Methods related to producing a fermented plant-based food product comprising high protein content.

Cultured plant-based cheese compositions are formed from a plant-based emulsion made from legume material, seed material, or a combination thereof; coagulated into curds using a coagulating agent; and combined with one or more microbial cultures and proteolytic enzymes, which serve to develop flavor and texture during aging. Whey is then driven from the curds using a mechanical process to exert pressure on the curds. The cultured plant-based cheese composition may further include plant fats; sugars that serve to support the growth and fermentation of the microbial cultures; other ingredients that contribute to flavor development such as citrate or citric acid; or any combination thereof. Further flavor development occurs during aging, where the curds are maintained at temperatures of 0-16° C. for up to two years or more. In preferred variations, the cultured plant-based cheese composition does not comprise nuts.

Disclosed are processes for producing cultured dairy products, such as yogurt, that are shelf-stable without refrigeration. Such processes can include contacting a milk base having from 0.5 to 1.9 wt. % milk sugar with a lactic acid bacteria culture and aseptically packaging in a container, followed by storage under conditions suitable to result in a pH of less than 4.7.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a method for producing a plant-based fermented milk that is highly versatile regardless of the type of lactic acid bacteria and the status of production equipment and has little deterioration in flavor after fermentation, in view of such circumstances. This method for producing a plant-based fermented milk is characterized by adding, to a fermentation raw material, containing a plant-based milk and containing a lipid, 0.1 to 2% by weight of a protein hydrolyzate, containing at least 3% by weight of free amino acids, with respect to the solid content of the fermentation raw material, and subjecting the mixture to lactic acid fermentation.

Fermented milk bases and methods of making fermented milk bases are disclosed. Such fermented milk bases are solid and contain little or no non-dairy stabilizers and non-dairy thickeners. Also disclosed are packaged food products including the disclosed fermented milk bases.

Disclosed are processes for producing cultured dairy products, such as yogurt, that are shelf-stable without refrigeration. Such processes can include contacting a milk base having from 0.5 to 1.9 wt. % milk sugar with a lactic acid bacteria culture and aseptically packaging in a container, followed by storage under conditions suitable to result in a pH of less than 4.7.

Fermented milk bases and methods of making fermented milk bases are disclosed. Such fermented milk bases are solid and contain little or no non-dairy stabilizers and non-dairy thickeners. Also disclosed are packaged food products including the disclosed fermented milk bases.

Disclosed are processes for producing cultured dairy products, such as yogurt, that are shelf-stable without refrigeration. Such processes can include contacting a milk base having from 0.5 to 1.9 wt. % milk sugar with a lactic acid bacteria culture and aseptically packaging in a container, followed by storage under conditions suitable to result in a pH of less than 4.7.

A process to ferment lactose and molasses, to obtain unicellular biomass is disclosed. The described process allows obtaining a product of high protein value which will be in the range of 50 to 90% for its application in the food industry. The process uses as a means of propagation whey of cheese or molasses, for the use by Kluyveromyces marxianus to obtain unicellular biomass and subsequently unicellular protein.

The invention relates to a process for producing a nutritional product comprising fermented whey protein by subjecting an aqueous medium comprising non-digestible oligosaccharides and either whey protein concentrate (WPC) or whey protein isolate (WPI) to at least one strain of lactic acid bacteria and optionally yeast. Compared to acidified whey protein drinks, a drink based on fermented whey has a better taste due to the broader acid spectrum and does not need separate acid addition for obtaining an ambient stable product.