Abstract: A high protein cream cheese composition having organoleptic characteristics of cream cheese with lower amounts of protein is described. The cream cheese composition may generally include about 8 to about 20 percent total protein provided from a cheese curd, a cultured dairy liquid, and one or more high protein powders. Methods of making the high protein cream cheese composition are also described.

Abstract: The processes described herein are directed to cream cheese products containing galacto-oligosaccharides and having significantly reduced lactose levels. More specifically, lactose-containing dairy substrates are contacted with lactase enzyme(s) having hydrolytic and trans-galactosylation activities effective for converting at least 20 percent of the lactose in the dairy substrate to galacto-oligosaccharides. The enzyme-treated dairy substrate is then processed into galacto-oligosaccharide containing cream cheese products having reduced lactose levels. The cream cheese products provided herein have excellent nutritional and organoleptic properties.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to cream cheese compositions in which the protein level is reduced to below 6.5 percent, and preferably between about 5 to about 6 percent, with acceptable baking properties. In order to obtain such a cream cheese composition with acceptable baking properties, a stabilizer composition is added to the low protein cream cheese. The stabilizer composition comprises a first stabilizer and a second stabilizer, wherein the first stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of carob gum and tara gum and the second stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of xanthan gum, carrageenan, maltodextrin, pectin, inulin, starch, gelatin, and agar.

Abstract: A whey-based cream cheese food product is disclosed that comprises at least about 60% moisture, less than about 20% fat, less than about 20% protein, wherein the protein component is made up of at least 50% whey protein, and about 0.4 to about 15% of a carbohydrate-based texturizing composition, and methods of manufacture thereof, to provide a food product with a creamy and firm texture comparable to a full fat conventional casein-based cream cheese food product. The carbohydrate-based texturizing composition is made up of about 37 to about 96% low dextrose equivalent maltodextrin or oligofructose, about 1 to about 50% of at least one gum, and optionally about 0.1 to about 19% starch blend. The method of manufacture may include either a fermentation process or a one-day acidification process.

Abstract: A process for producing a high moisture cream cheese having desirable textural characteristics (i.e., increased firmness) is provided. More specifically, the process of the invention provides a high moisture cream cheese with significantly increased firmness by controlling the moisture levels during the manufacturing process at levels below the final target moisture level of the final cream cheese product; the moisture level of the final composition is then adjusted to the final target moisture level by the addition of water. It has surprisingly been found that control of the moisture levels during the manufacturing process in this manner results in-significantly increased levels of firmness in the final cream cheese product. Indeed, the firmness of the high moisture cream cheese product produced using this method is about 5 to about 20 fold greater than standard cream cheese prepared without such moisture control.