The invention relates to methods for reducing off-flavour in milk-related products, said methods comprising the step of oxidizing lactose in a milk-related product to lactobionic acid. The invention further relates to methods of producing packaged, milk-related products, as well as milk-related products produced by the said methods.

The invention provides protein-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles comprising magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to which a lactose-binding protein or enzyme has been immobilized. The protein-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles are particularly suitable for separating lactose from a lactose-containing solution, such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, flavored milk or the like. The protein-functionalized MNPs can be added to the lactose-containing solution and be allowed to bind to the lactose in the solution. The MNPs, to which the lactose is bound, can then be magnetically removed from the solution, e.g. by applying an external magnetic field.