Disclosed are methods for preparing dairy compositions using an ultrafiltration step and a nanofiltration step, followed by diafiltration of the nanofiltration retentate, and then at least one of a reverse osmosis and a forward osmosis step.

The present invention pertains to an improved process for production of nutritional products, such as e.g. infant formulas, containing milk protein and milk saccharide. The invention is particularly useful for the production of demineralized nutritional products and provides both the final nutritional product as well as milk saccharide-containing milk protein serum ingredients useful for the production of such nutritional products.

A method for processing milk, comprising the steps of: providing skim milk; separating the skim milk to provide two or more fractions; providing a part or all of the two or more fractions into at least two compositions; subjecting the at least two compositions to at least one microbial load reduction treatment, wherein the at least one microbial load reduction treatment is different for each composition, is disclosed. Also, a method for producing a milk product, wherein the milk product is composed at least from the two differently treated compositions is disclosed.

A process for producing dairy products with a defined lactose content is suggested, comprising the following steps: (a) Ultrafiltration of a starting milk for producing a first permeate P1 and a first retentate R1; (b) Reverse osmosis of the first permeate P1 for producing a second permeate P2 and a second retentate R2; (c) Decalcification of the second retentate R2; (d) Ultrafiltration of the decalcified product of step (c) for producing a third permeate P3 (lactose concentrate) and a third retentate R3 (mineral concentrate); (e) Mixing the first retentate R1 with such an amount of the third permeate P3 and the third retentate R3 each so that a standardized dairy product with a defined concentration of lactose and salts is obtained.

A process for producing lactose-free dairy products is suggested, comprising the following steps: (a) Hydrolysis of a starting milk while adding lactase; (b) Nanofiltration of the hydrolysis product for producing a first permeate P1 and a first retentate R1; (c) Reverse osmosis or nanofiltration of the first permeate P1 for producing a second permeate P2 and a second retentate R2; (d) Mixing the first retentate R1 with such an amount of the second permeate P2 and the retentate R2 that a standardized dairy product is obtained, the content of proteins and minerals of which correspond to the one of the starting milk.

A process for producing dairy products with a defined lactose content is suggested, comprising the following steps: (a) Ultrafiltration of a starting milk for producing a first permeate P1 and a first retentate R1; (b) Nanofiltration of the first permeate P1 for producing a second perorate P2 and a second retentate R2; (c) Hydrolysis of the second retentate R2 while adding lactase; (d) Mixing the first retentate R1 with such an amount of the second permeate P2 and the hydrolysis product of step (c) each that a standardized dairy product is obtained, the content of proteins and minerals of which corresponds to the one of the starting milk.

Disclosed are methods for preparing dairy compositions using an ultrafiltration step and a nanofiltration step, followed by diafiltration of the nanofiltration retentate, and then at least one of a reverse osmosis and a forward osmosis step.

The disclosure provides a simple and effective methods for sterilization of milk without degradation or loss of biologically active agents in the milk and the products produced by such methods.

A system and process of producing extended fresh, ambient fresh, milk while harvesting desired components from the milk is disclosed. The system and process use substantially less pressure and low heat that can capture and segregate many beneficial components such as proteins, as well as advantageously harvesting IgG, while still obtaining extended fresh milk, ambient fresh milk equivalent to the shelf life associated with conventional UHT processing, and all at a substantially lower cost.