The disclosure provides a simple and effective methods for sterilization of milk without degradation or loss of biologically active agents in the milk and the products produced by such methods.

The disclosure provides a simple and effective methods for sterilization of milk without degradation or loss of biologically active agents in the milk and the products produced by such methods.

Disclosed are processes for producing high protein, Greek yogurt products. Such processes can include a step of concentrating a skim milk product to produce a protein-enriched milk fraction, which then can be combined with one or more additional milk fractions to form a yogurt base. The yogurt base is inoculated with a yogurt culture and fermented, and at least a portion of the acid whey is removed from the fermented product using a ceramic ultrafiltration membrane system to form the Greek yogurt product.

Disclosed are processes for producing high protein, Greek yogurt products. Such processes can include a step of concentrating a skim milk product to produce a protein-enriched milk fraction, which then can be combined with one or more additional milk fractions to form a yogurt base. The yogurt base is inoculated with a yogurt culture and fermented, and at least a portion of the acid whey is removed from the fermented product using a ceramic ultrafiltration membrane system to form the Greek yogurt product.

The invention relates to an apparatus for fast and homogeneously heating a liquid product to a heating temperature by means of resistive heating, the apparatus comprising at least two vertically mounted, longitudinal, heating chambers that are arranged in series. The invention further relates to a process for fast and homogeneously heating a liquid product to a heating temperature by means of resistive heating in such apparatus comprising (a) continuously supplying the liquid product to the first heating chamber in series and flowing the liquid product continuously through the at least two heating chambers; (b) continuously generating an electrical current through the liquid product flowing through the heating chambers by continuously applying an electrical potential over each heating chamber, wherein the direction of the current is continuously alternated with a frequency of at least 500 Hz, to obtain heated liquid product; and (c) continuously discharging heated liquid product from the last heating chamber in series, wherein the liquid product has an electrical conductivity of at least 0.03 S/m.

The invention relates to an apparatus for fast and homogeneously heating a liquid product to a heating temperature by means of resistive heating, the apparatus comprising at least two vertically mounted, longitudinal, heating chambers that are arranged in series. The invention further relates to a process for fast and homogeneously heating a liquid product to a heating temperature by means of resistive heating in such apparatus comprising (a) continuously supplying the liquid product to the first heating chamber in series and flowing the liquid product continuously through the at least two heating chambers; (b) continuously generating an electrical current through the liquid product flowing through the heating chambers by continuously applying an electrical potential over each heating chamber, wherein the direction of the current is continuously alternated with a frequency of at least 500 Hz, to obtain heated liquid product; and (c) continuously discharging heated liquid product from the last heating chamber in series, wherein the liquid product has an electrical conductivity of at least 0.03 S/m.

A maternal milk powder and a preparation method thereof. Every 100 g of the maternal milk powder comprises: (0.1-10)×10.sup.8 CFU of probiotics, 1-10 g of FOS; wherein, probiotics comprise Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Bifidobacterium bifidum with a CFU ratio of 20-40:20-40:1-10:10-20:10-20:1-10. The maternal milk powder can effectively inhibit the proliferation of harmful bacteria in the intestinal tract of pregnant women, promote the health of intestinal microecology, improve immunity, relieve postpartum depression, etc. by adding six kinds of safe, stable and efficient probiotics and FOS.

A maternal milk powder and a preparation method thereof. Every 100 g of the maternal milk powder comprises: (0.1-10)×10.sup.8 CFU of probiotics, 1-10 g of FOS; wherein, probiotics comprise Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Bifidobacterium bifidum with a CFU ratio of 20-40:20-40:1-10:10-20:10-20:1-10. The maternal milk powder can effectively inhibit the proliferation of harmful bacteria in the intestinal tract of pregnant women, promote the health of intestinal microecology, improve immunity, relieve postpartum depression, etc. by adding six kinds of safe, stable and efficient probiotics and FOS.

The invention relates to a method of producing a shelf stable ready-to-drink beverage product, comprising the steps of: providing an ingredient composition comprising micellar caseins and whey protein, having a total protein concentration of 1.5-8 wt. %, and wherein the composition has a casein to whey protein ratio of 90/10-60/40, adding divalent cations to provide a concentration of 3-20 mM free divalent cations in the ingredient composition, and 0.025-0.3 wt % of a stabilizing system comprising hydrocolloids, and subsequently heat treating the ingredient composition at ultra high temperature (UHT) at 135-150° C. for 3-30 s to form agglomerated proteins comprising casein and beta-lactoglobulin from the whey protein, the agglomerates having a size of 5-30 microns mean diameter D(4,3) as measured by laser diffraction. The invention also relates to a shelf stable ready-to-drink beverage product comprising aggregated proteins comprising micellar caseins and whey protein aggregates, wherein the product has a pH of 6.6-7.2, 1.5-8.0 wt. % milk proteins, a casein to whey protein ratio of 90/10-60/40, and a concentration of 3-20 mM divalent cations, and the aggregates are of 5-30 microns mean diameter D(4,3) as measured by laser diffraction.

Food products and systems and methods for their production involve subjecting pasteurized milk to a concentration process thereby forming liquid concentrated milk, then fermenting the liquid concentrated milk to form a fermented concentrated milk product. The fermented concentrated milk product is combined with a liquid emulsifying agent, thereby forming a food product. The food product is formed without the fermented concentrated milk product and the food product reaching a temperature of 145° F.