author
Johan Ditlev Frederiksen
b. 1848
Known for lively, practical books on milk and cheese, this Danish-born dairy expert helped bring modern dairy science to a wider English-speaking audience. His writing turns everyday foods into a window onto farming, industry, and nutrition.
1 Audiobook
The Story of Milk
by Johan Ditlev Frederiksen
About the author
Born in Denmark in 1846, Johan Ditlev Frederiksen built his career around agriculture and dairy work. Danish biographical sources describe him as a laboratory manager, and later records connect him with Chr. Hansen’s Laboratory in Little Falls, New York, where he became an important figure in the dairy trade.
He also wrote popular nonfiction about dairy production for general readers. His best-known books include The Story of Milk and The Story of Cheese, works that explain how milk and cheese are produced, what affects quality, and why these foods mattered so much in everyday life.
Frederiksen’s books stand out for their clear, useful tone. Rather than writing only for specialists, he presented dairy science in a way that students, homemakers, and curious readers could follow, making him a memorable voice in early 20th-century food writing.