Journey to Hünfeld

Sossna’s Diary – what´s that you ask? Well the clue´s in the name: Roland Sossna, editor of the trade journals Molkerei-Industrie and IDM International Dairy Magazine, writes here about his experiences in the milk sector. Every four weeks he tells it as it is. If you ever wanted to know what´s really happening behind the scenes in the milk sector, then read Sossna´s Diary!

Yesterday was one of those days when I was really able to enjoy the benefits of being a trade journalist. I had a tour of the brand new manufacturing plant for demineralized whey powder and concentrates, built by Hochwald Foods in Hünfeld, central Germany. Officially the factory went into operation only 14 days ago. No less than 90 million euros was spent on its construction.

Roland Sossna visiting the brand new manufacturing plant built by Hochwald Foods in Hünfeld

I am very well used to having to get covered up on my fact-finding visits to dairies, or when inspecting machinery and production lines in factories. And I know all about the photography restrictions that goes with that. But in the plant in Hünfeld, everything is much stricter. Because here they make ingredients for baby food. And only the very best in hygiene standards is good enough. Although no visitor, and that includes me, gets into the “High Care Zone”, where you could perhaps see the product, but never of course touch it.

In any case I now have another great story to write, about the use of state-of-the-art technology in industrial dairy processing. From the little town of Hünfeld—little referring here only to the town, but no way to the dairy processing plant—it´s off next week to Brussels. Not a prospect I relish, given recent events, but the chances are nothing will happen. Perhaps I´ll write my next blog from Europe´s capital. We´ll see…

Yours sincerely

Roland Sossna