A method for production of near sterile whey protein concentrates is proposed, which includes the following steps: (a) Ultrafiltration of whey at a temperature of about 2 to about 25? C. to produce a first retentate R1 and a first permeate P1; (b) Microfiltration of the retentate R1 from step (a) at a temperature of about 2 to about 35? C. to produce a second retentate R2 and a second permeate P2; (c) Ultrafiltration of the second permeate P2 from step (b) at a temperature of about 6 to about 25? C. to produce a third retentate R3 and a third permeate P3; (d) Pasteurization of the retentate R3 from step (c) (e) Drying of the pasteurized product from step (d).