Product and process for the production of a milk powder

A process for producing a milk powder having lactose is essentially crystallized form and from 20% to 30% fats by weight of dry matter of which from 20% to 90% are in the free state comprising seeding a material of essentially lactic origin with fine lactose crystals in an amount sufficient for initiating crystallization of lactose from the material and thereby forming a dispersion, cooling the dispersion and maintaining it at a temperature at or below 20.degree. C., adding milk fats to the cooled dispersion in an amount sufficient for forming a cooled mixture having a fat content of from 20% to 30% by weight dry matter, then spray drying the cooled mixture under conditions for maintaining the lactose in its crystalline state and for obtaining a powder having from 20% to 90% of the fats in the free state.