The invention provides natural cheese and a method for making natural cheese with specific texture attributes.

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.

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 a microfiltration step, obtaining a first retentate R1, which represents a first dairy protein concentrate, and a first permeate P1, (c) subjecting the permeate P1 to an ultrafiltration step and/or a reverse osmosis step, obtaining a second retentate R2, which represents a second dairy protein concentrate, and a second permeate P2, (d) subjecting the permeate P2 to an electrodialysis step, obtaining a salt-depleted diluate D1, (e) combining the diluate D1 with the retentate R1, (f) subjecting the combination product such obtained to heat treatment until denaturation sets in, (g) fermenting the denaturation product such obtained by adding starter cultures and rennet, and (h) adjusting the fermentation product such obtained to defined dry matter and protein contents.

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a cheese, the process comprising the steps of (i) providing milk; (ii) acidifying the milk, where the mild is acidified with carbon dioxide to a pH of 6.2 to 6.6 when measured at a temperature of 29 to 38 C. to provide an acidified milk; (iii) inoculating the acidified milk with a starter culture, wherein the inoculation is a direct vat inoculation, to provide an inoculated acidified milk and making the cheese therefrom; wherein the inoculated acidified milk contains a coagulant, wherein the coagulant comprises at least a microbial protease coagulating agent.

The invention relates to the manufacture of a pasta filata cheese comprising a moisture content of at least about 55% by weight, a solids-non-fat content of up to about 45% by weight, the solids-non-fat comprising at least about 70% by weight protein, the protein comprising at least about 65% by weight casein, and a mineral content comprising a total divalent cation content of about 25 to about 75 mMol of divalent cations/100 g casein, and a total monovalent cation content of about 100 to about 250 mMol monovalent cations/100 g casein, and a total cation content of about 150 to about 300 mMol total cations/100 g casein.

The invention relates to the manufacture of a pasta filata cheese comprising a moisture content of at least about 55% by weight, a solids-non-fat content of up to about 45% by weight, the solids-non-fat comprising at least about 70% by weight protein, the protein comprising at least about 65% by weight casein, and a mineral content comprising a total divalent cation content of about 25 to about 75 mMol of divalent cations/100 g casein, and a total monovalent cation content of about 100 to about 250 mMol monovalent cations/100 g casein, and a total cation content of about 150 to about 300 mMol total cations/100 g casein.

The application is directed to a method to manufacture pasta-filata cheese based on cultures comprising or consisting of either 1) at least a galactose-positive Streptococcus thermophilus strain as defined herein or 2) at least a Streptococcus thermophilus strain and a Lactococcus lactis strain, and to a stretched curd or cheese produced by this method. The application is also directed to a culture or kit-of-part comprising or consisting of a) a galactose-positive Streptococcus thermophilus strain as defined herein, and b) Lactococcus strain(s) and/or Lactobacillus helveticus strain(s).

The application is directed to a method to manufacture pasta-filata cheese based on cultures comprising or consisting of either 1) at least a galactose-positive Streptococcus thermophilus strain as defined herein or 2) at least a Streptococcus thermophilus strain and a Lactococcus lactis strain, and to a stretched curd or cheese produced by this method. The application is also directed to a culture or kit-of-part comprising or consisting of a) a galactose-positive Streptococcus thermophilus strain as defined herein, and b) Lactococcus strain(s) and/or Lactobacillus helveticus strain(s).

This invention discloses packaged nutritional supplements that have nutritional ingredients derived from green leafy vegetation that shall collectively or singly be useful to fulfill the daily need of supplementation from one or more of a nutrient from green leafy vegetation. One embodiment of this invention discloses a novel packaged composition that comprises at least one fraction of a green leafy vegetation and at least one more ingredient to improve its usability and is source of at least one nutritional ingredient selected from the group dietary fiber, beta carotene, iron, calcium, xanthophylls, folic acid and lysine plus methionine and cystine; wherein the fraction comprises a fibrous fraction, a water soluble deproteinized juice fraction and a water insoluble high protein low fiber fraction as fourth primary fraction. In one embodiment of invention, the contribution of at least one nutrient to the nutrient content of the composition from green leafy vegetation or its fraction is a least 15% of at least content of one nutrient of the composition. Also disclosed is a novel packaged composition comprising pulp of whole edible green leafy vegetation and at least one component of flax-seed in the form of a soup or a food bar. The component of flax seed may be one or more selected from the group of whole flax seed, flax seed cake or flax oil,

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