The invention relates to a method of separating components from milk, and the apparatus used therefor. The invention also relates to compositions prepared from the separated components. The present invention relates to nutritional milk compositions and products which are designed to include per serving size a specified percentage range of one or more components separated from milk. The compositions of the present invention can optionally include non-essential but nutritionally functional components. The complete nutritional milk compositions of the present invention can be provided as unflavored milks, flavored milks, ice creams and yogurts.

The invention relates to a method of separating components from milk and utilizing the separated components to form blended dairy compositions. The present invention relates to nutritional milk compositions and products which are designed to include per serving size a specified percentage range of one or more components separated from milk. The compositions of the present invention can optionally include non-essential but nutritionally functional components.

The invention relates to a method of modification of dry matter composition and/or dry matter content of milk, comprising the steps of: providing raw milk having a fat content in the range of about 3% w/w to about 60% w/w; modifying a dry matter composition and/or dry matter content of the raw milk to provide a modified raw milk having a fat content in the range of about 35% w/w to about 60% w/w based on the total weight of the modified raw milk, and a protein content of at most 3% (w/w) and/or carbohydrate content of at most 4% (w/w) based on a fat-free portion of the modified raw milk. The invention further relates to a method of production of butter, wherein the milk with the modified dry matter composition and/or dry matter content is churned to provide butter.

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.

Embodiments of the invention as described herein relate to reduced sugar dairy products, and compositions including such products, which can offer the nutritional benefits of dairy consumption without the consumption of sugar, and methods for producing the same. Some embodiments relate to reduced protein, reduced sugar dairy products or high protein, reduced sugar dairy products, either with or without one or more mineral salt to modify perceived mouthfeel. In some embodiments, the reduced sugar dairy products can include beverages, concentrates, or powders. Further embodiments relate to methods for producing reduced sugar dairy products.

The invention relates to a whey protein product having a ratio of whey protein to casein in the range from about 25:75 to about less than 50:50, a total protein content of at least 20% on dry matter basis, and a protein content of about 2.5 to about 8% by weight, based on the weight of the product. The product has a favourable amino acid composition and is especially suitable for athletes. The invention also relates to a method for producing a whey protein product, using microfiltration and ultrafiltration. The whey protein product is composed of the ultrafiltration retentate and a casein-containing material at a ratio of whey protein to casein of about 20:80 to about less than 50:50 and a total protein content of at least about 20% on dry matter basis.

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.

Dairy products are produced by subjecting a starting dairy material to nanofiltration to remove monovalent ions to produce an ion-depleted dairy permeate; passing the ion-depleted dairy permeate through an ion exchange column and subsequently with a sodium-containing eluting solution to produce sodium phosphate and sodium citrate derived from the starting material; concentrating the sodium phosphate and sodium citrate; and combining the concentrated sodium phosphate and sodium citrate with dairy components. The dairy product contains an amount of the concentrated sodium phosphate and sodium citrate sufficient to cause fat in the dairy product to be emulsified and protein in the dairy product to be hydrated. In addition or alternatively, a dairy by-product stream may be subjected to ion exchange to remove calcium therefrom; concentrated, and combined with dairy materials naturally containing phosphate and citrate in order to adjust the citrate+phosphate-to-calcium ratio to reach an emulsified dairy product.

A method of producing sialyloligosaccharides a sialyloligosaccharides-containing source that also contains carbohydrates and minerals. The process includes subjecting the source to a temperature of from about 67 C. and (i) filtration with a heat-resistant filter at a temperature of about 35 to about 95 C. to produce a first retentate and first permeate, or (ii) centrifugal separation to produce a light phase and a heavy phase and filtration of the light phase at a temperature of about 50 to about 70 C. to produce a first retentate and first permeate, (b) nanofiltration of the first permeate, or nanofiltration and diafiltration of the first permeate, to produce a second retentate and second permeate, and (c) concentration of the second retentate, to produce a sialyloligosaccharide-containing extract. Additionally, the invention relates to a sialyloligosaccharide-enriched composition comprising at least 3-sialyllactose and 6-sialyllactoseand its use in, for example, nutritional and infant formulas, and for maintaining or improving cognitive function.