Heat stable whey protein products and a process for the preparation of heat stable whey proteins

A method for the preparation of heat stable whey proteins, the method comprising:

• providing a whey protein solution in a reactor vessel with a hydrogen peroxide solution having a concentration between about 300 ppm to about 500 ppm;
• heating the whey protein solution in the presence of the hydrogen peroxide solution to a temperature between about 60° C. to about 200° C. for a period of time of at least about 3 seconds;
• removing any excess residual hydrogen peroxide after the heating step to provide a heat stable whey protein solution;
• and
• processing the heat stable whey protein solution to provide a concentrated heat stable whey protein solution.

A heat stable whey protein prepared by the process comprising:

• heating a whey protein solution in the presence of a hydrogen peroxide solution in a reactor vessel at a temperature between about 60° C. to about 200° C. for a period of time of at least about 3 seconds, the hydrogen peroxide solution having a concentration between about 300 ppm to about 500 ppm;
• removing any excess residual hydrogen peroxide after the heating step to provide a heat stable whey protein solution;
• and
• processing the heat stable whey protein solution to provide a concentrated heat stable whey protein;
• wherein concentrated heat stable whey protein comprises a taurine precursor provided by converting at least a portion of the cystine in the whey protein solution to the taurine precursor during the heating step in the presence of the hydrogen peroxide solution.