A process for producing pure lactic acid from a whey by-product rich in lactose and minerals, for example delactosed why permeate or concentrated whey permeate, is described. The method comprises upstream steps of neutralising the whey by-product with a basic metal hydroxide to form a precipitate comprising calcium and phosphate, and separating the precipitate from the whey by-product to provide a clarified whey by-product. The clarified whey by-product is fermentated by a bacterium capable of bioconversion of lactose to lactic acid to provide a fermentation broth containing a lactic acid salt. In the downstream steps, the fermentation broth is acidified to release lactic acid from the lactic acid salt, precipitate from the broth produced by acidification is removed, and the acidified fermentation broth is treated to recover pure lactic acid by removal of residual salts, and water, and optionally protein. The process of the invention produces lactic acid having a purity of 80-98% and an isomeric purity of >98% L-lactic acid using a process that employs upstream removal of divalent salts by chemical precipitation, bacterial fermentation of the demineralised substrate, and minimum downstream processing of the fermentation broth. The methods of the invention may also be employed with milk permeates.

The application discloses a method for obtaining polylactic acid (PLA) from cheese whey, which comprises, inter alia, steps of deproteinisation and inoculation, fermentation, separation, polymerisation and drying. The claimed method includes the use of microorganisms such as Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Streptococcus thermophilus. In addition, the separation step includes an adsorption process in a tower packed with activated cationic zeolite, which exchanges H.sup.+ for Ca.sup.+, and the solvent n-pentane is used in said separation step to extract lactic acid, with recovery of 90% of the lactic acid obtained by fermentation.

A food product comprising a neutralized yogurt whey.

The present invention relates to a composition for producing a fermented milk product comprising (i) at least one Streptococcus thermophilus (St) strain, wherein the St strain is galactose-fermenting, wherein the strain carries a mutation in the DNA sequence of the glcK gene encoding a glucokinase protein, wherein the mutation inactivates the glucokinase protein or has a negative effect on expression of the gene, and (ii) at least one Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (Lb) strain, wherein the Lb strain is lactose-deficient and capable of metabolizing a non-lactose carbohydrate.

Provided is a composition for preventing or improving impaired renal function, containing Bifidobacterium breve as an active ingredient. The composition for preventing or improving impaired renal function is capable of reducing blood creatinine levels. The composition for preventing or improving impaired renal function can also be used in a pharmaceutical composition or a food or beverage product composition.

Fermented milk bases and methods of making fermented milk bases are disclosed. Such fermented milk bases are solid and contain little or no non-dairy stabilizers and non-dairy thickeners. Also disclosed are packaged food products including the disclosed fermented milk bases.

A method of stabilizing a fermented beverage and controlling an alcohol content within the fermented beverage are provided. A method of stabilizing the fermented beverage may include fermenting a beverage base to produce the fermented beverage. The fermented beverage may be filtered to remove residual yeast within the fermented beverage.

A fermented beverage and method for producing the same are provided. A method of producing a fermented beverage may include providing acid whey. The acid whey may be fermented. Fermentation of the acid whey may be arrested. Flavoring may be added to the fermented acid whey.

A method of preserving a flavor profile of a fermented beverage and controlling an alcohol content within the fermented beverage are provided. A desired alcohol content for the fermented beverage may be determined. The fermented beverage may be flash pasteurized to kill substantially all of a yeast used utilized for fermenting the fermented beverage. The flash pasteurized fermented beverage may be rapidly chilled.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a strained fermented dairy product comprising the following successive steps: (a) providing a dairy product, (b) adding a lactase and a culture of bacteria comprising at least one strain of thermophilic lactic acid bacteria, with the provision that that it does not comprise any strain of mesophilic lactic acid bacteria, and fermenting the dairy product to obtain a fermented dairy product, and (c) separating a liquid whey from the fermented dairy product to obtain a strained fermented dairy product.