The present invention relates to use of a laccase for controlled enzymatic browning of a meat analogue product comprising a red pigment which changes colour when oxidized. Preferably, the laccase is embedded in a fat having a melting temperature of at least 25° C. such that the oxidation of the red pigment occurs only at elevated temperature, e.g. during cooking of the meat analogue product.

Process for the preparation of a fibrous product comprising protein and having a moisture content of at least 65% by weight by first preparing a homogenous mixture of protein material comprising cheese, a moisture binder material, a calcium-complex forming agent, a hydrocolloid which precipitates with metal cations and water at a temperature from 70 to 90° C. under high shear with the pH of the homogenous mixture being from 6.4 to 7.5. The homogenous mixture has a water content of at least 75% by weight, whilst total protein content is from 5 to 20% by weight. A solution of a metal cation with a valency of at least 2 is subsequently added in order to form the fibrous product. This fibrous product is then isolated and cooled. The fibrous product thus obtained is particularly suitable for use in preparing meat substitute products.

Process for the preparation of a fibrous product comprising protein and having a moisture content of at least 65% by weight by first preparing a homogenous mixture of protein material comprising cheese, a moisture binder material, a calcium-complex forming agent, a hydrocolloid which precipitates with metal cations and water at a temperature from 70 to 90° C. under high shear with the pH of the homogenous mixture being from 6.4 to 7.5. The homogenous mixture has a water content of at least 75% by weight, whilst total protein content is from 5 to 20% by weight. A solution of a metal cation with a valency of at least 2 is subsequently added in order to form the fibrous product. This fibrous product is then isolated and cooled. The fibrous product thus obtained is particularly suitable for use in preparing meat substitute products.

Process for the preparation of a fibrous product comprising protein, which process comprises the steps of (a) preparing a homogenous mixture of protein material comprising milk protein material, a hydrocolloid which precipitates with metal cations, and water in the presence of a calcium complex-forming agent at a temperature between 50° C. and 90° C.; (b) adding a solution of a metal cation with a valency of at least 2 to the mixture obtained in step (a) in order to form the fibrous product; (c) isolating the fibrous product; (d) cooling the fibrous product, wherein in step (d) the fibrous product is cooled to a temperature below 10° C., preferably between 0 and 7° C., by vacuum cooling. The product thus obtained is particularly suitable for use in preparing meat substitute products.

Process for the preparation of a fibrous product comprising protein, which process comprises the steps of (a) preparing a homogenous mixture of protein material comprising milk protein material, a hydrocolloid which precipitates with metal cations, and water in the presence of a calcium complex-forming agent at a temperature between 50° C. and 90° C.; (b) adding a solution of a metal cation with a valency of at least 2 to the mixture obtained in step (a) in order to form the fibrous product; (c) isolating the fibrous product; (d) cooling the fibrous product, wherein in step (d) the fibrous product is cooled to a temperature below 10° C., preferably between 0 and 7° C., by vacuum cooling. The product thus obtained is particularly suitable for use in preparing meat substitute products.

The present invention relates to a method of inactivation of plasmin enzyme in a milk-based product, wherein casein and whey protein are separated from a milk raw material by microfiltration to provide a casein concentrate as a microfiltration retentate having a whey protein content of less than 20 wt. %, based on the total protein content of the concentrate, and a whey protein concentrate as a microfiltration permeate; the casein concentrate is subjected to a thermal treatment at a temperature in the range of about 72° C. to about 95° C. to provide a thermally treated casein concentrate; and a milk-based product with a reduced plasmin activity comprising the thermally treated casein concentrate is provided. The milk-based products prepared by the method retain flawless organoleptic properties at different storage temperatures even under prolonged storage periods.

The present invention relates to a method of inactivation of plasmin enzyme in a milk-based product, wherein casein and whey protein are separated from a milk raw material by microfiltration to provide a casein concentrate as a microfiltration retentate having a whey protein content of less than 20 wt. %, based on the total protein content of the concentrate, and a whey protein concentrate as a microfiltration permeate; the casein concentrate is subjected to a thermal treatment at a temperature in the range of about 72° C. to about 95° C. to provide a thermally treated casein concentrate; and a milk-based product with a reduced plasmin activity comprising the thermally treated casein concentrate is provided. The milk-based products prepared by the method retain flawless organoleptic properties at different storage temperatures even under prolonged storage periods.

The present disclosure includes denatured whey protein compositions. The compositions include at least 60 wt. % protein on a dry weight basis, less than 8 wt. % native glycomacropeptide (GMP), greater than 2 wt. % enzymatically hydrolyzed GMP relative to the total weight of the protein, a proteolysis index of at least 8 wt. %, and greater than 50 wt. % denatured whey proteins relative to the total weight of the protein.

The present disclosure includes denatured whey protein compositions. The compositions include at least 60 wt. % protein on a dry weight basis, less than 8 wt. % native glycomacropeptide (GMP), greater than 2 wt. % enzymatically hydrolyzed GMP relative to the total weight of the protein, a proteolysis index of at least 8 wt. %, and greater than 50 wt. % denatured whey proteins relative to the total weight of the protein.

The present invention relates to a whey-derived polar lipid-concentrated fraction composition, being a single-phase composition derived from a whey protein concentrate, wherein the composition is derived from a fraction obtained by treating the whey protein concentrate with a water-containing spirit, a total lipid content is 90 percent by weight (wt %) or more with respect to a dry weight of the composition, and a phospholipid content is 35 wt % or more with respect to the total lipid weight. According to the present invention, a whey-derived polar lipid-concentrated fraction composition in a stable form that maximizes emulsification and physiological functionality may be prepared.