CMP-containing, high protein denatured whey protein compositions, products containing them, and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a new type of CMP-containing, high protein denatured whey protein compositions and to a method of producing them. The invention furthermore pertains to products containing the high protein denatured whey protein compositions, particularly high protein, acidified dairy products, and additional uses of the denatured whey protein compositions.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A denatured whey protein composition containing:
 a total amount of protein of at least 70% (w/w) on a dry weight basis, 
 a total amount of CMP of at least 16% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein, 
 insoluble whey protein particles having a particle size in the range of 1-10 microns, where the amount of said insoluble whey protein particles is in the range of 50-84% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein. 
 
     
     
       2. The denatured whey protein composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the denatured whey protein composition is:
 a powder, or 
 an aqueous suspension. 
 
     
     
       3. The denatured whey protein composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the total protein:ash content weight ratio is at least 15. 
     
     
       4. The denatured whey protein composition according to  claim 1 , having a weight ratio between CMP and the sum of soluble alpha-lactalbumin and soluble beta-lactoglobulin of at least 1.0. 
     
     
       5. A method of producing a denatured whey protein composition according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of
 a) providing a solution comprising whey protein, said solution having a pH in the range of 5-8, said solution comprising:
 water, 
 a total amount of protein of at least 70% (w/w) on a dry weight basis, 
 a total amount of CMP of at least 16% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein, 
 
 b) heating said solution to a temperature in the range of 70-160 degrees C. and keeping the temperature of the solution within this range for sufficient time to form insoluble whey protein micro particles having a particle size in the range of 1-10 micron, 
 c) optionally, cooling the heat-treated solution, 
 d) optionally, converting the heat-treated solution to a powder, 
 
       wherein at least step b) involves subjecting the solution to mechanical shear. 
     
     
       6. A high protein food product comprising:
 a total amount of protein of at least 4% (w/w), 
 the solids of a denatured whey protein composition according to  claim 1  in an amount of at least 2% (w/w) 
 a total amount of CMP of at least 2% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein. 
 
     
     
       7. A high protein, acidified dairy product containing:
 a total amount of protein of at least 7% (w/w), 
 the solids of a denatured whey protein composition according to  claim 1  in an amount of at least 2% (w/w), 
 a total amount of CMP of at least 2% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein. 
 
     
     
       8. The high protein, acidified dairy product according to  claim 7 , having a total amount of protein of at least 10% (w/w). 
     
     
       9. The high protein, acidified dairy product according to  claim 7 , having a total amount of CMP of at least 5% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein. 
     
     
       10. The high protein, acidified dairy product according to  claim 7 , which is a stirred yogurt. 
     
     
       11. The high protein, acidified dairy product according to  claim 10  having a viscosity of at most 2500 cP. 
     
     
       12. The high protein, acidified dairy product according to  claim 7 , which is a drinking yogurt. 
     
     
       13. The high protein, acidified dairy product according to  claim 12  having a viscosity in the range of 15-200 cP. 
     
     
       14. A method of producing a high protein, acidified dairy product according to  claim 7 , the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a dairy base comprising at least one dairy component and at least one carbohydrate, 
 b) pasteurizing the dairy base at a temperature in the range of 70-150 degrees C. and subsequently cooling the dairy base, 
 c) contacting the heat-treated dairy base with an acidifying agent, 
 d) allowing the acidifying agent to reduce the pH of the dairy base to a pH of at most 5, 
 e) optionally, subjecting the acidified dairy base to one or more additional processing steps, 
 f) optionally, packaging the acidified dairy product in a suitable container, 
 
       wherein:
 I) the dairy base provided in step a) comprises a total amount of protein of at least 7% (w/w), the solids of a denatured whey protein composition in an amount of at least 2% (w/w), and a total amount of CMP of at least 2% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein, or 
 II) an ingredient comprising the solids of denatured whey protein composition is added to the dairy base between steps a) and f) in an amount sufficient to form the acidified dairy product containing:
 a total amount of protein of at least 7% (w/w), 
 the solids of the denatured whey protein composition according in an amount of at least 2% (w/w), and 
 a total amount of CMP of at least 2% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the solids of a denatured whey protein composition are added between steps a) and b), during step b), between steps b) and c), during step c), between steps c) and d), during step d), between steps d) and e), during step e) and/or between steps e) and f). 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the dairy base provided in step a) contains a total amount of CMP of at least 5% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein. 
     
     
       17. A food ingredient powder comprising:
 i. the solids of the denatured whey protein composition according to  claim 1  in an amount of at least 5% (w/w), 
 ii. optionally, a small amount of water 
 iii. one or more additional components selected from the group consisting of:
 a caseinate composition, 
 a concentrate of micellar casein, 
 a milk protein concentrate, and 
 a milk powder. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The food ingredient powder of  claim 17 , wherein the solids of the denatured whey protein composition are in an amount of at least 25% (w/w). 
     
     
       19. The food ingredient powder of  claim 17 , wherein the food ingredient powder has a total protein:ash content weight ratio of at least 15. 
     
     
       20. The food ingredient powder of  claim 17 , wherein the food ingredient powder has a lactose content of at most 35% (w/w). 
     
     
       21. The food ingredient powder of  claim 17 , wherein the food ingredient powder has a fat content of at most 8% (w/w). 
     
     
       22. The denatured whey protein composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further contains:
 i. insoluble whey protein particles having a particle size of more than 10 microns in an amount of at most 10% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein; 
 ii. insoluble whey protein particles having a particle size of less than 0.5 microns in an amount of at most 10% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein; or 
 iii. insoluble whey protein particles having a particle size of more than 10 microns in an amount of at most 10% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein and insoluble whey protein particles having a particle size of less than 0.5 microns in an amount of at most 10% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein. 
 
     
     
       23. A denatured whey protein composition containing:
 a total amount of protein of at least 70% (w/w) on a dry-matter basis,   a weight ratio between total protein and ash content of at least 15, and   insoluble whey protein particles having a particle size in the range of 1-10 microns, wherein the amount of said insoluble whey protein particles is in the range of 50-100% (w/w) relative to the total amount of protein.   
     
     
       24. The denatured whey protein of  claim 23 , wherein the weight ratio between total protein and ash content is at least 20.