With nearly 100 years of history, a few questions have been asked more than others. Annie and Eric have been keeping a record of these frequently asked questions for your convenience! If your question isn’t covered in the list below, feel free to contact AE Customer Care to discuss your concerns.
Anderson Erickson Dairy is a family-owned and operated dairy (one of the few left in the U.S.) located on the east side of Des Moines, Iowa. For more than 92 years we have been committed to making dairy for our customers to enjoy. Our milk is hours fresh from Iowa family farms, and we do not skimp when it comes to ingredients and methods to create our products. We use European cocoa, gourmet quality vanilla, premium fruit and custom-blended spices. Each product is created in small batches, flavor by flavor, and we use time-tested recipes and techniques. Our tradition of weekly Taste Tests where we sample AE products from recent batches to judge the texture, taste and overall appeal is part of our quality control. And we pay attention to the latest trends and customer requests to come up with new flavors and forms of dairy.
Our milk is hours fresh from Iowa family farms. Because we receive milk daily, we also have lots of fresh cream, and we do not have to ship cream in from across the country. Fresh cream makes all the difference in the flavor and overall taste experience of our products such as dip, egg nog, sour cream and heavy whipping cream. In less than 24 hours, the milk and cream become your favorite AE products and are on their way to the shelves of your neighborhood grocery store.
Cow care and comfort is the highest priority for our dairy farmer partners in Iowa because it impacts the overall quality of the raw milk. The cows’ lodging is designed to keep them comfortable especially in weather extremes. Their feed, which includes corn silage and alfalfa hay is carefully balanced by a nutritionist who visits the herds regularly. Because the cows receive such good care, their milk has a clean, pure flavor with high levels of nutrition. We believe this makes for happy cows and delicious dairy.
The dairy herds that supply AE milk are not treated with synthetic growth hormones, also known as rBST (recombinant bovine somatotropin) or rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone).* Every ounce of our milk is tested rigorously before we accept it from the farm, and we do not accept milk with added hormones, antibiotics or pesticides. This information is also included on our gallon and half-gallon cartons.
At AE Dairy we do things a little differently. We are family owned for more than 92 years, and we go to great lengths to bring you delicious-tasting, high-quality dairy.
An important distinction is that we do not own the farms, and we are under no obligation to accept milk from the dairy farmers that supply us. The milk we receive comes from Iowa family farms just hours away. We partner closely with our dairy farmers to ensure they provide high-quality milk, and our dairy farmers know we do not accept milk with added hormones, antibiotics and pesticides.
Every load of raw milk received at AE goes through a two-part testing system including a sensory test and complete lab workup in our on-site laboratory (something not all dairies have). True to our high standards, we go above and beyond when it comes to the purity and safety of our dairy products. We put our milk to the test in our on-site lab, and this gives us immediate and comprehensive results.
Just because it says “milk” on the carton does not mean the nutrition is equal. It is important to read the ingredient list. The natural nutrients in milk, like the three B vitamins, are better absorbed and used by the body than a synthetic version.
Research has shown that the 13 nutrients in milk offer some surprising benefits besides strong bones. Regular milk drinkers:
Milk consumption provides important advantages for physical activity:
More recent research shows the saturated fat in milk and dairy foods is not directly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact, experts are beginning to recognize that not all fat in the diet is a negative and the food source matters. Milk products in the diet are associated with a lower blood pressure and reduced risk of CVD and types 2 diabetes.
One of the benefits of higher milkfat is that it helps keep you full and satisfied. There is an average of a 25-calorie difference between the different milk butterfats (Fat Free, Lowfat, Reduced Fat and Whole). Choose the flavor and mouthfeel you most enjoy!
The date stamped on the carton is known as the “sell by” date which indicates how long the store has to sell the product. If a product has been stored at 36 degrees or under, it should remain good for about 3-5 days after the “sell by” date stamped on the container.
The key is to keep your milk cold, and here are a few suggestions on how to do this.
The amount of added sugar in AE Chocolate Milk is a small trade-off for this powerful package of nutrition when you consider it provides 13 essential nutrients. Half of the sugar in chocolate milk is found naturally in all milk (12 grams per 8 oz. serving), and the total amount of sugar is still 50% less than the amount contained in soft drinks or other sweetened beverages. In fact, chocolate milk contributes only 2% to the overall amount of all sugars in the diets of children ages 2-18.
The good news is that kids who drink flavored milk take in more milk and calcium without increasing their intake of total fat and calories. In addition, they do not have a higher body mass index compared to kids who do not drink flavored milk.
The total amount of sugar listed in the Nutrition Facts box on the AE yogurt carton is not all added. Some of the sugar comes from the milk and fruit naturally, and here’s how it breaks down. In AE Lowfat Yogurts, the total amount of sugar is 26 grams with 14 grams from the milk and fruit and 12 grams (about 2 teaspoons) of added sugar.
The total sugar in AE Whole Milk Yogurt is not all added sugar, and here is how it breaks down: 6 grams come from the milk and fruit naturally and 12 grams (about 2 teaspoons) are added sugar. We also offer Plain Lowfat Yogurt, Unsweetened Whole Milk Yogurt as well as YoLite Yogurt, which is fat free and sugar free and sweetened with Splenda.
We think it is important to consider all of the nutrients in foods and beverages. The good news is that AE yogurt contains five essential nutrients including calcium, potassium and vitamin D – three of the four most often missing in Americans’ diets according to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines. For under 200 calories or less per carton, AE yogurt is a satisfying and economical source of high-quality protein – as much as one large egg. Plus, each serving of AE yogurt contains hundreds of billions of probiotics.
Most AE products are gluten free and are listed here:
AE dips are NOT gluten free because the custom-blended spices are made in a facility where baked goods are prepared.
Our facility is a peanut-/tree nut-free area so there is no potential for these allergens to be found in our milks, cottage cheese, yogurts and more.
The family farms in Iowa who supply our milk have been employing regenerative farming practices for years. Cows are considered the original “recyclers” because their diet includes leftovers like corn silage and legume husks (not fit for humans). The recent installation of digesters on the farms converts the methane cows emit into fuel to heat homes and fuel vehicles—a new carbon-neutral option for dairy farms.
We believe in caring for the earth’s resources wisely, and we are continually looking for new ways to conserve and reuse. A good example is our new brown board carton, which is carbon neutral and made from plant-based plastic materials.
Actually, our milk cases sometimes go missing when people borrow them, and they cost “moola” to replace. This expense affects the cost of milk. If you have “borrowed” an AE yellow milk case, or know of someone who has, we ask that you return it to AE or your local grocery store.
We encourage our customers to let us know how we are doing. You can send a message via Facebook, an email using our contact form or call our customer care number at 515-265-2521 extension 2300. If a product you purchased is not everything you hoped it would be, we want to know. We will offer you a full replacement and even arrange pickup of the item so that we can investigate it with the help of our on-site lab.
Still looking for that perfect flavor? AE has lots of choices to offer, like fresh, creamy milk and zesty party dip. Check out our full list of dairy products to find your unique flavors of happiness.
