DOD Milk Plants in the Pacific-Korea

摘要

This report is the second in a series of reports on DoD milk plants in the Pacific. This report addresses the operation of the Eighth U.S. Army milk plant in Songnam, Korea. Since the immediate post-World War II era, the DoD has maintained a Government-owned, contractor-operated milk plant in Korea to provide milk and other dairy products to DoD personnel and their families. Operation of the milk plant was necessary because regular fresh milk and other dairy products were highly perishable and could not be economically shipped from the United States before spoiling. In addition, the Military Departments could not purchase milk and other dairy products from local dairy sources because Korean dairies did not meet U.S. health standards. The milk plant produces 'filled milk' products that consist of nonfat dry milk powder mixed with water, vitamins, and coconut oil. The milk plant produced approximately 5 million quarts of milk and other dairy products in FY 1995. Recent technological advances and sanitary improvements by U.S. dairy manufacturers have led to the development of a fresh milk with a shelf life of more than 60 days. The development of the extended-shelf-life milk gives the Military Departments a viable alternative to operating the milk plants.