The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 09, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 27, 1999
Xiao-Qing Han, Glenview, IL (US);
Joseph E. Spradlin, Hot Springs, AR (US);
Kraft Foods, Inc., Northfield, IL (US);
Abstract
The invention provides a dairy composition containing a complex of a casein-complexing whey protein digestion product and casein micelles, and methods for their preparation. Also provided are the digestion product and methods for its preparation. The digestion product is provided by the action of a non-rennet protease on whey protein, such that the digestion product remains with the curds when a composition including the complex is subjected to a renneting process that provides curds and a supernatant. The resulting curds also include casein degradation products. The non-rennet protease is the bacterial protease Novo SP 446. The invention additionally provides a cheese composition and a cheese product obtained by renneting a dairy composition containing the casein-complexing whey protein digestion product described herein and casein micelles. The resulting cheese composition includes whey protein digestion products and casein degradation products. Methods of preparing the cheese composition and the cheese product are also provided. Additionally, the casein-complexing whey protein digestion product may be added directly to a cheese substance such as a processed cheese, a cottage cheese, and a cream cheese to provide a cheese product.