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 particularly 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 high protein food may be produced via an extrusion process whereby acid casein is mixed with whey protein, alkali and water. Upon exiting the extruder, the mixture may be cut, dried, and/or tempered, milled and screened before being further processed or packaged. The final product may be configured as a crisp high protein food or a powdered high protein food. The protein content of the end product may be approximately 90-95% on a dry weight basis.

A high protein food may be produced via an extrusion process whereby acid casein is mixed with whey protein, alkali and water. Upon exiting the extruder, the mixture may be cut, dried, and/or tempered, milled and screened before being further processed or packaged. The final product may be configured as a crisp high protein food or a powdered high protein food. The protein content of the end product may be approximately 90-95% on a dry weight basis.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions including casein, and methods for making these compositions.

A dairy-based yogurt product having a protein level above 15%, sometimes more than 25%, with a smooth and rich texture and no grittiness. The yogurt product includes a particular selection of dairy proteins and other ingredients to raise the gelation temperature of the dairy proteins and avoid causing gelation or precipitation during pasteurization. Additionally, pasteurization temperatures, times and methods are selected to avoid gelation. Starting dairy proteins generally have relatively higher pH levels and low total acidity (TA) levels to help reduce gelation during pasteurization. Ingredients such as buffering agents and sequestering agents may be utilized to help raise the gelation temperature, as well as higher sugar levels which can control hydration of the proteins.

A dairy-based yogurt product having a protein level above 15%, sometimes more than 25%, with a smooth and rich texture and no grittiness. The yogurt product includes a particular selection of dairy proteins and other ingredients to raise the gelation temperature of the dairy proteins and avoid causing gelation or precipitation during pasteurization. Additionally, pasteurization temperatures, times and methods are selected to avoid gelation. Starting dairy proteins generally have relatively higher pH levels and low total acidity (TA) levels to help reduce gelation during pasteurization. Ingredients such as buffering agents and sequestering agents may be utilized to help raise the gelation temperature, as well as higher sugar levels which can control hydration of the proteins.

The present invention is related with the milk industry in general and with the processing industry of milk to produce for lactose-free milk and assessment of the subproduct in particular, and even more particularly in the milk processing industry through different separating means of the components such as micro- and nano filtration.

The function of the invention is to permit a lactose-free milk or a milk without lactose with a sensorial profile similar to that of normal pasteurized milk without lactose using the essential separation steps to reduce production costs, yet another objective was to determine the effect on the organoleptic characteristics of the concentration of natural milk components and concentrations which achieve the first objective, still another objective is to determine the ratio between retentate and permeate to obtain a sensorial profile equivalent to that of a normal pasteurized mil without lactose.

A yogurt core is described that contains yogurt or a yogurt analog, cream cheese or a cream cheese analog, and dairy-derived powder or dairy-free powder. A yogurt core provides a less tart flavor due to a pH above 4.6, yet remains safe over an extended refrigerated shelf life due to a water activity of less than 0.92. A yogurt core can be enrobed to provide a hand-holdable yogurt-containing snack.

Disclosed are methods for preparing dairy compositions using an ultrafiltration step and a nanofiltration step, followed by diafiltration of the nanofiltration retentate, and then at least one of a reverse osmosis and a forward osmosis step.

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 particularly 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.