Milk-based formulation

Abstract

The invention relates to a milk-based formulation with a reduced carbohydrate content, having a ratio of carbohydrates to protein of at most 1.1, a protein content of at least 5.4% on dry matter basis, and a ratio of ash to protein is substantially similar to that of a milk raw material used as a starting material, and a method for the preparation thereof. The milk-based formulation can be used in the preparation of a recombined milk product with a reduced lactose content, having a full taste of normal milk without any deficiencies in its organoleptic properties.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A milk-based formulation with a reduced carbohydrate content, having a ratio of carbohydrates to protein of at most 1.1, a protein content of at least 45% on dry matter basis, and a ratio of ash to protein is substantially similar to that of a milk raw material used as a starting material. 
     
     
         32 . The milk-based formulation of  claim 31 , wherein the ratio of carbohydrates to protein is at most 0.9. 
     
     
         33 . The milk-based formulation of  claim 32 , wherein the ratio of carbohydrates to protein is at most 0.4. 
     
     
         34 . The milk-based formulation of  claim 31 , wherein the ratio of carbohydrates to protein is at least 0.02. 
     
     
         35 . The milk-based formulation of  claim 31 , wherein a ratio of the monovalent minerals to protein is substantially similar to that of the milk raw material. 
     
     
         36 . The milk-based formulation of  claim 31 , which is powder. 
     
     
         37 . The milk-based formulation of  claim 31 , comprising a milk protein concentrate from ultrafiltration of the milk raw material. 
     
     
         38 . The milk-based formulation of  claim 31 , comprising a reverse osmosis concentrate of milk minerals obtained from a nanofiltration permeate derived from nanofiltration of an ultrafiltration permeate of the milk raw material. 
     
     
         39 . The milk-based formulation of  claim 31 , comprising a fraction comprising protein and minerals from chromatographic separation of the milk raw material. 
     
     
         40 . The milk-based formulation of  claim 31 , comprising 45 to 65% protein, 4.6 to 41% carbohydrates, and 1.0 to 14% ash on non-fat total solid basis. 
     
     
         41 . The milk-based formulation of  claim 31 , comprising about 48 to 60% protein, about 24 to 43% carbohydrates, and about 10 to 13% ash on non-fat total solid basis. 
     
     
         42 . A process for preparing a milk-based formulation with a reduced carbohydrate content of  claim 31 , comprising removing carbohydrates from a milk raw material to provide the milk-based formulation with a reduced carbohydrate content. 
     
     
         43 . The process of  claim 42 , wherein the removal of carbohydrates is performed by means of enzymes, chromatography, precipitation, membrane filtration technique or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The process of  claim 42 , comprising
 a) separating components of a milk raw material into a protein fraction, carbohydrate fraction and mineral fraction,   b) combining at least a portion of the protein fraction and of the mineral fraction to provide the milk-based formulation.   
     
     
         45 . The process of  claim 44 , wherein the separation is accomplished by ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis. 
     
     
         46 . The process of  claim 45 , wherein the milk raw material is subjected to ultrafiltration (UF) to provide an UF permeate, and the protein fraction as an UF retentate. 
     
     
         47 . The process of  claim 46 , wherein the ultrafiltration permeate is subjected to nanofiltration (NF) to provide a NF permeate, and the carbohydrate fraction as a NF retentate, and the NF permeate is subjected to reverse osmosis (RO) to provide the mineral fraction as an RO retentate. 
     
     
         48 . The process of  claim 44 , wherein one or both of the protein fraction and the mineral fraction is concentrated to a dry matter content of at least 17%. 
     
     
         49 . The process of  claim 42 , wherein the milk-based formulation is concentrated to powder. 
     
     
         50 . A process for producing a recombined milk product having a reduced carbohydrate content, comprising
 recombining milk powder having a ratio of carbohydrates to protein of at most 1.1 and a protein content of at least 45% on dry matter basis, and a liquid and optional other ingredients to provide the recombined milk product with a reduced carbohydrate content.   
     
     
         51 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein the recombined milk is a beverage. 
     
     
         52 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein the carbohydrate content of the recombined milk product is at most 3.1% by weight. 
     
     
         53 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein the recombined milk product is subjected to a heat treatment. 
     
     
         54 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein any residual lactose of the recombined milk product is hydrolysed. 
     
     
         55 . The process of  claim 54 , wherein any residual lactose of the recombined milk product is hydrolysed after the heat treatment. 
     
     
         56 . The process of  claim 50 , wherein the amount of the milk powder in the recombined milk product is 0.5 to 15% by weight, preferably 2 to 7% by weight.