The invention pertains to a process for simultaneous producing an infant formula product and a dairy product from defatted animal milk, comprising (a) processing the milk into a casein stream, a whey protein stream and a lactose stream by a combination of microfiltration and ultrafiltration, wherein the casein stream originates from the microfiltration as retentate, the whey protein stream originates from the ultrafiltration as retentate and the lactose stream originates from the ultrafiltration as permeate; (b) combining at least part of the whey protein stream originating from step (a) and a lactose source to obtain are combined stream; (c) using the recombined stream originating from step (b) in the manufacture of the infant formula product; and (d) using at least part of the casein stream originating from step (a) and defatted animal milk in the manufacture of the dairy product. The invention further concerns the infant formula product obtainable by step (c) of the process according to the invention, and to the dairy product obtainable by step (d) of the process according to the invention.

The invention pertains to a process for simultaneous producing an infant formula product and an acidic dairy product from defatted animal milk, comprising (a) processing the milk into a casein stream, a whey protein stream and a lactose stream, by: (i) subjecting the defatted animal milk to a filtration step over a microfiltration membrane capable of retaining bacteria and permeating milk proteins, to provide a debacterialized milk as permeate; (ii) subjecting the permeate originating from step (i) to a filtration step over a microfiltration membrane capable of retaining casein and permeating whey proteins, to provide a casein stream as retentate and a permeate comprising whey protein; (iii) fractionating the permeate originating from step (ii) into a whey protein stream and a lactose stream; (b) combining part of the casein stream, at least part of the whey protein stream originating from step (a) and a lactose source to obtain a recombined stream, wherein the lactose source comprises acid whey; (c) using the recombined stream originating from step (b) in the manufacture of the infant formula product; (d) using part of the casein stream originating from step (a) in the manufacture of the acidic dairy product. The invention further concerns the infant formula product obtainable by step (c) of the process according to the invention, and to the acidic dairy product obtainable by step (d) of the process according to the invention.

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

Methods for converting cow's milk into a low pH, ready to drink yogurt product having the compositional attributes of human milk include combinations of ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and diafiltration using microfiltration membranes, followed by heat treatment and fermentation.

Methods of making a zero sugar dairy-based food product and a zero sugar dairy-based food product are provided. The dairy-based food product includes a protease, an acyl transferase, a lactase, a skim milk, at least one of an additional ingredient selected from a group consisting of a probiotic, an artificial flavoring, a natural flavoring, a cream, a vitamin, a pectin, an oil, and combinations thereof, and an amount of water. The dairy-based food product further includes a sugar content of between 0 wt % and 0.4 wt %.

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.

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.

A dairy product produced by a method comprising steps of: a) passing skim milk through an ultrafiltration membrane to produce an ultrafiltration permeate; and b) combining one part of the ultrafiltration permeate with whole milk; wherein the dairy product is low in protein and retains total solids content similar to a cow's milk.

The invention relates to a method for producing an acidified milk product comprising the steps of: providing a milk raw material; concentrating the milk raw material by membrane filtration to provide a filtration retentate; acidifying the filtration retentate with an acidic aqueous solution to provide an acidified filtration retentate having a pH in the range of about 5.2 to about 6.5, a calcium/protein ratio of at most about 0.03, and a phosphorous/protei ratio of at most about 0.025; processing the acidified filtration retentate to the acidified milk product having moisture on a fat-free basis of at least 70%. The invention also relates to an acidified milk product having moisture on a fat-free basis of at least 70% and a calcium/casein ratio of at most about 0.04 and a calcium/protein ratio of at most about 0.03 and a phosphorous/casein ratio of at most about 0.03. The invention also relates to an acidified milk product having moisture on a fat-free basis of at least 70%, a calcium/casein ratio of at most about 0.04, a calcium/protein ratio of at most about 0.03 and a phosphorous/protein ratio of at most about 0.025.