Milk-based product

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a milk-based product, comprising the steps of: providing a milk raw material; altering a ratio of casein to total protein of the milk raw material to less than about 0.80; subjecting the milk raw material with the altered ratio of casein to total protein from step b) to a heat treatment at the temperature of at least about 150° C. for a period of at most about 0.3 sec; cooling the heat-treated milk raw material from step c) to provide the milk-based product. The method provides milk-based products with long shelf life and good organoleptic properties.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A milk-based product comprising:
 an altered casein/total protein ratio of less than about 0.80;   a fat content of 0.05 to 10%;   a protein content of about 0.9 to about 20%; and   a plasmin activity of less than about 22 μmol/gh.   
     
     
         21 . The milk-based product of  claim 20 , wherein the altered casein/total protein ratio is less than about 0.70. 
     
     
         22 . The milk-based product of  claim 20 , wherein the fat content is 1.0 to 3.0%. 
     
     
         23 . The milk-based product of  claim 20 , wherein the protein content is about 1.3% to about 10%. 
     
     
         24 . The milk-based product of  claim 20 , wherein the plasmin activity is less than about 6 μmol/gh. 
     
     
         25 . The milk-based product of  claim 20 , wherein the milk-based product has no plasmin activity. 
     
     
         26 . The milk-based product of  claim 20 , wherein the milk-based product is selected from milk beverages, milk products with increased whey protein content, infant formula with reduced total protein content, baby food with reduced total protein content, yoghurt, fermented milk, viili, fermented cream, sour cream, quark, butter milk, kefir, dairy shot drinks, cream cheese, or ice cream. 
     
     
         27 . A milk-based product comprising:
 an altered casein/total protein ratio of less than about 0.80;   a fat content of 0.05 to 10%;   a protein content of about 0.9 to about 20%; and   a plasmin activity of less than about 6 μmol/gh.   
     
     
         28 . The milk-based product of  claim 27 , wherein the altered casein/total protein ratio is less than about 0.70. 
     
     
         29 . The milk-based product of  claim 27 , wherein the fat content is 1.0 to 3.0%. 
     
     
         30 . The milk-based product of  claim 27 , wherein the protein content is about 1.3% to about 10%. 
     
     
         31 . The milk-based product of  claim 27 , wherein the milk-based product has no plasmin activity. 
     
     
         32 . The milk-based product of  claim 27 , wherein the milk-based product is selected from milk beverages, milk products with increased whey protein content, infant formula with reduced total protein content, baby food with reduced total protein content, yoghurt, fermented milk, viili, fermented cream, sour cream, quark, butter milk, kefir, dairy shot drinks, cream cheese, or ice cream. 
     
     
         33 . A milk-based product comprising:
 an altered casein/total protein ratio of less than about 0.80;   a fat content of 0.05 to 10%; and   a protein content of about 0.9 to about 20%;   wherein the milk-based product has no plasmin activity.   
     
     
         34 . The milk-based product of  claim 33 , wherein the altered casein/total protein ratio is less than about 0.70. 
     
     
         35 . The milk-based product of  claim 33 , wherein the fat content is 1.0 to 3.0%. 
     
     
         36 . The milk-based product of  claim 33 , wherein the protein content is about 1.3% to about 10%. 
     
     
         37 . The milk-based product of  claim 33 , wherein the milk-based product is selected from milk beverages, milk products with increased whey protein content, infant formula with reduced total protein content, baby food with reduced total protein content, yoghurt, fermented milk, viili, fermented cream, sour cream, quark, butter milk, kefir, dairy shot drinks, cream cheese, or ice cream.