaged by these plants are not eligible for USDA grading and inspection service unless they are produced or processed from approved dairy ingredients under continuous USDA inspection.
Plant approval for grading service does not constitute an endorsement of product quality. However, such assurance can be achieved by official grading to evaluate the product according to a U.S. grade standard or product specification, or a quality specification of the buyer or seller.
The USDA plant inspection program is widely used by the dairy industry. Plant managers recognize it as an important means for improving and maintaining a sound operation for producing dairy products that will meet specific grade or contract requirements and that have the uniform quality essential for buyer and consumer approval and protection. Buyers also find this program a reliable guide to sources of dairy products that have been produced under sanitary and wholesome conditions.
The Dairy Grading Branch also provides grading services under its Resident Grading and Quality Control Program and by request. Plants using the Resident Grading Program are shown in this publication with an asterisk (*). This full time program offers on the spot official grading of the plant’s manufactured products, laboratory testing, and plant inspection services. The resident program also makes available to the plant manager the technical knowledge and experience of the Dairy Grading Branch’s supervisory staff for help in solving product quality problems.
In addition to these inspection and grading services, the USDA provides a Dairy Equipment Sanitary Design Evaluation Service. This service provides both fabricators and users a means to assure that the equipment meets all inspection requirements. USDA fully supports and utilizes the 3 A Sanitary Standards and 3 A Accepted Practices for design evaluations. In those instances where 3 A Sanitary Standards or 3 A Accepted Practices have not been developed, the USDA Guidelines for the Sanitary Design and Fabrication of Dairy Processing Equipment is the criteria used.
These services are available on a voluntary basis, and fees are charged to cover costs. Managers of dairy plants and other interested persons may obtain information about these services by contacting the Washington Staff or the National Field Office. A listing of staff persons to be contacted for additional information is provided at the end of this publication.
Plants listed in this publication are identified by State assigned code numbers (where available) in accordance with the national uniform coding system known as FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards). This State assigned identification precedes the plant name listing. Each State has also been assigned a two digit number which appears in this publication before the name of the State.
This publication is revised every three months to reflect changes in plant approval codes and to include new plants. This and other publications are available by contacting the Dairy Grading Branch or from our home page at http://www.ams.usda.gov/DairyGrading.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720 2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250 9410, or call toll free at (866) 632 9992 (English) or (800) 877 8339 (TDD) or (866) 377 8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845 6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
SECTION I
LISTING OF PLANTS PRODUCING PRODUCTS
ELIGIBLE FOR USDA GRADING OR
INSPECTION SERVICE
A LISTING OF PLANTS WHICH HAVE PROCESSING
OR PACKAGING OPERATIONS THAT MEET USDA
REQUIREMENTS FOR FACILITIES AND SANITATION ONLY
IS CONTAINED IN SECTION II.
Codes shown below denote products that are eligible for USDA grading or inspection service, which are manufactured from USDA-approved dairy ingredients at USDA-approved dairy plants listed in this publication.
Butter Products - B
B1
Butter (bulk)
B2
Butter (consumer size package)
B3
Anhydrous Milkfat/Butteroil
B4
Plastic Cream
B5
99.8% Milkfat from Whey Cream
B6
Concentrated Milkfat
B7
Ghee
B8
Whipped Butter
B9
Lite Butter
Frozen Dessert Products - F
F1
Ice Cream Mix
F2
Ice Cream (except novelties)
F3
Ice Cream Novelties
F8
Frozen Yogurt Mix
F9
Frozen Yogurt
F10
Frozen Yogurt Novelties
F12
Frozen Tofu Mix
F15
Ice Cream Mix Base
Milk and Liquid Dairy Products – M
M1
Milk
M2
Cream
M3
Whey Cream
M6
Frozen Cream
M7
Skim Milk
M8
Condensed Skim Milk
M9
Condensed Milk
M10
Sweetened Condensed Milk
M11
Evaporated Milk
M12
Evaporated Filled Milk
M13
Buttermilk or Buttermilk Product
M14
Condensed Buttermilk or Buttermilk Product
M20
RO Concentrated Milk
M21
UHT Milk
M22
RO Concentrated Skim Milk
M23
RO Concentrated Buttermilk or Buttermilk Product
M24
Reduced Lactose Milk and Milk Products
Cheese and Cheese Products – C
The codes numbered C3 through C47 refer only to the bulk manufacturing process for the listed varieties and include the reduced fat product. See Specialty Products-S for the appropriate code for imitation, substitute, and analog cheeses. The codes do not indicate USDA-approval for any packaging operations or processes related to changes in physical appearance of the cheese that may be conducted at the manufacturing plant.
C3
American (Cheddar, Colby, Granular Curd or Washed Curd)
C4
Swiss, Emmentaler, Swiss Cheese for Manufacturing
C5
Brick
C6
Muenster
C7
Monterey Jack
C8
Limburger
C9
Neufchatel
C10
Cream Cheese
C11
Bakers
C12
Cottage (dry or creamed)
C13
Farmers
C14
Ricotta
C15
Ricotone
C16
Blue
C17
Mozzarella
C18
Provolone
C19
Mascarpone Cheese
C20
Parmesan
C21
Romano
C22
Hard Grating Cheese
C24
Pepato
C26
Queso Blanco-Latin Style
C29
Baby Swiss
C30
Edam
C31
Gouda
C32
Fresh/High Moisture Mozzarella
C33
Caciocavallo
C34
Asiago
C35
Specialty Cheeses
C36
Gorgonzola
C37
Bondost
C38
Cheese Curd
C39
Brie
C40
Camembert
C41
Feta
C42
Fontina
C44
Semisoft Cheeses, Semisoft Part-Skim Cheeses
C45
Skim Milk Cheese for Manufacturing
C46
Havarti
C47
Natural Cheese Trim
Cheese and Cheese Products – C (continued)
Codes numbered C48 through C59 refer to packaging operations and to processes designed to change the physical appearance of the cheese. Packaged cheese or cheese that is physically changed from its manufactured state is considered to originate from a USDA-approved plant only when the plant is listed with the appropriate code for the specific applied operation.
C48
Pasteurized Process Cheese, Cheese Food, or Cheese Spread
C49
Cold Pack Cheese, Cheese Food, or Cheese Spread
C50
Natural Cheese (consumer size package, any variety)
C51
String/Strip Cheese Packaging
C52
Shredded, Grated, Crumbled, or Diced Cheese (bulk package, any variety)
C53
Shredded, Grated, Crumbled, or Diced Cheese (consumer size package, any variety)
C54
Dried Natural Cheese (bulk package, any variety)
C55
Dried Natural Cheese (consumer size package, any variety)
C56
Dried Pasteurized Process Cheese, Cheese Food, or Cheese Spread (bulk package)
C57
Dried Pasteurized Process Cheese, Cheese Food, or Cheese Spread (consumer size package)
C58
Dried Shredded, Grated, Crumbled, or Diced Cheese (bulk package)
C59
Dried Shredded, Grated, Crumbled, or Diced Cheese (consumer size package)
The following code can be assigned in addition to codes C3-C59, when the plant is producing cheese with added ingredients (e.g., bacon, basil, pepper, tomato, etc.). For example, a plant producing pepper jack (Monterey Jack cheese with peppers added) can request the C7 code in addition to the C60 code. If the pepper jack is in a consumer sized package the plant can also request the C50 code.
C60
Cheese With Added Ingredients
Plants in Section I approved for codes marked with an asterisk (*) are subscribing to the USDA Salmonella Surveillance Program. This program monitors plant control by quarterly USDA sampling and testing of environmental and product samples, together with an established system of follow up in the event of a positive result. While this USDA monitoring implies a certain degree of safety, the relatively low level of official testing does not ensure the absence of Salmonella organisms in products manufactured in USDA approved operations.
Dry Milk Products ‑ D
*D1
Dry Milk (nonfat and whole)
*D2
Instant Dry Milk (nonfat and whole)
*D3
Dry Cream
*D6
Dry Buttermilk or Buttermilk Product
*D8
Dry Cultured Buttermilk, Spray Process
*D13
Dry Calcium Reduced Skim Milk
*D16
Dry Skim-Buttermilk Blend
*D17
Dairy Permeate Powder
*D18
Milk Permeate Powder
Whey and Whey Products ‑ W
W1
Whey
W2
Concentrated Whey
*W3
Dry Whey
*W4
Instant Dry Whey
*W5
Lactose
W6
Reduced Lactose Whey
W7
Concentrated Reduced Lactose Whey
*W8
Dry Reduced Lactose Whey
W9
Reduced Minerals Whey
W10
Concentrated Reduced Minerals Whey
*W11
Dry Reduced Minerals Whey
W12
Reduced Lactose and Reduced Minerals Whey
W13
Concentrated Reduced Lactose and Reduced Minerals Whey
*W14
Dry Reduced Lactose and Reduced Minerals Whey
W15
Whey Protein Concentrate
W16
Concentrated Whey Protein Concentrate
*W17
Dry Whey Protein Concentrate
W18
RO Concentrated Whey
W20
Whey Permeate
W21
Concentrated Whey Permeate
*W22
Dry Reduced Mineral Whey Protein Concentrate
*W23
Instant Dry Whey Protein Concentrate
*W24
Whey Permeate Powder
*W25
Dry Whey Protein Isolate
Plants in Section I approved for codes marked with an asterisk (*) are subscribing to the USDA Salmonella Surveillance Program. This program monitors plant control by quarterly USDA sampling and testing of environmental and product samples, together with an established system of follow-up in the event of a positive result. While this USDA monitoring implies a certain degree of safety, the relatively low level of official testing does not ensure the absence of Salmonella organisms in products manufactured in USDA approved operations.
Specialty Products - S
S4
UF Permeate Containing Lactose
S5
Imitation, Substitute, or Analog Cheese
*S6
Dry Cream Substitute (bulk package)
*S8
Dry Cream Substitute (consumer size package)
S9
Sour Cream, Acidified Sour Cream
S10
Diet Food (bulk package)
S11
Diet Food (consumer size package)
S12
Margarine ** (bulk package)
*S13
Dry Malted Milk
S14
Margarine ** (consumer size package)
*S15
Dry Infant Formula
S16
Yogurt
S17
Lactoferrin
*S18
Dry Mix Base for Frozen Desserts
*S19
Conversion of Casein and Drying of Caseinate
S20
Nondairy Topping
S21
Pudding or Custard
*S22
Dry Eggnog
*S24
Dry Blends (may contain: skim milk, caseinates, whey, soya, or buttermilk)***
S30
Liquid Infant Formula (production and packaging)
*S33
*S37
Dry Yogurt
S39
Dairy Dips, Nondairy Dips
S42
Concentrated Malted Milk
*S44
Dry Pudding or Custard
S45
Aseptic Pudding or Custard
S46
Processing and Packaging of Flavored Drinks
** Manufactured from vegetable oil (margarine made with animal fat ingredients is under the inspection of Meat and Poultry Inspection Operations, Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA).
*** Dry blend labels shall clearly declare all ingredients
SECTION II
LISTING OF PLANTS THAT MEET USDA
REQUIREMENTS FOR FACILITIES AND SANITATION ONLY.
THESE OPERATIONS UTILIZE DAIRY INGREDIENTS
WHICH DID NOT ORIGINATE IN PLANTS APPROVED
BY USDA.
PRODUCTS FROM THIS LISTING ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR
USDA GRADING SERVICE EXCEPT WHEN
PRODUCED UNDER CONTINUOUS USDA INSPECTION
Regarding “P” code classifications:
Plants listed in this section may have products produced from dairy ingredients that did not originate from USDA-approved plants (“unapproved source plants”). Unapproved source plants are plants that, upon inspection, are found not to meet USDA minimum requirements or plants that do not participate in the voluntary USDA plant inspection program. In all other respects the plant must meet the same requirements as a Section I plant. The products processed and packaged by these plants are not eligible for USDA grading and inspection service unless they are produced using approved dairy ingredients under continuous USDA inspection. The two requirements of continuous inspection and usage of ingredients from USDA-approved plants must be satisfied in order for production from a “P” code plant to be used in products made in USDA-approved plants listed in Section I. A USDA certificate must be issued to accompany product produced in a “P” code plant to show that the product meets these two requirements and may therefore be used in products produced by plants listed in Section I. Each code is inclusive of both bulk and consumer size packages.
Packaging and Processing - P
P1
Butter
P2
*P3
Dry Products (excluding Dried Cheese Products)
P4
P8
Processing and Packaging of Cream Cheese
P9
P10
Cheese (any variety)
P11
Shredding, Grating, Crumbled or Diced of Cheese (any variety)
P13
Butteroil
*P14
Dried Cheese Products
P19
Cold Pack Cheese, Cold pack Cheese Food, or Cold pack Cheese Spread
P20
Margarine**
P28
Liquid Products
P31
Frozen Desserts Products
P33
Enzyme Modified Cheese
Plants in Section II approved for codes marked with a single asterisk (*) are subscribing to the USDA Salmonella Surveillance Program. This program monitors plant control by quarterly USDA sampling and testing of environmental samples only, together with an established system of follow up in the event of a positive result. This Salmonella Surveillance Program is limited to the testing of only environmental samples whenever the products manufactured by a “P” code plant are produced with dairy ingredients from unapproved source plants. Plant management may request Salmonella analysis of a plant’s “P” code production, provided it has been produced under continuous USDA inspection. While this USDA monitoring implies a certain degree of safety, the relatively low level of official testing does not ensure the absence of Salmonella organisms in products manufactured in USDA-approved plants.
** Manufactured from vegetable oil.
DAIRY GRADING AND STANDARDS DIVISION
Vacant, Grading and Standardization Division...................................................................N/A
Mailing Address:
USDA/AMS/Dairy Grading and Standardization Division
Room 2530-S
1400 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20250-0225
DAIRY GRADING BRANCH, WASHINGTON D.C. STAFF
Vacant, Chief, Dairy Grading Branch...................................................................................N/A
Dairy Grading Branch, Export Team.....................................................................................202-720-3171
USDA/AMS/Dairy Grading Branch
Export Team
General Dairy Export Related Inquiries: DairyExportsQuestions@usda.gov
General Sanitary Certificate Requests: DairySanitaryCerts@usda.gov
Phone: 202-720-3171
Fax: 844-804-4701
DAIRY GRADING BRANCH, NATIONAL FIELD OFFICE STAFF
Amanda Limback, National Field Director..............................................................................630-437-5032
Darrell DeMont, Assistant National Field Director..................................................................630-437-5030
Allison Reynolds, Grade Label, Salmonella, and Resident Program Coordinator..................209-202-9294
Vacant, Administrative Officer ...............................................................................................630-437-5045
Plant Survey Program .............................................................................................................630-437-5073
Equipment Review ........................................................................................................................................
Dairy grading or inspection related activities, derogations, butter samples, dairy account/billing inquiries: DairyNFO@usda.gov or 630-437-5073
650 E Diehl Rd Suite 100
Naperville, IL 60563
DAIRY STANDARDIZATION BRANCH
Christopher Thompson, Chief, Dairy Standardization Branch................................................202-720-9382
John Gelsthorpe, Program Coordinator, Training Program.....................................................202-281-6775
John Kelly , Dairy Products Marketing Specialist...................................................................202-378-5833
Matthew Siedschlaw , Dairy Products Marketing Specialist...................................................202-937-4901
Haiping Li, Ph.D. , Food Technologist ...................................................................................202-720-1671
Wendy Warren, Ph.D. , Dairy Scientist ...................................................................................210-667-0959
Ashli Wheeler, Quality Management Project Administrator....................................................202-913-2903
For general questions please email the Dairy Standardization Branch at DYStandardsQuestions@usda.gov
Home Page ........................................................https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/dairy-products
Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest..............................................http://DairyProductsContest.org
USDA/AMS/Dairy Standardization Branch
LABORATORY SERVICE
Within AMS, the Science and Technology Programs bears the responsibility for performing or coordinating the performance of laboratory analyses. AMS laboratory testing service for dairy and related products is available, upon request, to any plant, industry, or private organization that wants its products analyzed.
Samples may be sent directly without prearrangement, but should be accompanied by a request listing the tests desired and the name and address of the firm or person to be billed for the service. Upon request, results will be telephoned collect as soon as analyses are completed. The request should specify the telephone and fax number and person to contact.
To request laboratory services and a schedule of the fees associated with product testing, contact:
USDA/AMS/S&T/FLS
National Science Laboratory
801 Summit Crossing Place, Suite B
Gastonia, NC 28054
Telephone704-867-3873
Fax704-853-2800
http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/lab-testing
Agricultural Marketing Service Dairy Grading Branch
Room 2746‑South Bldg.
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250‑0230
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300