Prolactal

Prolactal is an Austrian dairy ingredient company headquartered in Hartberg, Austria. It produces premium milk and whey powders and derivatives, with a focus on organic cow, goat, A2, and sheep milk, as well as GMO-free and lactose-free varieties. The company serves infant nutrition, better food, sports nutrition, and senior nutrition markets, supplying leading food and nutrition brands worldwide. Its roots trace back to 1986 with the founding of Lactoprot Alpenländische Milchindustrie und Handels GmbH, which was renamed Prolactal GmbH in May 2008. Since 1998, it has been part of the Linz-based dairy group Artax AG, and in January 2015 it was acquired by ICL Food Solutions, a subsidiary of Israel Chemicals. Prolactal operates production sites in Hartberg and Wörgl, with a sales office in Vienna, and markets its products in Western and Northern Europe (especially Germany) and Asia (Japan, China, Thailand). The company positions itself as combining nature's purity with scientific precision to craft premium dairy ingredients, emphasizing sustainability and Austrian craftsmanship. It has been a trusted partner in dairy and nutritional innovation for almost 100 years, according to its website, though its modern corporate history begins in the late 20th century. Prolactal gained media attention as the manufacturer of 'Hartberger Quargel', a sour milk cheese linked to a Listeria outbreak from late 2009 to early 2010 that caused illnesses and deaths. The company was later fined and its managing directors received suspended sentences. Today, Prolactal continues to innovate in dairy solutions for healthier living.

Prolactal's history begins with the founding of Lactoprot Alpenländische Milchindustrie und Handels GmbH in 1986. In 1998, the company became part of the Linz-based dairy group Artax AG, which had been established around 1995 by former managers of the Austria Milch & Fleisch Genossenschaft. In May 2008, Lactoprot Alpenländische Milchindustrie und Handels GmbH was renamed Prolactal GmbH. The company operated from its headquarters in Linz and had two production plants in Hartberg and Wörgl, plus a sales office in Vienna. It served markets in Western and Northern Europe, particularly Germany, and in Asia, including Japan, China, and Thailand. In January 2015, Prolactal and Rovita were acquired by ICL Food Solutions, a subsidiary of Israel Chemicals. According to its website, Prolactal has been a trusted partner in dairy and nutritional innovation for almost 100 years, though its corporate lineage as Prolactal dates to 1986. The company gained unwanted attention as the manufacturer of 'Hartberger Quargel', a sour milk cheese produced in Styria and sold under various private labels in German and Austrian retail. After an unusual increase in Listeria infections in late October 2009, Prolactal's products were identified as the source in January 2010. In February 2010, the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety determined that twelve people had fallen ill and six had died from listeriosis linked to the cheese. Production was completely stopped. According to authorities, a total of 33 people fell ill in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, with three deaths in Germany and five in Austria as of March 24, 2010. The company expressed shock in a press release. In 2014, the Austrian newspaper Die Presse reported the conclusion of the trial against Prolactal employees. The company was fined €100,000, and both managing directors received suspended prison sentences of 18 months, with one converted to a €7,200 fine. Three other defendants were acquitted. Some charges and a damages claim were dismissed for lack of evidence. In Germany, the Heilbronn public prosecutor investigated the discount retailer Lidl regarding the timeliness of product recalls and warnings, as one person died after Lidl had already initiated the first recall. In 2013, Der Spiegel reported a court conviction of Lidl. The incident had political repercussions: on March 23, 2010, Minister Alois Stöger introduced a proposal to amend the Food Safety Act, which was unanimously adopted by the Council of Ministers to accelerate public information in the future. Austrian farmers also demanded clearer food labeling rules. Investigations revealed that milk had been sourced from Germany, originally from the Netherlands. Today, Prolactal continues to operate as a dairy ingredient producer under ICL Food Solutions, focusing on organic and specialty milk powders for infant, sports, senior, and better-food nutrition.

• 2015

  Acquired by ICL Food Solutions, a subsidiary of Israel Chemicals, in January.

• 2014

  Trial concludes: company fined €100,000; managing directors receive suspended sentences.

• 2010

  Products identified as source of listeriosis; production stopped; 33 illnesses and 8 deaths reported in Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic.

• 2009

  Listeria outbreak linked to Hartberger Quargel begins in late October.

• 2008

  Renamed to Prolactal GmbH in May.

• 1998

  Company becomes part of Linz-based dairy group Artax AG.

• 1986

  Lactoprot Alpenländische Milchindustrie und Handels GmbH founded.

Premium dairy ingredients combining nature's purity with scientific precision, crafted in Austria for healthier living worldwide.

• Organic milk powder

  Powdered milk from organic cow, goat, A2, and sheep milk.

• Whey powder

  Premium whey ingredients for various nutritional applications.

• Infant formula ingredients

  Precise nutrition for sensitive life stages.

• Protein ingredients for sports nutrition

  High-protein solutions for sports and active lifestyles.

• Ingredients for senior nutrition

  Nutritional solutions for elderly populations.

• Processed cheese ingredients

  Smarter formulation for processed cheese.

• Functional bakery ingredients

  Baking redefined with functional ingredients.

• Functional protein ice cream ingredients

  High protein, high overrun ice cream solutions.

• 2010

  Listeria outbreak linked to Hartberger Quargel

Read more

1. 1Home - Prolactalprolactal.com
2. 2Who we are - Prolactalprolactal.com
3. 3Prolactal - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Prolactal - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org