US 2002/0160086 A1 · Stable acidic milk based beverage

Abstract

Acidic milk based beverage products which do not precipitate over time and are physically stable, and a process for preparing these products, are disclosed. These products contain from about 0.5% to 5.0% milk proteins and 0.1 to 2.0% of a food stabilizer and a food acid sufficient to lower the pH below 4.5. The first step of the process involves mixing milk proteins with a food grade weak base to raise the pH above 7.0. Food grade stabilizers are added to the elevated pH mixture of milk proteins and base under low shear conditions. Other ingredients are then added to provide the desired sweetness, flavor, color and microbiological stability. This mixture is homogenized before acidification. A chilled food grade acid is then added at a temperature below 30 ° c. under low to moderate shear conditions.

Claims48

Dependent claims

A process for preparing a acidified stable milk-based beverage with a pH below 4.5 which shows little or no sedimentation over time, comprising the following steps:

A. adding milk protein to a solution of a weak base, resulting in a mixture;
B. adding a stabilizer to said mixture;
C. homogenizing said mixture, resulting in a homogenized mixture;
D. cooling said homogenized mixture to a low temperature;
and
E. adding an acid at low temperature to said homogenized mixture under low shear conditions;
the execution of steps A, B, C, D and E in series, therefore resulting in a final product.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Stable acidic milk based beverage

Life of this patent

Stable acidic milk based beverage

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims48