BORDEN HISTORY

Gail Borden, American philanthropist, inventor and businessman, became the Father of the Modern Dairy Industry over 150 years ago.

An intensely spiritual man, Borden long believed that trying to protect mankind against the frequent, life-threatening diseases and epidemics of the time helped him serve God. In 1844, he lost his wife Penelope and his four-year-old son to the yellow fever epidemic that raged through Galveston, Texas. Thereafter, Borden’s concentration on his work reached an almost religious fervor.

On a return trip from England, he was haunted after witnessing children dying from impure milk. Borden then focused his attention on an idea he had long nurtured, that food could be preserved and made safer by condensation. He realized if he boiled off the water in milk in an airtight vacuum pan from start to finish, this process of excluding air would result in a product that would last for a very long time. In 1853, Borden applied for a patent on the condensing process to prevent the decomposition of milk and in 1856, Borden finally got his patent.

On May 11, 1857, the Borden Company was born. With a little financial help, Borden was able to make condensed milk a wholesome, sustaining food for generations, fueling his devotion and becoming the foundation of the modern dairy industry and the high standards that prevail today. It is Gail Borden’s determination and drive that continue to influence every aspect of Borden. And why we work so hard to develop innovative ways to deliver the freshest products every day.