From Farm to Formula: The Journey Behind Every Can

Written by Leena Tabaja. Customer Service Coordinator & proud mom of two.

Before it becomes the formula in a bottle, it begins somewhere much simpler: with milk from Canadian dairy farms. Behind every can is a journey that begins on Canadian dairy farms, and the farmers who care for their cows. From there, milk is carefully collected, processed and tested before it ever reaches the facility.

From there, farm to facility, Canadians can be reassured that the finished batch of Niuriss infant formula has gone through the final testing and approval, following all the meticulous quality checks and tests the milk has undergone at several stages throughout its journey. At Niuriss, we believe that every step matters. The quality of the milk we begin with, the way it is handled along the way, and the care taken throughout processing all play a part in creating the formula that families bring home, and eventually, the bottle you lovingly prepare for your baby.

Beginning at the Canadian Dairy Farms

The journey begins on Canadian dairy farms, where generations of dairy farming has shaped a deep commitment for producing quality milk, with the care of the cows at the heart of it all. This is where our story begins.

Once the cows are milked, the raw milk is kept cool and handled with care, with important quality checks taking place before it leaves the farm.

One of these checks is for the presence of antibiotic residues. Antibiotics are not permitted for use in cows while they are producing milk for the food supply, and milk intended for processing must have no detectable antibiotic residues. The milk is tested at the farm before making its way to the processing facility and checked again upon arrival before it can be accepted for use. The temperature of the milk is also checked to confirm that it has remained under the appropriate conditions for use in milk products. Only after these incoming checks are completed does the milk begin its next stage of the journey: pasteurization.

Part 1- Pasteurization & Standardization: A Careful First Step

Pasteurization is a rapid heating and cooling treatment used for liquids. For milk, this controlled process helps reduce harmful pathogens and spoilage organisms while maintaining the qualities of the milk needed for further processing. The goal is a careful balance: applying enough heat to support microbiological control without unnecessarily affecting the taste or nutritional characteristics of the milk.

After the initial pasteurization, the milk moves into the standardization stage, where its composition is carefully adjusted to meet the requirements of our infant formula. At this point, ingredients that can be incorporated into liquid milk without compromising their chemical properties or nutritional value- including lactose, calcium carbonate, vitamins and minerals- are added in carefully measured amounts. These additions help establish the intended nutritional composition of the formula, in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

Following the addition of these ingredients, the milk undergoes a second pasteurization to help control any potential pathogens that may have been introduced during mixing. Together, these steps help prepare the milk for the next stage of its journey, when it will be concentrated and dried into powder.

Part 2- From Liquid to Powder

With pasteurization and standardization complete, the milk is ready for the next stage of its journey: removing its water content to create the fine powder that forms the foundation of our infant formula.

Milk naturally contains a large amount of water. To turn it into a powder, much of that water first needs to be removed. This happens in two main stages: first, the milk is concentrated through evaporation, and then the concentrated milk is dried into powder.

The standardized milk moves into the evaporator, where it is heated under carefully controlled vacuum conditions. These conditions lower the boiling point of water, allowing it to evaporate at a lower temperature and helping concentrate the milk without exposing it to unnecessarily high heat. The resulting milk product is what is known as concentrated or evaporated milk.

With most of the water removed, the concentrated milk is ready for the next step: becoming a powder. It moves into the drying towers, where the liquid is sprayed into very small droplets and exposed to carefully controlled heated air. The remaining water in the milk droplets evaporate quickly, leaving behind the milk solids as a fine powder.

The liquid milk that began its journey on a Canadian dairy farm has now taken on a new form, ready for the next stage, where the remaining ingredients are carefully brought together to create the finished formula.

Bringing the Formula Together

As the journey from liquid milk to powder nears completion, the different components of the formula are carefully brought together through a process called dry blending. Not every ingredient follows exactly the same path. Some nutrients, such as nucleotides, properties may become altered if added to water, and need to be incorporated after spray drying is complete to help maintain their intended nutritional properties. Through dry blending, these nutrients and other ingredients are combined with the milk powder, bringing the formula together in its finished form.

Part 3- Packaging with Care

With the formula now blended into its finished powder, the journey moves into its final stages: packaging and quality review. At this point, careful handling and cleanliness remain essential to protecting the quality of the product, with particular attention to hygiene as the formula is prepared for its final packaging.

Packaging takes place in designated high-hygiene areas, where strict procedures govern everything from cleaning and sanitation to staff clothing, air quality, and access to the packaging area of production. These measures are designed to help minimize the risk of contamination as the formula is prepared for packaging and sealed into cans.

The formula is now inside its can, but its journey through the facility is not quite complete. Before a finished batch can be approved for release and make its way to families, it must undergo final quality checks and review.

Batch Release: The Final Review

Before a batch can be approved for release, its test results and production records undergo a final review to confirm that the finished formula meets the required specifications. This includes checking its nutritional composition, with testing used to verify key nutrients and their amounts against established requirements. Microbiological testing helps identify potential harmful microorganisms, while chemical testing can include checks for contaminants such as heavy metals. The formula is also assessed for relevant physical and sensory characteristics, such as its appearance, smell, taste, and how it dissolves when prepared according to instructions. Packaging checks help assess the integrity of the can, ensuring it can protect the product as intended.

Together, these checks provide a final assessment of the finished product before release. Only after the results and records have been reviewed against the applicable requirements can the batch be approved to leave the facility and begin its journey to families.

Quality Checks at Every Stage

But the checks do not begin or end at packaging. Quality testing takes place at multiple stages throughout production, from the incoming raw milk to the pasteurized milk, the standardized milk, the base powder, and the finished formula. Depending on the stage, these checks can include testing for microbial contamination, foreign materials, and key components such as protein and fat. Once the formula is finished, additional testing verifies its nutritional composition, including vitamins and minerals. Each of these checks serves a purpose: to help confirm that the ingredients and finished product meet the established quality and safety specifications.

 From Our Farms to Your Family

From Canadian dairy farms to the finished can, every stage of the journey plays a role in bringing Niuriss infant formula to your family. Behind each can is a process shaped by careful handling, thoughtful preparation, and quality checks from beginning to end. And once the formula reaches your home, following the preparation instructions on the label helps you prepare each bottle for your little one with confidence.

    Leena Tabaja 
     Customer Service Coordinator
     & proud mom of two