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US 6,326,038 B1Granted
Calcium fortification of cheese
AssigneeKraft Foods, Inc.
InventorsKristeen Brafford, David Webb Mehnert
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AssigneeKraft Foods, Inc.
InventorsKristeen Brafford, David Webb Mehnert
Estimating the term…
The present invention provides a method of making flavorful, organoleptically pleasing natural cheese containing a significant level of a calcium supplement. More specifically, the calcium supplement is a mixture of calcium sulfate and tricalcium phosphate. By using a mixture of calcium sulfate and tricalcium phosphate the bitterness normally associated with calcium sulfate and the graininess normally associated with tricalcium phosphate are surprisingly essentially eliminated. The use of these particular calcium sources allows for significant levels of calcium to be incorporated without requiring excessive levels of the calcium compounds. The calcium supplements of the present invention can be used in, for example, cottage cheese, process cheese, and natural cheeses such as, for example, Cheddar cheese, Colby cheese, Monterey Jack, Havarti cheese, Muenster cheese, Brick cheese, Gouda cheese, Mozzarella cheese, and mixtures thereof.
A calcium-enriched cheese product comprising a cheese blended with a calcium supplement, wherein the calcium supplement is a blend of about 10 to about 90 percent calcium sulfate and about 10 to about 90 percent tricalcium phosphate and wherein the calcium-enriched cheese product has organoleptic properties comparable to a similar, but not calcium-enriched, cheese product.
A calcium-enriched dairy product comprising a dairy product blended with a calcium supplement, wherein the calcium supplement is a blend of about 10 to about 90 percent calcium sulfate and about 10 to about 90 percent tricalcium phosphate and wherein the calcium-enriched dairy product has organoleptic properties comparable to a similar, but not calcium-enriched, dairy product.
A calcium supplement for incorporation in food products, said calcium supplement comprising a dry blend of about 10 to about 90 percent calcium sulfate and about 10 to about 90 percent tricalcium phosphate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.