Nice Cream Co. Not Taking State Dairy Regulations Lying Down

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Aug 9, 2011 9:30PM

Last week's news that the state may soon be cracking down on small batch ice cream makers such as Nice Cream, Ruth & Phil's, Black Dog Gelato and Snookelfritz because they're subject to the same regulations as macro dairy producers has led to some immediate ramifications.

Nice Cream's Kris Swanberg announced this via Twitter yesterday.

To review, the Illinois Department of Public Health says that Swanberg and other artisan ice cream makers must obtain a "dairy license," work out of their own space instead of shared kitchens like Logan Square Kitchen; change labeling to meet state standards; have their product tested once a month for bacterial levels; use either irradiated fruits or syrups instead of fresh fruit; and either pasteurize the creams they use a second time using a state-approved machine or use a pre-mixed solution similar to what Dairy Queen, Tastee-Freez and other soft serve chains use.

Swanberg's tweet and this follow-up indicate Swanberg is going to fight the regulations and work to get them changed. She also stressed you can still buy Nice Cream products at local shops such as the ones listed on her website. (The ones not named Whole Foods.)