The present invention relates to a milk concentrate comprising caseins and whey proteins in the ratio of 90:10 to 60:40, wherein the caseins/whey protein aggregates have a volume based mean diameter value Dv50 of at least 1 μm as measured by laser diffraction. The invention also relates to a process for preparing a milk concentrate comprising the steps of providing a liquid milk concentrate, adjusting pH to 5.7-6.4, heat treating for 3-300 s at 80-150° C. and cooling to <70° C. Also, the use of the milk concentrate for producing a ready-to-drink beverage, culinary sauces and concentrated milk concentrates is described.

The present invention relates to a milk powder comprising caseins and whey proteins wherein the powder upon reconstitution in an aqueous medium comprises casein-whey protein/fat aggregates having a mean diameter value Dv50 of at least 1 mycrom as measured by laser diffraction. The invention also relates to a process for preparing a milk powder including the steps of providing a liquid milk concentrate at T<25° C., adjusting pH to 5.7-6.4, heating at 80-150° C. for 3-300 s, cooling to below 70° C. and optionally readjusting the pH to between 6.5-6.8, drying the composition, and the milk powder obtained by this process for producing growing up milks, culinary sauces, coffee mixes, tea and coffee creamer or cocoa-malt beverages.

The present invention relates to beverage products. In particular, the invention is concerned with a protein system induced by controlled aggregation of milk proteins which imparts outstanding sensory attributes on beverage product, in particular when containing low fat and/or low sugar. A method of producing such beverage and the products obtainable from the method are also part of the present invention.

The invention relates to a method of producing a shelf stable ready-to-drink beverage product, comprising the steps of: providing an ingredient composition comprising micellar caseins and whey protein, having a total protein concentration of 1.5-8 wt. %, and wherein the composition has a casein to whey protein ratio of 90/10-60/40, adding divalent cations to provide a concentration of 3-20 mM free divalent cations in the ingredient composition, and 0.025-0.3 wt % of a stabilizing system comprising hydrocolloids, and subsequently heat treating the ingredient composition at ultra high temperature (UHT) at 135-150° C. for 3-30 s to form agglomerated proteins comprising casein and beta-lactoglobulin from the whey protein, the agglomerates having a size of 5-30 microns mean diameter D(4,3) as measured by laser diffraction. The invention also relates to a shelf stable ready-to-drink beverage product comprising aggregated proteins comprising micellar caseins and whey protein aggregates, wherein the product has a pH of 6.6-7.2, 1.5-8.0 wt. % milk proteins, a casein to whey protein ratio of 90/10-60/40, and a concentration of 3-20 mM divalent cations, and the aggregates are of 5-30 microns mean diameter D(4,3) as measured by laser diffraction.

The present invention relates to beverage products. In particular, the invention is concerned with a protein system induced by controlled aggregation of milk proteins which imparts outstanding sensory attributes on beverage product, in particular when containing low fat and/or low sugar. A method of producing such beverage and the products obtainable from the method are also part of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a beverage composition comprising a beverage mix component and a milk powder, wherein at least part of the milk powder comprises caseins and whey proteins wherein the milk powder has a mean diameter value Dv50 of at least 1 pm as measured by laser diffraction. The invention also relates to a process for producing and dispensing such a beverage composition. A capsule holding such a composition is also taught.

The invention relates to a method of producing a shelf stable ready-to-drink beverage product, comprising the steps of: providing an ingredient composition comprising micellar caseins and whey protein, having a total protein concentration of 1.5-8 wt. %, and wherein the composition has a casein to whey protein ratio of 90/10-60/40, adding divalent cations to provide a concentration of 3-20 mM free divalent cations in the ingredient composition, and 0.025-0.3 wt % of a stabilizing system comprising hydrocolloids, and subsequently heat treating the ingredient composition at ultra high temperature (UHT) at 135-150 C. for 3-30 s to form agglomerated proteins comprising casein and beta-lactoglobulin from the whey protein, the agglomerates having a size of 5-30 microns mean diameter D(4,3) as measured by laser diffraction. The invention also relates to a shelf stable ready-to-drink beverage product comprising aggregated proteins comprising micellar caseins and whey protein aggregates, wherein the product has a pH of 6.6-7.2, 1.5-8.0 wt. % milk proteins, a casein to whey protein ratio of 90/10-60/40, and a concentration of 3-20 mM divalent cations, and the aggregates are of 5-30 microns mean diameter D(4,3) as measured by laser diffraction.

The present invention relates to creams and methods of producing creams comprising protein aggregates which contribute to the improvement of creaminess, mouthfeel and texture. The creams comprise caseins and whey proteins in the ratio of 90:10 to 60:40, wherein the caseins/whey protein aggregates have a volume-based mean diameter d(4,3) of 5-30 micrometer as measured by laser diffraction. The process for preparing a cream comprising the steps of: a) providing a liquid cream at a temperature below 25 C., said cream comprising caseins and whey proteins in the ratio of 90:10 to 60:40; b) adjusting the pH of the cream provided in step a) in the range of 5.7 to 6.4; c) subjecting the cream obtained in step b) to a heat sterilization treatment at a temperature above 100 C.; d) cooling the cream obtained in step c) below 70 C. Food compositions are also claimed.

The present invention relates to evaporated milks and methods of producing evaporated milks comprising protein aggregates which contribute to the improvement of creaminess, mouthfeel and texture. Especially, the invention concerns an evaporated milk comprising caseins and whey proteins in the ratio of 90:10 to 60:40 and having a total solids content of at least 10 wt % and of less than 30 wt %, based on the total weight of the evaporated milk, wherein the caseins/whey protein aggregates have a volume-based mean diameter d(4,3) of 1-80 pm as measured by laser diffraction. Furthermore, the process for preparing an evaporated milk comprises the steps of: a) providing a liquid evaporated milk at a temperature below 25 C., said evaporated milk comprising caseins and whey proteins in the ratio of 90:10 to 60:40 and having a total solids content of at least 10 wt % and of less than 30 wt %, based on the total weight of the evaporated milk; b) adjusting pH of the evaporated milk provided in step a) in the range of 5.7 to 6.4; c) subjecting the evaporated milk obtained in step b) to a heat sterilization treatment at a temperature above 100 C.; d) cooling the evaporated milk obtained in step c) below 70 C. A food or beverage containing the milk as well as the use of the milk for producing a food or beverage are also disclosed.

Disclosed is a protein mixture and also to a food composition including such a mixture for feeding adult individuals, sportsmen and sportswomen, elderly individuals, or individuals requiring an improvement in their physical condition, such as individuals who are ill, bedridden, in a weak state, undernourished or suffering from sarcopenia. The protein mixture includes a mixture of plant proteins and of milk proteins in a hydrolyzed wheat protein/milk protein weight ratio A of between 55/45 and 20/80, wherein the milk proteins are a mixture of casein and serum proteins in a casein/serum protein weight ratio B of between 70/30 and 20/80.