Suggested is a process for the production of a UHT milk with improved taste characteristics, comprising the following steps: (a) providing a raw milk; (b) separating the raw milk into a skimmed milk fraction and a cream fraction; (c) microfiltration or diafiltration of the skimmed milk fraction, obtaining a casein-containing retentate R1 and a fine whey as permeate P1; (d) ultrafiltration of the fine whey of step (c), obtaining a permeate P2 that is rich in lactose and minerals, and a protein-rich retentate R2; (e) mixing the cream fraction, the retentate R1 containing the casein and the permeate P2 containing the lactose and minerals, obtaining a mixed fraction M1; (f) ultra-high temperature treatment of the mixed fraction M1 of step (e); (g) pasteurization of the protein-rich retentate R2 obtained in step (d); and (h) mixing the ultra-heat treated fraction M1 of step (f) with the pasteurized retentate R2 of step (g), obtaining the target product.

A quark matrix having improved taste characteristics 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, a microfiltration step, and/or a reverse osmosis step, producing a high-protein retentate R1 and a high-lactose permeate P1 in the process, (c) enriching the retentate with an amount of lactose which corresponds to the amount that had been separated in the ultrafiltration step as permeate before, (d) subjecting the enrichment product such obtained to heat treatment until denaturation sets in, (e) fermenting the denaturation product such obtained by adding starter cultures and rennet, and (f) adjusting the fermentation product such obtained to defined dry matter and protein contents.

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.

The present invention relates to milk protein compositions and methods for their preparation and use. In particular, the invention relates to use of the milk protein compositions to prepare low viscosity and/or low firmness, high protein food products including yoghurts.

This application relates to a coating method of lactic acid bacteria and a lactic acid bacteria complex produced by the coating method, the coating method comprising: (a) a step of culturing lactic acid bacteria in a medium including casein and coating the lactic acid bacteria with casein; (b) a step of mixing the casein-coated lactic acid bacteria with a solution comprising a coating agent, an edible oil, an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) of Lactobacillus plantarum and alginic acid; and (c) a step of adding the mixture of step (b) to a calcium-containing solution to form alginic acid-calcium beads, wherein the alginic acid-calcium beads contain the casein-coated lactic acid bacteria, the coating agent, the edible oil, and the EPS of Lactobacillus plantarum.

The present invention provides a method of producing a liquid dairy concentrate, the method comprising: mixing cream and micro-filtered milk to form a liquid dairy ingredient, wherein the liquid dairy ingredient has a fat content of at least 30 wt % and a fat to protein ratio of from 5:1 to 15:1 by weight; concentrating the liquid dairy ingredient by ultrafiltration and, optionally, diafiltration to obtain a concentrated liquid dairy ingredient as a retentate; adding sucrose and/or trisodium citrate to form a modified retentate; adding one or more further ingredients to the modified retentate to form a liquid dairy concentrate; cooling the liquid dairy concentrate to at most 8? C.; filling the cooled liquid dairy concentrate into a beverage container; and sealing and retorting the liquid dairy concentrate in the beverage container.

Provided are microvesicles isolated from milk, compositions thereof and uses for the preparation of milk formulas. Further provided are microvesicles, including exosomes and/or fat globules which encapsulate various miRNA molecules and uses thereof, as exemplified by supplementing milk formulas.

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

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 present invention includes a method to produce immune-active milk products from raw milk. The method includes the steps of separating a raw milk composition into a nonfat milk fraction and a fat fraction, followed by UV-C pasteurization of the nonfat milk fraction to yield the immune-active milk product. Optionally, a composition comprising milk fat globule membrane components is added to the nonfat milk fraction either prior to or subsequent to the UV-C pasteurization step. Optionally, the nonfat milk fraction is treated with lactase to hydrolyze the lactose. The method can also optionally include a step of low-temperature drying of the immune-active milk composition, or alternatively ultrafiltration and/or diafiltration can be used to produce a milk protein concentrate as the immune-active milk products. The immune-active milk products obtained by the methods of the invention can be used to reduce, prevent or treat immune dysfunctions.