The present invention is directed towards natural colorants comprising a material selected from the group consisting of genipin, purified genipin, pre-genipin compounds, iridoid compounds, genipin deriviatives, a genipin-containing substance, and combinations of any thereof; and a primary amine containing compound. Processes of making natural colorants are further disclosed. Additionally, processes of producing a desired color of natural colorants are disclosed.

The present invention is directed towards natural colorants comprising a material selected from the group consisting of genipin, purified genipin, pre-genipin compounds, iridoid compounds, genipin deriviatives, a genipin-containing substance, and combinations of any thereof; and a primary amine containing compound. Processes of making natural colorants are further disclosed. Additionally, processes of producing a desired color of natural colorants are disclosed.

The invention pertains to a process for simultaneous producing an infant formula product and an acidic dairy product from defatted animal milk, comprising (a) processing the milk into a casein stream, a whey protein stream and a lactose stream, by: (i) subjecting the defatted animal milk to a filtration step over a microfiltration membrane capable of retaining bacteria and permeating milk proteins, to provide a debacterialized milk as permeate; (ii) subjecting the permeate originating from step (i) to a filtration step over a microfiltration membrane capable of retaining casein and permeating whey proteins, to provide a casein stream as retentate and a permeate comprising whey protein; (iii) fractionating the permeate originating from step (ii) into a whey protein stream and a lactose stream; (b) combining part of the casein stream, at least part of the whey protein stream originating from step (a) and a lactose source to obtain a recombined stream, wherein the lactose source comprises acid whey; (c) using the recombined stream originating from step (b) in the manufacture of the infant formula product; (d) using part of the casein stream originating from step (a) in the manufacture of the acidic dairy product. The invention further concerns the infant formula product obtainable by step (c) of the process according to the invention, and to the acidic dairy product obtainable by step (d) of the process according to the invention.

The invention pertains to a process for simultaneous producing an infant formula product and an acidic dairy product from defatted animal milk, comprising (a) processing the milk into a casein stream, a whey protein stream and a lactose stream, by: (i) subjecting the defatted animal milk to a filtration step over a microfiltration membrane capable of retaining bacteria and permeating milk proteins, to provide a debacterialized milk as permeate; (ii) subjecting the permeate originating from step (i) to a filtration step over a microfiltration membrane capable of retaining casein and permeating whey proteins, to provide a casein stream as retentate and a permeate comprising whey protein; (iii) fractionating the permeate originating from step (ii) into a whey protein stream and a lactose stream; (b) combining part of the casein stream, at least part of the whey protein stream originating from step (a) and a lactose source to obtain a recombined stream, wherein the lactose source comprises acid whey; (c) using the recombined stream originating from step (b) in the manufacture of the infant formula product; (d) using part of the casein stream originating from step (a) in the manufacture of the acidic dairy product. The invention further concerns the infant formula product obtainable by step (c) of the process according to the invention, and to the acidic dairy product obtainable by step (d) of the process according to the invention.

The invention pertains to a process for simultaneous producing an infant formula product and a dairy product from defatted animal milk, comprising (a) processing the milk into a casein stream, a whey protein stream and a lactose stream by a combination of microfiltration and ultrafiltration, wherein the casein stream originates from the microfiltration as retentate, the whey protein stream originates from the ultrafiltration as retentate and the lactose stream originates from the ultrafiltration as permeate; (b) combining at least part of the whey protein stream originating from step (a) and a lactose source to obtain are combined stream; (c) using the recombined stream originating from step (b) in the manufacture of the infant formula product; and (d) using at least part of the casein stream originating from step (a) and defatted animal milk in the manufacture of the dairy product. The invention further concerns the infant formula product obtainable by step (c) of the process according to the invention, and to the dairy product obtainable by step (d) of the process according to the invention.

The invention pertains to a process for simultaneous producing an infant formula product and a dairy product from defatted animal milk, comprising (a) processing the milk into a casein stream, a whey protein stream and a lactose stream by a combination of microfiltration and ultrafiltration, wherein the casein stream originates from the microfiltration as retentate, the whey protein stream originates from the ultrafiltration as retentate and the lactose stream originates from the ultrafiltration as permeate; (b) combining at least part of the whey protein stream originating from step (a) and a lactose source to obtain are combined stream; (c) using the recombined stream originating from step (b) in the manufacture of the infant formula product; and (d) using at least part of the casein stream originating from step (a) and defatted animal milk in the manufacture of the dairy product. The invention further concerns the infant formula product obtainable by step (c) of the process according to the invention, and to the dairy product obtainable by step (d) of the process according to the invention.

A food-processing system having a metering pump for filling a casing with food material, a linker for forming links in the filled casing and depositing a linked strand on a conveyor, and a plurality of servo motors arranged to drive each of a plurality of driven components of the processing system. The food-processing system being implemented according to a two-step ramp-up method that enables increased control of a first end and a second end of the linked strand using a first speed, and enables faster processing of the linked strand between the ends at a second speed higher than the first speed.

The invention relates to a whey protein product having a ratio of whey protein to casein in the range from about 25:75 to about less than 50:50, a total protein content of at least 20% on dry matter basis, and a protein content of about 2.5 to about 8% by weight, based on the weight of the product. The product has a favourable amino acid composition and is especially suitable for athletes. The invention also relates to a method for producing a whey protein product, using microfiltration and ultrafiltration. The whey protein product is composed of the ultrafiltration retentate and a casein-containing material at a ratio of whey protein to casein of about 20:80 to about less than 50:50 and a total protein content of at least about 20% on dry matter basis.

The invention relates to a whey protein product having a ratio of whey protein to casein in the range from about 25:75 to about less than 50:50, a total protein content of at least 20% on dry matter basis, and a protein content of about 2.5 to about 8% by weight, based on the weight of the product. The product has a favourable amino acid composition and is especially suitable for athletes. The invention also relates to a method for producing a whey protein product, using microfiltration and ultrafiltration. The whey protein product is composed of the ultrafiltration retentate and a casein-containing material at a ratio of whey protein to casein of about 20:80 to about less than 50:50 and a total protein content of at least about 20% on dry matter basis.

The invention relates to a method for producing an acidified milk product including the steps of: providing a milk raw material; concentrating the milk raw material by membrane filtration to provide a filtration retentate; acidifying the filtration retentate with an acidic aqueous solution to provide an acidified filtration retentate having a pH in the range of about 5.2 to about 6.5, a calcium/protein ratio of at most about 0.03, and a phosphorous/protein ratio of at most about 0.025; processing the acidified filtration retentate to the acidified milk product having moisture on a fat-free basis of at least 70%. The invention also relates to an acidified milk product having moisture on a fat-free basis of at least 70% and a calcium/casein ratio of at most about 0.04 and a calcium/protein ratio of at most about 0.03 and a phosphorous/casein ratio of at most about 0.03. The invention also relates to an acidified milk product having moisture on a fat-free basis of at least 70%, a calcium/casein ratio of at most about 0.04, a calcium/protein ratio of at most about 0.03 and a phosphorous/protein ratio of at most about 0.025.