Abstract: A fermentation starter composition for fermented milk products such as cheese, buttermilk, sour cream and yogurt, formed from an inherently buffered, concentrated milk protein concentrate which is a retentate formed by ultrafiltering milk and a milk fermenting, acid production causing bacteria. The compositions maintain a predetermined pH range for a substantial time period due to the inherent buffering capacity for the composition. The starters are useful in making fermented products.

Abstract: A coffee whitener composition made from decreamed milk ultrafiltration retentate having its protein concentrated between about 2:1 to about 4:1 compared to the protein content of the starting milk and a minor whitening power enhancing amount is added in the form of riboflavin (a vitamin) and beta carotene (a vitamin precursor) or a mixture thereof. The composition is usually in powdered form and is high in protein, low in fat and sodium and reduced in lactose and its high protein enhanced as described provided a low-fat dairy coffee whitening function approximately equal to non-dairy coffee creamers.

Abstract: A method of removing penicillin G and/or pharmaceutical antibiotics which contaminated milk by:(a) Subjecting the contaminated milk to an ultrafiltration process which produces a permeate containing the contamining antibiotic and a retentate comprising milk proteins and fats.(b) Adding a non-antibiotic containing retentate diluting (washing) aqueous fluid including uncontaminated ultrafiltered milk permeate, uncontaminated whole milk, uncontaminated skimmilk, or uncontaminated acid or sweet whey, or a mixture thereof to the retentate to dilute the retentate.(c) Subjecting the diluted (washed) retentate to the ultrafiltration process from additional antibiotic containing permeate thereby forming a milk product comprising retentate having a reduced level of or substantially free of antibiotics.

Abstract: This invention relates to low sodium chloride ripened rennet cheeses and particularly cheddar cheeses. The cheeses generally contain less than about 1.2 percent sodium chloride, and preferably between about 1 percent and about 0.7 percent sodium chloride for cheddar cheeses and its sub-types. The cheeses are made from milk having its total protein content increased from about 1.1 to about 2 times and preferably 1.3 to about 1.9 times its original total protein content by the use of ultrafiltration.

Abstract: Blue cheese flavored products are produced by forming a mixture of whey, food fat, salt and water, homogenizing and pasteurizing the mixture, adding lipase and Penicillium roqueforti spores to the mixture and fermenting. Alternatively, a mixture of food fat, salt and water is pasteurized and fermented with lipase and Penicillium roqueforti spores, and the resultant fermented mixture is mixed with a retentate produced by ultrafiltration of a milk product. The blue cheese flavored products have an extremely high quotient of flavor which can be blended with other foods to impart a blue cheese flavor.

Abstract: A method was developed for producing cheddar cheese from pasteurized milk characterized by the addition of enzyme preparations to the cheddared curds prior to curing. An enzyme mixture of food grade lipase, microbial and animal, and neutral protease is added to substantially reduce the curing time of the cheese and at the same time impart the appropriate cheddar cheese flavor with minimum bitterness and rancidity. Optionally, peptidase enzyme may be added.

Abstract: A method for producing blue cheese from pasteurized or heat treated milk, characterized by the addition to the cheese curds from which the whey has been drained, of a mixture of lipase, a Penicillium mold spore species, and salt. The Penicillium species may include Penicillium roqueforti or Penicillium glaucum, and the lipase is preferably a microbial lipase formed from Aspergilli ssp., Penicillium ssp. or Rhizopus ssp., or suitable animal lipase sources. The resultant cheese product is imparted with the appropriate blue cheese flavor with required rancidity in a greatly shortened period of time (i.e., about 2 to 4 months).