A system and a corresponding method for producing a UHT milk product by direct UHT heating. The method comprises feeding milk into a heating device, heating the milk by the heating device to increase a temperature of the milk to a first temperature within a range of 135 to 137 C., maintaining the milk inside the heating device at the first temperature for a first time within a range of 30 to 120 sec, feeding the heated milk into a homogenizing device, and homogenizing the heated milk by the homogenizing device, thereby producing the UHT milk product.

The present invention relates to a method of producing a lactose-reduced heat-treated milk-based product which comprises treatment of a milk-based substrate with a lactase and performing a heat treatment.

A system includes a vacuum chamber, a vacuum source, and a mixture flow path adapted to be connected to receive the output of a direct steam injector. The vacuum source is operatively connected to a vacuum port of the vacuum chamber, while a product outlet port from the vacuum chamber is adapted to be connected to an arrangement for removing treated product from the vacuum chamber. The mixture flow path includes a flow path segment outside of the vacuum chamber volume and a flow path segment within the vacuum chamber volume. At least some of a surface defining the flow path segment within the vacuum chamber is in substantial thermal communication with one or more cooling structures.

A system includes a vacuum chamber, a vacuum source, and a mixture flow path adapted to be connected to receive the output of a direct steam injector. The vacuum source is operatively connected to a vacuum port of the vacuum chamber, while a product outlet port from the vacuum chamber is adapted to be connected to an arrangement for removing treated product from the vacuum chamber. The mixture flow path includes a flow path segment outside of the vacuum chamber volume and a flow path segment within the vacuum chamber volume. At least some of a surface defining the flow path segment within the vacuum chamber is in substantial thermal communication with one or more cooling structures.

A heating medium injector includes an injector structure defining a heating medium flow path and a product flow path. The heating medium flow path extends to a contact location along an axis of the injector, while the product flow path also extends to the contact location along the injector axis. The contact location comprises a location at which the heating medium flow path and product flow path merge within the injector. In a region along the injector axis, the product flow path is defined between a first flow surface and a second flow surface. The first flow surface comprises a surface of a boundary wall separating the heating medium flow path from the product flow path and the second flow surface comprises a surface of an opposing second boundary wall. The second flow surface is in substantial thermal communication with a second flow surface cooling structure.

A heating medium injector includes an injector structure defining a heating medium flow path and a product flow path. The heating medium flow path extends to a contact location along an axis of the injector, while the product flow path also extends to the contact location along the injector axis. The contact location comprises a location at which the heating medium flow path and product flow path merge within the injector. In a region along the injector axis, the product flow path is defined between a first flow surface and a second flow surface. The first flow surface comprises a surface of a boundary wall separating the heating medium flow path from the product flow path and the second flow surface comprises a surface of an opposing second boundary wall. The second flow surface is in substantial thermal communication with a second flow surface cooling structure.