Food products and systems and methods for their production involve microfiltration (MF) of fluid skim to form a MF retentate, combining the MF retentate with cream and subjecting the combination to ultrafiltration (UF) to form a UF retentate. Prior to UF, the composition is formed of non-acidified components. Following UF, the UF retentate is acidified and forms a food product including a high solids content. The solids content may be further increased using evaporation. The resulting cheese or cheese base contains a lower whey protein ratio in a fat:casein:whey protein ratio compared to systems and methods that do not employ MF.

The invention relates to a method for treatment of milk which is to be used in the preparation of soft cheese, the method comprises adding, practically simultaneously a slow acidifying bacterial culture, a fast acidifying bacterial culture and at least one coagulant. Preferred is a soft-cheese type, such as e.g. a brie type or a camembert type cheese.

The invention relates to a method for treatment of milk which is to be used in the preparation of soft cheese, the method comprises adding, practically simultaneously a slow acidifying bacterial culture, a fast acidifying bacterial culture and at least one coagulant. Preferred is a soft-cheese type, such as e.g. a brie type or a camembert type cheese.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing cottage cheese wherein the amount of acid whey as a by-product is reduced and the production time in the cheese vat is reduced.

A method and system for producing panela cheese resulting as by-product whey without salt or with minimal amount of salt, the method includes processing milk to produce a mixture of cheese curds and whey, wherein optionally the mixture is salted by incorporating a fraction of a total amount of salt required for the manufacture of the panela cheese concerned; extruding, forming and pressing the cheese curds to form cheese blocks and/or simultaneously draining the whey from the cheese curds; optionally subjecting the obtained cheese blocks to a cooling process or a fast cooling process; and promoting absorption of salt by injecting brine to the cheese blocks, wherein the amount of salt absorbed by the cheese block from the brine represents the complement of the total amount of salt required for the manufacture of the panela cheese concerned. The system includes a vat, a cheeseformer apparatus, and a brine injector.

A method and system for producing panela cheese resulting as by-product whey without salt or with minimal amount of salt, the method includes processing milk to produce a mixture of cheese curds and whey, wherein optionally the mixture is salted by incorporating a fraction of a total amount of salt required for the manufacture of the panela cheese concerned; extruding, forming and pressing the cheese curds to form cheese blocks and/or simultaneously draining the whey from the cheese curds; optionally subjecting the obtained cheese blocks to a cooling process or a fast cooling process; and promoting absorption of salt by injecting brine to the cheese blocks, wherein the amount of salt absorbed by the cheese block from the brine represents the complement of the total amount of salt required for the manufacture of the panela cheese concerned. The system includes a vat, a cheeseformer apparatus, and a brine injector.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing sour dairy products wherein the amount of acid whey as a by-product is considerably reduced. In particular, the sour dairy products are concentrated fermented milk products including all kinds of strained yoghurt such as Greek yoghurt, labneh and skyr, as well as fresh cheeses such as cream cheeses and quark, and other products which are concentrated after fermentation.

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

The present invention relates to a casein concentrate wherein the milk protein comprises not more than 10% serum protein, and wherein the casein micelles have an average size of less than 175 nm in diameter; and wherein the concentrate has a pH below 6,7. Treating milk so as to shift the equilibrium out of the casein micelles and towards the serum phase modifies the micelles so as to allow increased water binding by the casein concentrate. High shear processing also allows for the increased water binding in the milk product, such as cheese. The invention further relates to a process of preparing a modified casein concentrate comprising the steps of treating milk by microfiltration to produce a microfiltration retentate comprising casein micelles and a reduced amount of serum proteins compared to the starting milk, adding an agent capable of modifying the chemical equilibrium between the calcium bound in the casein micelles and present in the serum phase treating the resulting product in a dynamic high pressure shear process. Finally, the invention provides cheese and dairy products which can be prepared by using the casein concentrate of the invention.

The present invention relates to a casein concentrate wherein the milk protein comprises not more than 10% serum protein, and wherein the casein micelles have an average size of less than 175 nm in diameter; and wherein the concentrate has a pH below 6,7. Treating milk so as to shift the equilibrium out of the casein micelles and towards the serum phase modifies the micelles so as to allow increased water binding by the casein concentrate. High shear processing also allows for the increased water binding in the milk product, such as cheese. The invention further relates to a process of preparing a modified casein concentrate comprising the steps of treating milk by microfiltration to produce a microfiltration retentate comprising casein micelles and a reduced amount of serum proteins compared to the starting milk, adding an agent capable of modifying the chemical equilibrium between the calcium bound in the casein micelles and present in the serum phase treating the resulting product in a dynamic high pressure shear process. Finally, the invention provides cheese and dairy products which can be prepared by using the casein concentrate of the invention.