Abstract: The invention relates to dried milk protein concentrates and their use. In particular the invention relates to such dried concentrates which have been calcium-depleted to an extent which allows improvements in the use of dried milk protein concentrates in cheese manufacture. The invention includes a method of cheese manufacture comprising: (a) dispersing in milk a dried MPC or MPI having at least 70% dry matter as milk protein; (b) treating the resulting mixture with one or more coagulating enzymes to produce a curd; and (c) processing the curd to make cheese; wherein the dried MPC or MPI is a calcium-depleted MPCF or MPI and the extend of calcium depletion is sufficient to allow manufacture of substantially nugget-free cheese.

Abstract: The invention relates to dried milk protein concentrates and their use. In particular the invention relates to such dried concentrates which have been calcium-depleted to an extent which allows improvements in the use of dried milk protein concentrates in cheese manufacture. The invention includes a method of cheese manufacture comprising: (a) dispersing in milk a dried MPC or MPI having at least 70% dry matter as milk protein; (b) treating the resulting mixture with one or more coagulating enzymes to produce a curd; and (c) processing the curd to make cheese; wherein the dried MPC or MPI is a calcium-depleted MPCF or MPI and the extend of calcium depletion is sufficient to allow manufacture of substantially nugget-free cheese.

Abstract: The invention relates to a simplified, rapid method which is suitable for making a variety of cheese and cheese products, including natural and processed cheese, in a single installation with common equipment. In particular, the invention concerns a method of making cheese, comprising the steps of: (a) concentrating milk or a reconstituted dry milk, having its pH adjusted to about 5.0 to 6.8, by ultrafiltration and diafiltration to produce a retentate; (b) supplementing said retentate with a protein concentrate or isolate and, optionally, fat and/or flavor; and (c) heating the mixture to produce a smooth consistency.

Abstract: A process is described for treating an approximately neutral fluid milk composition, including milk protein concentrate and milk plus added whey, by selecting an alkali, adjusting the pH upward, heating, cooling, selecting an acid, and adjusting the pH down before ultrafiltering and, in a more preferred process, thereafter diafiltering the treated composition. Selection of the appropriate alkali, pH values, temperatures, acid, and membrane filter porosity results in improved yields of retentate proteins having selected compositions with improved utility, including a more palatable flavor, a brod range of solution viscosities, an increase in the solubility of the dried retentates in cold water to nearly 100%, and an increase in the calcium content of the membrane filtered retentate by about 50% compared to a similar retentate from standard milk.