High Pressure Processing of Metal Ion Lactoferrin

(canceled)

A method of treating a composition to maintain or increase its keeping quality comprising

• (a) providing a composition comprising metal ion lactoferrin or a metal ion functional variant or fragment thereof and having a pH of from about 3.0 to 8.0, and
• (b) subjecting the composition to a pressure treatment at a treatment pressure of from about 350 MPa to about 1000 MPa to prevent the growth of unwanted microorganisms that may be present in the composition and retain at least a desired level of metal ions bound to the lactoferrin or functional variant or fragment thereof.

A method of treating a composition to maintain or increase its keeping quality comprising

• (a) providing a composition comprising metal ion lactoferrin or a metal ion functional variant or fragment thereof and one or more unwanted microorganisms and having a pH of from about 3.0 to about 8.0, and
• (b) selecting a treatment pressure of from about 350 MPa to 1000 MPa that will prevent the growth of the unwanted microorganisms and retain at least a desired level of metal ions bound to the lactoferrin or functional variant or fragment thereof, and
• (c) subjecting the composition to a pressure treatment at the treatment pressure.

(canceled)

(canceled)

17-35. (canceled)

40-44. (canceled)

A pressure-treated composition comprising about 0.1 mg/ml to 1000 mg/ml of metal ion lactoferrin or a metal ion functional variant or fragment thereof and less than about 50,000 cfu/ml of microorganisms.

47-48. (canceled)

50-53. (canceled)

57-63. (canceled)