A demineralised whey powder is suggested which is obtainable by: (a) Separating raw milk, removing the cream; (b) Subjecting the skimmed milk such obtained to microfiltration or microdiafiltration, obtaining a whey protein-rich permeate P1 and a retentate R1 containing casein and GMP in the process; (c) Subjecting the permeate P1 to column chromatography separation, in which the lactoferrin contained therein remains on the column; (d) Subjecting the permeate, from which lactoferrin had been removed, to dialysis; and (e) Dehydrating the diluate such obtained.

A demineralised whey powder is suggested which is obtainable by: (a) Separating raw milk, removing the cream; (b) Subjecting the skimmed milk such obtained to microfiltration or microdiafiltration, obtaining a whey protein-rich permeate P1 and a retentate R1 containing casein and GMP in the process; (c) Subjecting the permeate P1 to column chromatography separation, in which the lactoferrin contained therein remains on the column; (d) Subjecting the permeate, from which lactoferrin had been removed, to dialysis; and (e) Dehydrating the diluate such obtained.

The present invention provides a process of producing a lactose concentrate, said process comprising the step of subjecting a partially demineralised aqueous lactose isolate to electrodialysis to produce a biotin-reduced lactose isolate containing at least 90% lactose by weight of dry matter and less than 2 mg ash per gram of lactose, and containing: 0.02-1.5 mg sodium per gram of lactose; 0.02-2 mg potassium per gram of lactose; 0.05-1.5 mg chloride per gram of lactose; 0.01-0.25 g biotin per gram of lactose.

The present invention also relates to a demineralised lactose concentrate having a reduced biotin content that can be produced by the aforementioned process. The invention further relates to an oligosaccharide-enriched biotin-reduced fraction that is obtained when lactose is separated before or after the electrodialysis step.

The present invention provides a process of producing a lactose concentrate, said process comprising the step of subjecting a partially demineralised aqueous lactose isolate to electrodialysis to produce a biotin-reduced lactose isolate containing at least 90% lactose by weight of dry matter and less than 2 mg ash per gram of lactose, and containing: 0.02-1.5 mg sodium per gram of lactose; 0.02-2 mg potassium per gram of lactose; 0.05-1.5 mg chloride per gram of lactose; 0.01-0.25 g biotin per gram of lactose.

The present invention also relates to a demineralised lactose concentrate having a reduced biotin content that can be produced by the aforementioned process. The invention further relates to an oligosaccharide-enriched biotin-reduced fraction that is obtained when lactose is separated before or after the electrodialysis step.

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 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.

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.

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.

A low-mineral quark matrix is suggested, which is obtainable by (a) subjecting raw milk to heat treatment, separating the cream, (b) subjecting the skimmed milk such obtained to an ultrafiltration step and/or a reverse osmosis step, producing a retentate R1, which represents a dairy protein concentrate, and a permeate P1, (c) subjecting the permeate P1 to an electrodialysis step, producing a salt-depleted diluate D1, (d) combining the diluate D1 with the retentate R1, (e) subjecting the combination product such obtained to heat treatment until denaturation sets in, (f) fermenting the denaturation product such obtained by the addition of starter cultures and rennet, and (g) adjusting or standardising the fermentation product such obtained to defined dry matter and protein contents.