FAQ

Our Products

  • All Zeal milk comes from farms in Missouri. 

  • Dairy cows that are fed mainly a diet of grass will produce milk that is naturally higher in omega-3 and CLAs, giving you more of the healthy fats that your body needs. This research was performed by PMC in 2019. Find out more.

  • A2 is a type of protein that exists in cow’s milk that is sourced from specific cow breeds. At Zeal Creamery, our herds are primarily Jersey which are known to be high in A2 protein. Human breast, goat, sheep, and water buffalo milks all contain only A2-like proteins, and thousands of years ago, cow’s milk also had only A2 proteins. 


    Historians believe that the A1 mutation originated in Europe somewhere around 8,000 years ago, but why it occurred is open to speculation. Some cows produce only A1, some only A2 and some both proteins. In regular milk production, all the cow’s milks are typically blended together so you get a mix of proteins in the carton. To get only A2 protein milk, a complete genetic testing is done to determine which cows make only the A2 protein variation.

  • PLASTIC BOTTLES:

    Zeal’s milk in bottles is pasteurized using a process known as HTST (high temp, short time). The milk is pasteurized at a temperature of 161°F for at least 15 seconds. This process provides about 20 days of shelf life from bottling, or generally about 2 weeks after it gets to the grocery store.


    PAPERBOARD CARTONS: 

    Zeal’s milk in cartons is ultra pasteurized, which means it is heated to 280°F and then bottled. This kills more bacteria than the traditional pasteurization method and allows it to stay fresh for a longer period when unopened. This also allows us to deliver to grocery stores with more than 30 days of shelf life. Most consumers (and our grocery store partners) strongly prefer the additional shelf life, which is why most milk brands today are ultra pasteurized.

  • Zeal’s grass-fed milk is non-GMO. The cows on our farms never eat GMO feed, and we’re Non-GMO Project Verified.

  • Zeal offers a variety of organic and non-organic products today, and we’re always working on bringing more things that our fans will love. All our milk comes from pasture-raised cows that graze on lush grass during the entire growing season.

    Our grass-fed butter and cheese are certified organic. Our grass-fed milk is Non-GMO Project Verified. In fact, all of our products are Non-GMO, and our farms don’t use pesticides.

  • Yes - we do homogenize our milks.

  • No - unlike most milks on the market today, Zeal is not standardized, which means we leave the butterfat and nutrients in the milk just the way it comes out of the cow. This is what makes our milk extra creamy and delicious!

    Standardized milk refers to milk that has been processed to ensure a consistent specific butterfat content and composition. During standardization, the milk's natural fat content is adjusted – either by removing excess cream or adding back some to meet a specific fat percentage, such as whole milk (3.25% fat), 2%, 1%, or skim milk (0%).

  • We recommend drinking milk within 7 days after opening, and it must be kept refrigerated.

  • Our milk does not contain added vitamins.

  • Yes, we are gluten-free.

  • Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a naturally occurring trans fatty acid made from omega-6 essential fatty acids found in cows, goats, and sheep. Unlike industrial trans fatty acids, CLA may be of great potential benefit to human health.

    Studies have shown that cows grazing on fresh pasture produce milk with up to 3-5 times more CLA than those fed primarily grain-based diets. This is because CLA is derived from omega-3 fatty acids found in grass, which are converted in the cow’s digestive system. Additionally, grass-fed milk tends to have a more favorable omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, contributing to better overall fat composition.

  • No.

  • No, aside from Dairy.

  • 83%, giving it a rich, creamy flavor, and making it excellent for baking and braising. It is a European-style butter, meaning it has a higher percent butterfat than standard U.S. butters. The USDA mandates that butter must contain a minimum of 80% butterfat.

  • Yes. It is certified USDA Organic by Oregon Tilth. 

  • Our butter is made in New Zealand by some of the best dairy farmers in the world. It is Organic, pasture-raised, grass-fed, and non-GMO.

  • Check out our Store Locator. Don’t see Zeal in a store near you and would like to? Contact us!

Our Farms

  • Regenerative farming is a sustainable agricultural approach focused on restoring and improving soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience while producing food. It emphasizes practices such as rotational grazing, minimal soil disturbance, cover cropping, crop rotation, and composting to enhance soil fertility, increase carbon sequestration, and reduce reliance on synthetic inputs like fertilizer. Regenerative farming regenerates and sustains the land for long-term productivity and minimal environmental impact.

  • Pasture-raised refers to a farming method where animals spend a significant portion of their lives outdoors on pasture, rather than being confined to feedlots or barns. This approach allows animals to forage naturally, consuming grasses, insects, and other plants, which contributes to their health and well-being.

    Zeal cows spend the majority of their time on pasture, and have access to the outdoors at all times.

  • ​​Our herd is mainly Jersey and Jersey-mix cows.

  • Our milk comes from cows that graze on lush green pastures throughout the entire growing season. We also believe it is important to align with a cow’s natural diet, which would include some seed heads (grains) along with other types of forage. Our cows spend the majority of their time on pasture, and as part of a balanced diet, consume a small amount of Non-GMO Project Verified grain that helps mirror the natural access to seeds or grains that non-domesticated cows would have experienced in the wild.

  • No matter the temperature outside, our cows feed on grass and forages 365 days a year. During inclement weather or periods when forages are dormant, the cows will eat grass that has been harvested during the summer.

  • No RBST ever! Antibiotics are only ever used in cases where natural care is ineffective. Any sick or injured animals on the farm, not responding to natural treatments, are treated immediately with an approved antibiotic to minimize pain and distress. However, animals treated with an antibiotic are not used to produce milk before a period of time has passed that is at least twice the licensed withdrawal period of the antibiotic used.

  • Zeal milk is certified by AGW (A Greener World) as Animal Welfare Approved. This third-party certification guarantees animals are raised outdoors for their entire lives using sustainable farming practices. Regular audits ensure that we maintain our high standards for animal welfare.