Abstract: Food products and systems and methods for their production involve microfiltration (“MF”) of fluid skim to form a MF retentate, combining the MF retentate with cream and subjecting the combination to ultrafiltration (“UF”) to form a UF retentate. Prior to UF, the composition is formed of non-acidified components. Following UF, the UF retentate is acidified and forms a food product including a high solids content. The solids content may be further increased using evaporation. The resulting cheese or cheese base contains a lower whey protein ratio in a fat:casein:whey protein ratio compared to systems and methods that do not employ MF.

Abstract: Concentrated creams are produced from starting cream compositions characterized as homogenous, oil-in-water emulsions containing fat globules, phospholipid membrane components and non-fat solids, and which have an initial fat content between about 35 to about 55 percent by weight. To produce the concentrated creams, moisture is removed from the starting cream compositions through evaporative processing, and as a result, the concentrated cream remains in a homogenous state, retains the fat globules, phospholipid membrane components and non-fat solids, and includes a concentrated fat content of at least about 70 percent by weight. In addition, the concentrated cream may be in an oil-in-water or a bi-continuous emulsion. Evaporative processing may be through a wiped film evaporator or a scraped surface heat exchanger.

Abstract: Concentrated creams are produced from starting cream compositions characterized as homogenous, oil-in-water emulsions containing fat globules, phospholipid membrane components and non-fat solids, and which have an initial fat content between about 35 to about 55 percent by weight. To produce the concentrated creams, moisture is removed from the starting cream compositions through evaporative processing, and as a result, the concentrated cream remains in a homogenous state, retains the fat globules, phospholipid membrane components and non-fat solids, and includes a concentrated fat content of at least about 70 percent by weight. In addition, the concentrated cream may be in an oil-in-water or a bi-continuous emulsion. Evaporative processing may be through a wiped film evaporator or a scraped surface heat exchanger.

Abstract: Concentrated creams are produced from starting cream compositions characterized as homogenous, oil-in-water emulsions containing fat globules, phospholipid membrane components and non-fat solids, and which have an initial fat content between about 35 to about 55 percent by weight. To produce the concentrated creams, moisture is removed from the starting cream compositions through evaporative processing, and as a result, the concentrated cream remains in a homogenous state, retains the fat globules, phospholipid membrane components and non-fat solids, and includes a concentrated fat content of at least about 70 percent by weight. In addition, the concentrated cream may be in an oil-in-water or a bi-continuous emulsion. Evaporative processing may be through a wiped film evaporator or a scraped surface heat exchanger.

Abstract: Food products and systems and methods for their production involve microfiltration (“MF”) of fluid skim to form a MF retentate, combining the MF retentate with cream and subjecting the combination to ultrafiltration (“UF”) to form a UF retentate. Prior to UF, the composition is formed of non-acidified components. Following UF, the UF retentate is acidified and forms a food product including a high solids content. The solids content may be further increased using evaporation. The resulting cheese or cheese base contains a lower whey protein ratio in a fat:casein:whey protein ratio compared to systems and methods that do not employ MF.

Abstract: Food products and systems and methods for their production involve microfiltration (“MF”) of fluid skim to form a MF retentate, combining the MF retentate with cream and subjecting the combination to ultrafiltration (“UF”) to form a UF retentate. Prior to UF, the composition is formed of non-acidified components. Following UF, the UF retentate is acidified and forms a food product including a high solids content. The solids content may be further increased using evaporation. The resulting cheese or cheese base contains a lower whey protein ratio in a fat:casein:whey protein ratio compared to systems and methods that do not employ MF.

Abstract: Food products including artificial eyes or eye voids interspersed throughout the product are provided by forming a visco-elastic mass of the food product and combining pieces of solidified carbon dioxide with the visco-elastic mass. The solidified carbon dioxide sublimes throughout the visco-elastic mass and forms carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas expands and forms eye voids nearly instantaneously and the fully formed eye voids are provided in the food product in a matter of hours. In addition, gaseous carbon dioxide stored under pressure, such as through encapsulation or in a pressurized vessel, is combined with a visco-elastic mass and the released carbon dioxide gas expands and forms eye voids defined within the visco-elastic mass.

Abstract: Food products and systems and methods for their production involve microfiltration (“MF”) of fluid skim to form a MF retentate, combining the MF retentate with cream and subjecting the combination to ultrafiltration (“UF”) to form a UF retentate. Prior to UF, the composition is formed of non-acidified components. Following UF, the UF retentate is acidified and forms a food product including a high solids content. The solids content may be further increased using evaporation. The resulting cheese or cheese base contains a lower whey protein ratio in a fat:casein:whey protein ratio compared to systems and methods that do not employ MF.

Abstract: Food products and systems and methods for their production involve microfiltration (“MF”) of fluid skim to form a MF retentate, combining the MF retentate with cream and subjecting the combination to ultrafiltration (“UF”) to form a UF retentate. Prior to UF, the composition is formed of non-acidified components. Following UF, the UF retentate is acidified and forms a food product including a high solids content. The solids content may be further increased using evaporation. The resulting cheese or cheese base contains a lower whey protein ratio in a fat:casein:whey protein ratio compared to systems and methods that do not employ MF.

Abstract: Food products and systems and methods for their production involve microfiltration (“MF”) of fluid skim to form a MF retentate, combining the MF retentate with cream and subjecting the combination to ultrafiltration (“UF”) to form a UF retentate. Prior to UF, the composition is formed of non-acidified components. Following UF, the UF retentate is acidified and forms a food product including a high solids content. The solids content may be further increased using evaporation. The resulting cheese or cheese base contains a lower whey protein ratio in a fat:casein:whey protein ratio compared to systems and methods that do not employ MF.

Abstract: Concentrated creams are produced from starting cream compositions characterized as homogenous, oil-in-water emulsions containing fat globules, phospholipid membrane components and non-fat solids, and which have an initial fat content between about 35 to about 55 percent by weight. To produce the concentrated creams, moisture is removed from the starting cream compositions through evaporative processing, and as a result, the concentrated cream remains in a homogenous state, retains the fat globules, phospholipid membrane components and non-fat solids, and includes a concentrated fat content of at least about 70 percent by weight. In addition, the concentrated cream may be in an oil-in-water or a bi-continuous emulsion. Evaporative processing may be through a wiped film evaporator or a scraped surface heat exchanger.

Abstract: Food products including artificial eyes or eye voids interspersed throughout the product are provided by forming a visco-elastic mass of the food product and combining pieces of solidified carbon dioxide with the visco-elastic mass. The solidified carbon dioxide sublimes throughout the visco-elastic mass and forms carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas expands and forms eye voids nearly instantaneously and the fully formed eye voids are provided in the food product in a matter of hours. In addition, gaseous carbon dioxide stored under pressure, such as through encapsulation or in a pressurized vessel, is combined with a visco-elastic mass and the released carbon dioxide gas expands and forms eye voids defined within the visco-elastic mass.