Process for the production of UHT milk with improved taste characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10271563-B2
Application number	US-201715616437-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2017
Priority date	Jun 8, 2016
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

Suggested is a process for the production of a UHT milk with improved taste characteristics, comprising the following steps:
(a) providing a raw milk; (b) separating the raw milk into a skimmed milk fraction and a cream fraction; (c) microfiltration or diafiltration of the skimmed milk fraction, obtaining a casein-containing retentate R 1 and a fine whey as permeate P 1; (d) ultrafiltration of the fine whey of step (c), obtaining a permeate P 2 that is rich in lactose and minerals, and a protein-rich retentate R 2; (e) mixing the cream fraction, the retentate R 1 containing the casein and the permeate P 2 containing the lactose and minerals, obtaining a mixed fraction M 1; (f) ultra-high temperature treatment of the mixed fraction M 1 of step (e); (g) pasteurization of the protein-rich retentate R 2 obtained in step (d); and (h) mixing the ultra-heat treated fraction M 1 of step (f) with the pasteurized retentate R 2 of step (g), obtaining the target product.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A process for the production of a UHT milk with improved taste characteristics, comprising the following steps:
(a) providing a raw milk;
(b) separating the raw milk into a skimmed milk fraction and a cream fraction;
(c) microfiltration or diafiltration of the skimmed milk fraction, obtaining a casein-containing retentate R 1 and a fine whey as permeate P 1 ;
(d) ultrafiltration of the fine whey of step (c), obtaining a permeate P 2 that is rich in lactose and minerals, and a protein-rich retentate R 2 ;
(e) mixing the cream fraction, the retentate R 1 containing the casein and the permeate P 2 containing the lactose and minerals, obtaining a mixed fraction M 1 ;
(f) ultra-high temperature treatment of the mixed fraction M 1 of step; (e);
(g) pasteurization of the protein-rich retentate R 2 obtained in step (d); and
(h) mixing the ultra-heat treated fraction M 1 of step (f) with the pasteurized retentate R 2 of step (g), obtaining the target product.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein separation is performed under hot conditions at a temperature in the range from about 20 to about 60° C.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein separation is performed under cold conditions at a temperature in the range from about 8 to about 18° C.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein microfiltration or diafiltration is performed with a membrane having an average pore size from about 0.1 to about 1 μm.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein microfiltration or diafiltration is performed at a temperature in the range from about 10 to about 60° C.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein ultrafiltration is performed with a membrane having an average pore size from about 1,000 to about 5,000 nm.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein ultrafiltration is performed at a temperature in the range from about 10 to about 60° C.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein ultra-high temperature treatment is performed for a period from about 1 to about 10 seconds at a temperature in the range from about 100 to about 145° C.

9. The process of claim 1 , wherein pasteurisation is performed for a period from about 10 to about 20 seconds at a temperature in the range from about 70 to about 75° C.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the UHT milk with improved taste characteristics is converted to a dry powder after mixing in step (h).

Assignees

• Dmk Deutsches Milchkontor Gmbh

Inventors

• Döring Sven-Rainer

Classifications

• A23C9/1425

  by ultrafiltration, microfiltration or diafiltration of whey, e.g. treatment of the UF permeate · CPC title

• A23C2210/252

  Separating a milk product in at least two fractions followed by treatment of at least one of the fractions and remixing at least part of the two fractions · CPC title

• A23L5/21

  by heating without chemical treatment, e.g. steam treatment, cooking · CPC title

• A23C9/1512

  containing isolated milk or whey proteins, caseinates or cheese; Enrichment of milk products with milk proteins in isolated or concentrated form, e.g. ultrafiltration retentate · CPC title

• A23C3/03

  Human Necessities · mapped topic