Process for preparing lactose-free skimmed, partially skimmed and whole milk, comprising the following steps: 1) pasteurization and skimming, 2) enzymatic hydrolysis of the skimmed milk by lactase enzyme, 3) microfiltration of the hydrolysed skimmed milk and obtainment of a microfiltration retentate (RMF) and of a microfiltration permeate (PMF), 4) PMF ultrafiltration and obtainment of an ultrafiltration retentate (RUF) and of an ultrafiltration permeate (PUF), 5) first PUF nanofiltration and obtainment of the first nanofiltration retentate (RNF 1) and of a first nanofiltration permeate (PNF 1), 6) second PNF 1 nanofiltration and obtainment of a second nanofiltration retentate (RNF2) and of a second nanofiltration permeate (PNF2), and 7) final step: obtainment of lactose-free milk by mixing one or more of the fractions deriving from one or more of the previous steps, which is characterized in that: (I) the first nanofiltration of step 5) is carried out with membranes having a molecular weight cut-off ranging from 400 to 600 Da and the second nanofiltration is carried out with membranes having a molecular weight cut-off ranging from 150 to 250 Da, and (II) the final step 7) is carried out by mixing a composition comprising at least RUF, RNF1 and PNF2.

Dairy products are produced by subjecting a starting dairy material to nanofiltration to remove monovalent ions to produce an ion-depleted dairy permeate; passing the ion-depleted dairy permeate through an ion exchange column and subsequently with a sodium-containing eluting solution to produce sodium phosphate and sodium citrate derived from the starting material; concentrating the sodium phosphate and sodium citrate; and combining the concentrated sodium phosphate and sodium citrate with dairy components. The dairy product contains an amount of the concentrated sodium phosphate and sodium citrate sufficient to cause fat in the dairy product to be emulsified and protein in the dairy product to be hydrated. In addition or alternatively, a dairy by-product stream may be subjected to ion exchange to remove calcium therefrom; concentrated, and combined with dairy materials naturally containing phosphate and citrate in order to adjust the citrate+phosphate-to-calcium ratio to reach an emulsified dairy product.

The invention relates to a method of separating components from milk and utilizing the separated components to form blended dairy compositions. The present invention relates to nutritional milk compositions and products which are designed to include per serving size a specified percentage range of one or more components separated from milk. The compositions of the present invention can optionally include non-essential but nutritionally functional components.

The invention relates to a method of separating components from milk and utilizing the separated components to form blended dairy compositions. The present invention relates to nutritional milk compositions and products which are designed to include per serving size a specified percentage range of one or more components separated from milk. The compositions of the present invention can optionally include non-essential but nutritionally functional components.

The present invention pertains to an improved process for production of nutritional products, such as e.g. infant formulas, containing milk protein and milk saccharide. The invention is par-ticularly useful for the production of demineralized nutritional products and provides both the final nutritional product as well as milk saccharide-containing milk protein serum ingredients useful for the production of such nutritional products.

A milk protein concentrate is suggested, obtainable or obtained by: (i) skimming the cream from raw milk, obtaining a skimmed milk fraction having a dry matter content of about 5 to about 15% by weight, and particularly about 10% by weight; (ii) concentrating the skimmed milk fraction of step (i) to a dry matter content of about 45 to about 60% by weight; (iii) standardising the skimmed milk concentrate of step (ii) by adding a milk fraction; and (iv) drying the standardised skimmed milk concentrate to a powder having a dry matter content of at least 95% by weight,
with the proviso that a milk permeate is employed for standardisation, which was previously subjected to electrodialysis.

The invention relates to a method of separating components from milk, and the apparatus used therefor. The invention also relates to compositions prepared from the separated components. The present invention relates to nutritional milk compositions and products which are designed to include per serving size a specified percentage range of one or more components separated from milk. The compositions of the present invention can optionally include non-essential but nutritionally functional components. The complete nutritional milk compositions of the present invention can be provided as unflavored milks, flavored milks, ice creams and yogurts.

A portion capsule for producing a beverage. The portion capsule has a capsule body including a cavity. A filter is located inside of the cavity. The filter is configured to stretch and/or yield upon contact with an external perforation means. A lid is attached to the capsule body.

A method of producing a low-lactose milk protein concentrate comprising the steps of providing a starting liquid milk protein concentrate, pre-treating the milk protein concentration by ultra-sonication, and treating the pre-treated milk protein concentration by diafiltration to provide a calcium depleted low-lactose milk protein concentrate. The process of the invention provides a milk protein concentrate with high levels of protein, less than 1% lactose, and a calcium level that is depleted by at least 20% compared with an untreated milk protein concentrate.

Disclosed are methods for preparing dairy compositions using an electrochemical separation process in combination with at least one of ultrafiltration, microfiltration, and nanofiltration. Additional methods for preparing the dairy compositions can further include a reverse osmosis step and/or a forward osmosis step.