📦 Warehouse
A facility where finished dairy products wait for shipment; pasteurized milk is kept there at 5–7 °C.
A dairy-chain warehouse is a facility where finished products wait for shipment. Chilled milk is kept at 5–7 °C (ESL milk at no more than 8 °C), butter after packing at about +5 °C, and goods are shipped on a first in, first out basis. A distribution center is a kind of warehouse built for fast delivery to stores.
The requirements for such premises are set in law. EU Regulation 852/2004 requires raw materials and ingredients to be stored so that they do not spoil or become contaminated, with separate premises for raw materials and finished products, enough separate cold storage and pest control. The Codex Alimentarius names control of time and temperature and stock rotation by first in, first out as the key points.
According to Tetra Pak, pasteurized milk lasts 7–10 days at 5–7 °C, and butter after packing goes to cold storage at +5 °C. Ice cream after hardening is also kept cold: temperature swings can cause lactose to crystallize. Ultra-pasteurized milk in a sealed carton needs no refrigerator. At the plant, raw milk is stored in silos holding 50,000–500,000 L and chilled below +4 °C. A distribution center collects goods from many producers and sends them out to the stores.
Why it matters to you. The warehouse is responsible for keeping the cold chain unbroken between plant and store. That is why chilled milk from a refrigerated shelf is a safer bet than from a warm counter. Always read the storage conditions on the label.
Facts
| Temperature | 5–7 °C: pasteurized milk; no more than 8 °C: ESL milk 4 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 7–10 days: shelf life of pasteurized milk at 5–7 °C 4 |
| Main use | Hold finished products until shipment; first in, first out rotation 1 |
How it connects to milk
📦 Warehouse → stores → 📅 Shelf life ← association ← 🥛 Milk
Links
- Where next
- 🚚 Distribution
- What is stored or sold here
- 🧊 Cold room, 📅 Shelf life
- Who works here
- 📦 Warehouse worker
- Part of
- 🚚 Milk transport, storage and sale
- Similar and different
- 📦 Distribution center
Frequently asked questions
How does a warehouse differ from a distribution center?
A distribution center is a type of warehouse that specializes in fast delivery of goods to the stores of a retail chain. The line between them is blurry.
What is the temperature in a dairy warehouse?
Pasteurized milk is kept at 5–7 °C, ESL milk at no more than 8 °C, and butter after packing at about +5 °C (Tetra Pak).
Is it true that butter is usually frozen in the warehouse?
No. According to Tetra Pak, after packing butter goes to cold storage and is kept at +5 °C.
Is it true that every dairy warehouse is a refrigerator?
No. Ultra-pasteurized milk in sealed packaging is commercially sterile, so it keeps without refrigeration.
Which batch is shipped first?
The Codex Alimentarius requires stock rotation by first in, first out: what arrived earlier is shipped earlier.
What to read next
- 📦 Warehouse worker — A warehouse worker receives, stores and issues goods and keeps records; FIFO rotation keeps milk from expiring, and a fridge should be 4 °C or below.
- 🚚 Distribution — From plant to store, pasteurized milk is kept at 5–7 °C, while sealed ultra-pasteurized milk can travel without refrigeration.
- 🧊 Cold room — A large chilled room you can walk into: it holds milk, cheeses and opened olives, and wine is chilled there for stabilisation.
- 📅 Shelf life — Depends on processing and refrigeration: days, weeks or months.
Similar
📦 Distribution center · 🧊 Cold room · 🏪 Shop · ❄️ Freezer · 🕳️ Cellar · 🧺 Market
Sources
- Codex Alimentarius. Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk and Milk Products, CAC/RCP 57-2004
- Регламент (ЄС) 852/2004 про гігієну харчових продуктів, додаток II
- Регламент (ЄС) 853/2004 про гігієну продуктів тваринного походження, додаток III, розділ IX
- Tetra Pak Dairy Processing Handbook: Pasteurized and ESL dairy products
- Tetra Pak Dairy Processing Handbook: Butter
- Tetra Pak Dairy Processing Handbook: Ice cream