Method for producing a high protein food
AssigneeErie Group International, Inc.
InventorsJames M. Klein, Craig Air
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high protein food may be produced via an extrusion process whereby acid casein is mixed with whey protein, alkali and water. Upon exiting the extruder, the mixture may be cut, dried, and/or tempered, milled and screened before being further processed or packaged. The final product may be configured as a crisp high protein food or a powdered high protein food. The protein content of the end product may be approximately 90-95% on a dry weight basis.
Claims15
A high protein food produced by a process of extruding a mixture of acid casein, whey protein, water, and an alkali capable of neutralizing said acid casein, wherein said alkali is a soluble compound with an alkali selected from a group consisting of sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium citrate, wherein said high protein food contains at least 90 to 95% protein by weight on a dry basis, wherein a protein content of said high protein food is from 15% to 35% by weight whey protein and from 65% to 85% by weight casein, wherein said high protein food does not include a protein source other than said casein and said whey protein, wherein said high protein food has a protein profile similar to that of cow's milk.
A method for producing a high protein food, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. creating a mixture of an acid casein, a whey protein, and an alkali capable of neutralizing said acid casein, wherein said alkali is defined as being selected of a group consisting of sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, calcium hydroxide, and ammonium hydroxide, potassium bicarbonate, and sodium citrate;
- b. introducing said mixture into an extruder;
- c. adding water to said extruder to create a second mixture;
- d. forcing said second mixture through a die engaged with said extruder to create a plurality of cut pieces;
- e. allowing said second mixture to expand;
- and,
- f. removing moisture from said plurality of cut pieces such that the moisture content of said plurality of cut pieces is from 0.5% to 12% by weight, wherein a protein content of said plurality of cut pieces is 90 to 95% or greater by weight on a dry basis, wherein said high protein food produced by said method does not include a protein source other than said casein and said whey protein, wherein said high protein food has a protein profile similar to that of cow's milk.
A high protein food produced by a process of extrusion, the high protein food comprising at least 75% protein by weight on a dry basis, and wherein a protein content of said high protein food is from 15% to 35% by weight whey protein, and from 65% to 85% by weight casein, wherein said high protein food does not include a protein source other than said casein and said whey protein, wherein said high protein food has a protein profile similar to that of cow's milk, and wherein a bulk density of the high protein food is from 20 g/L to 400 g/L.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.