Are Tillamook products made with pasteurized ingredients?
All Tillamook products are made with pasteurized milk and cream, with the exception of our aged cheeses. Our aged cheddars (i.e. our Medium Cheddar and longer-aged, or sharper) and Swiss cheese are made with heat-shocked milk, which means that the milk is heated to a slightly lower temperature than a full pasteurization. This process kills the same unwanted bacteria that the pasteurization process does, but it leaves behind some good bacteria that is important for building flavor in these cheeses. Per federal guidelines, we always age these cheeses for a minimum of 60 days to ensure that they are completely safe to eat.
The egg yolks used in our Tillamook Ice Cream recipes are fully pasteurized.
If pregnant, we recommend checking with your doctor if you have any additional concerns.