Fonterra Co-Operative Group Limited

Palatasa Havea

Peter Gilbert Wiles

Graeme Shawn Gillies

Skelte Gerald Anema

Michael Jiu Wai Hii

John Edward Grant

Christina Puryer Coker

Stephen Murray Taylor

Siew Kim Lee

The invention relates to the manufacture of a pasta filata cheese comprising a moisture content of at least about 55% by weight, a solids-non-fat content of up to about 45% by weight, the solids-non-fat comprising at least about 70% by weight protein, the protein comprising at least about 65% by weight casein, and a mineral content comprising a total divalent cation content of about 25 to about 75 mMol of divalent cations/100 g casein, and a total monovalent cation content of about 100 to about 250 mMol monovalent cations/100 g casein, and a total cation content of about 150 to about 300 mMol total cations/100 g casein.

Dairy product and processes

A method for preparing a modified whey protein concentrate (WPC) or whey protein isolate (WPI) is described. It involves (a) providing an aqueous WPC or WPI solution having a protein concentration of 15-50% (w/v), at a pH of 4.7-8.5; (b) heat treating the solution to more than 50 DEG C, for a time that allows protein denaturation to occur the heat treating comprising heating the solution while under conditions of turbulent flow. At the end of the heat treatment, the heat treated material may be promptly transferred to a drier or to be mixed with other ingredients. The heat-treated WPC or WPI is not subjected to a mechanical shear process prior to the transfer other than where liquid is converted into droplets to facilitate drying. The modified WPC is useful in the manufacture of food and drinks where a high protein content is desired without undesirable changes in texture.

Dairy product and process

Processed cheese is prepared in a process where the ingredients include at least 0.5% non-denatured whey protein concentrate and at least 0.5% denatured whey protein concentrate. The method can be used to prepared processed cheese with improved melting characteristics.

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Palmerston North, New Zealand

Palatasa Havea