Meyenberg Goat Milk Products Review & Giveaway

~~~THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED~~~

About Meyenberg Goat Milk Products!

Information from website. 

In 1868 a Swiss born immigrant by the name of John B. Meyenberg came to the United States after inventing the process of evaporating unsweetened condensed milk for Nestles Company. The process of heating canned milk to 243 degrees, then cooling to 90 degrees allows the milk to maintain a shelf life of five plus years. The patent for the evaporated process became extremely valuable during the civil war and for those who did not have refrigeration. In 1885, the US patent office helped start the Pet Milk Company that evolved into the Carnation Milk Company. The son, John P. Meyenberg had a passion for goat’s milk and branched off to become MEYENBERG Goat Milk Products. In 1934, Harold Jackson bought the company because his infant son, Robert, suffered from cow milk allergies and digestive problems. The infant son grew up and today, Robert D. Jackson owns and operates the company along with his wife of 43 years, Carol Jackson. Together they have taken a small evaporated milk company to the nation's largest manufacturer of goat milk products.

Within the rolling hills of the central valley MEYENBERG Goat Milk Products operates from its headquarters located in Turlock, California. Jackson-Mitchell’s MEYENBERG has established itself as the pre-eminent global manufacturer of goat milk products. With farms and facilities producing over 20 million pounds of goat milk annually, and lines of distribution stretching around the world, MEYENBERG has grown from a medicinally focused, niche-market company, to one whose products possess widespread appeal for an ever-expanding group of consumers.

MEYENBERG has achieved its leading status by consistently anticipating trends in consumer demand. The history of MEYENBERG shows a pattern of marketing creativity and dynamic thinking resulting in goat milk products that perfectly and consistently fit the food and nutrition trends of the times.

Initially, Jackson Mitchell’s MEYENBERG Goat Milk Products produced only evaporated goat milk, sold exclusively in pharmacies as an alternative for infants sensitive to cow milk. Robert D. Jackson assumed leadership of the company in 1954 and recognizing the proliferation of new infant formulas, began marketing goat milk to a larger population, focusing special attention on health conscious consumers, seniors and children.


During the 1980’s, a growing national awareness of health and nutrition issues renewed consumer interest in unique natural products. To meet demand, MEYENBERG opened plants in Arkansas and California, doubling both goat milk production and annual sales within a year. The unique ultra-pasteurization process allowed for a wider distribution of fresh goat milk by MEYENBERG to markets across the country; these new products included Ultra-Pasteurized Fresh Whole Goat Milk and 1% Low Fat Pasteurized Milk, Evaporated and Powdered Goat Milk. In 2004, the company further grew with the introduction of European Style Goat Milk Butter and Goat Milk Cheddar. In 2008, their new Goat Cream Cheese was introduced.


Recent trends have fueled yet another boom in goat milk consumption: consumer desire to avoid foods containing additives and bovine growth hormones (BGH), a mushrooming demand for foods that are 100% natural, and a growing appreciation by gourmet chefs, who use goat milk to enhance recipes. The popularity of MEYENBERG Goat Milk Products has gone beyond the borders of the United States to worldwide distribution.

While the story of MEYENBERG is, in many ways, driven by keen business intuition and marketing savvy, it also has a personal side. The marriage of Robert and Carol Jackson in 1966 has been responsible for much of the worldwide success enjoyed by MEYENBERG. As business partners, and goat lovers, the Jackson’s have succeeded in establishing a profitable business while ensuring their personal touch and the importance of listening to their customers, has not been lost along the way. With the goal of increasing worldwide sales to fully take advantage of the 49% of people worldwide drinking goat milk, MEYENBERG is redefining its marketing focus.

Currently available in 90% of supermarket chains nationwide as well as leading health-food distributors and stores, MEYENBERG will tap new markets previously unaware of goat milk’s nutritional advantages. Aggressively developing unique approaches for new markets, MEYENBERG will continue to thrive in a specialized market, a premier name in a select business.

Facts about Goat Milk! 
Goat milk is really amazing and I think you will agree after reading these facts about goat milk. 

• Approximately 1 in 10 who are sensitive to cow's milk can drink goat milk. 
  
Goat milk contains only trace amounts of alpha S1 casein—the major protein of cow’s milk to which many people are allergic. Symptoms of cow milk allergy include eczema, diarrhea, gas, bloating, ear infections, and excess mucus. The only persons that may have a problem with goat milk are those who have seen their doctor and have been food allergy tested and have shown to be Lactose Intolerant. Goat Milk is a natural dairy product, and does contain Lactose (milk sugars) although there is less Lactose in goat milk than cow’s milk, a Lactose Intolerant person will still have problems digesting goat milk without the use of Lactaid Enzyme tablets prior to digestion. 

• Goat milk can aid ulcers. Goat milk helps control the intensity of the hydrochloric acid  in the stomach, thereby helping stomach ulcers heal. 

• Goat Milk is similar to human milk. There are several reasons that make goat milk more similar than cow milk to human milk.  Beta casins are the major proteins in human & goat milk (as opposed to the alpha-caseins predominant in cow milk). The near absence of alpha S-1 casein in goat milk means that goat milk has a softer curd and is easier to digest. Goat milk also does not contain agglutinin. As a result, the fat globules in goat milk do not cluster, thus facilitating digestion and absorption. 

• Goat Milk can be used as Formula! Well known pediatrician Dr. Sears supports the use of goat milk for formula. You can read his article here for more information and see Dr. Sears chart for reconstituting Meyenberg Goat Milk to formula. 

 Our Meyenberg Goat Milk Story!
Our experience with Meyenberg goat milk started when I weaned Ethan at 14 months old. I breastfed Ethan from birth, but because of multiple supply issues I had to supplement with formula until he was about 3 months old. One day he refused anymore formula and wanted only breastmilk. Luckily at that time my supply was established and getting much better. I ended up weaning Ethan at 14 months old. I was nervous about this transition because I wasn't sure if he would drink formula. We tried again and no he refused to drink formula. I can't blame him, it is pretty nasty! We ended up giving him some cow's milk although I was not too excited about letting him drink cows milk Almost right away he started having a few gastrointestinal issues including bloating and constipation.

A friend recommended trying goat milk in place of the cow's milk. Our local grocery store carried Meyenberg Goat Milk so we picked up a quart size to try out. Ethan loved the taste and drank the goat milk faster than he even did with the cows milk! Within just a couple of days his bloating and constipation started easing up. A couple weeks later he no longer suffered from constipation and has no problems ever since. Still every morning Ethan gets a sippy cup full of his goat milk.

The last 4 months I have been purchasing his Meyenberg Goat Milk at Whole Foods because they actually carry a half gallon size. Sometimes a quart would not last us a whole week so this is definitely more convenient. Plus many times our local store would be out of the quart size so we would purchase 2 at a time just so we would not run out.  About a month ago we ran out of our half gallon size. We went to our local grocery store and they were also out of the quart size. I knew they carried the powdered Meyenberg Goat Milk in the baking supply section and I picked up a packet. I wasn't for sure what Ethan would think of the powdered version. Three mornings in a row I mixed up just enough for his sippy cup with the powdered milk. He drank it fine and he didn't seem to notice any difference. Now I will be purchasing some of the powered milk packets just for traveling. I'm so excited about this!

Looking back, I wish I knew that goat milk could have been used for formula. Knowing what I now know about formula from the last few months I have been educating myself about nutrition, there is no way I would ever give it to my babies again. I also know that as I take the stand against formula more than likely I will not receive support from my children's doctor.  That's ok though, I know what I believe it right for me and my family and that is what matters, right?

Our Meyenberg Goat Milk Products Experience!
Meyenberg was so generous to send us a few of their goat milk products. I have never consumed any other goat milk products before so this was something new for me to experience. We received a package of the European Style Goat Butter, Beyond Traditional Cream Cheese, Garlic & Chive Goat Cream Cheese and the Valley Aged Goat Cheddar Cheese.

The European Style Goat Butter was really creamy and I only detected a slight taste difference versus butter made from cows milk. I really enjoyed the butter on a slice of my warm healthy Whole Wheat Banana Bread.

The Beyond Traditional Cream Cheese I tried on a whole wheat english muffin, a perfect match! Then I smeared some of the Garlic & Chive Goat Cream Cheese inside organic celery sticks. This flavor is great with veggies, but you may also like it just on a bagel.

I have used the Valley Aged Goat Cheddar Cheese in an egg omelet as well as some nachos (made with organic chips of course ;-). We LOVE cheese and I absolutely enjoy this cheese! As with any aged cheese a little goes a long ways because of the intense flavor. That is a good thing because you tend to eat less :-)

There are lots of wonderful recipes on the Meyenberg Goat Milk Products Website as well as a kids section full of fun things , so be sure to check them out!

 I stand firmly behind the Meyenberg company for the products they produce. Meyenberg does not use any sprays, insecticides, or pesticides. Their goats are free from antibiotics and hormones as well as do not feed on anything genetically modified or containing animal by-products. As you know from reading my previous articles on my Healthy Living Event these are all extremely important factors to me! Many thanks to Meyenberg for letting me try out their wonderful goat milk specialty products!

BUY IT! Use the retailer search to find a store near you. 

WIN IT! Meyenberg Goat Milk Products is generously giving away 12 VIP coupons for 1 CASE (12 quarts) of Meyenberg Goat Milk to 1 Take Time to Smell the Rose reader! 

You have the chance to enter several entries by the doing the following. Each one counts as 1 entry unless otherwise specified. I am now making it a requirement to follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect to enter my giveaways.

• MANDATORY ENTRY(You also must be following my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect)-counts as 1: AND Look around at Meyenberg Goat Milk Products. Tell me what recipe(s) you would like to try out with Meyenberg Goat Milk Products.

• Subscribe to my blog via email with Feedburner (on right side bar).
  

• Blog about my giveaway before June 23rd, linking back to this giveaway. Leave the URL where you blogged.

• Did you earn the extra 10 entries for blogging & adding my button? Read here for details. Leave a comment for each entry below as "Qualified for 10 extra entries #1", "Qualified for 10 extra entries #2", etc. 

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• Make a comment on any non-giveaway Healthy Living Event post. (one comment per post- but unlimited posts). Click here to see the list of posts. There will be lots of non-giveaway posts throughout the month! One comment on a post can qualify for all giveaways.

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Win  1 case (12 quarts!) of Meyenberg Goat Milk  from @Smell_the_Rose. Ends 07/06 #HealthyLivingEvent  #giveaway http://tiny.cc/Meyenberg

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Giveaway ends Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 9:00 p.m.(CST) Winner will be drawn by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner will also be announced on this blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn.

This giveaway is open to USA residents ONLY . Must be 18 years old or older to win.

Thank you to the Company or/and PR firm who provided me with the products mentioned in the review. The thoughts and opinions expressed on my blog are my own and are not swayed by any monetary or product compensation. My personal health experiences may not be a typical result for others. The information I share on my blog may not be the views of the sponsors participating in my Healthy Living Event. 
 

~~~THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED~~~