Ultra-high temperature pasteurized milk concentrate, package, dispenser and method of producing same

An aseptic package of an ultra-high temperature pasteurized liquid (UHT) milk concentrate for mixing with water to provide a reconstituted milk beverage that tastes like fresh milk comprising

• a container containing under aseptic conditions an ultra-high temperature pasteurized liquid (UHT) milk concentrate which is produced by directly injecting steam into a condensed liquid milk blend, said concentrate having a nonfat milk solids content of at least about 30% by weight and containing a sodium hexametaphosphate and carrageenan stabilizers in effective amounts to provide
• (a) an extended shelf stability of at least about 30 days without granulation and/or separation of the milk solids,
• (b) milk solids which do not separate upon dilution with water, and
• (c) upon dilution with water provides a drinkable product which tastes like fresh milk,
• said container for delivering the UHT milk concentrate for mixing with water to form the drinkable product.

A beverage dispenser for delivery of an ultra-high temperature pasteurized liquid (UHT) milk concentrate and mixing with water to provide a reconstituted milk beverage that tastes like fresh milk comprising

• a container containing an ultra-high temperature pasteurized liquid (UHT) milk concentrate which is produced by directly injecting steam into a condensed liquid milk blend, said concentrate having a nonfat milk solids content of at least about 30% by weight and containing sodium hexametaphosphate and carrageenan stabilizers in effective amounts to provide
• (a) an extended shelf stability of at least about 30 days without granulation and/or separation of the milk solids,
• (b) milk solids which do not separate upon dilution with water, and
• (c) upon dilution with water provides a drinkable product which has the characteristics of and tastes like fresh milk,
• said container for delivering the UHT milk concentrate for mixing with water and
• a dispenser having a source of water and a mixer for mixing the water with the UHT milk concentrate from said container to form and deliver the drinkable product which tastes like fresh milk.

A method for producing an ultra-high temperature pasteurized liquid (UHT) milk concentrate for mixing with water to provide a reconstituted milk beverage that tastes like fresh milk comprising

• providing a condensed liquid milk blend containing a sodium hexametaphosphate and carrageenan stabilizers and a pasteurized liquid milk concentrate having an amount of nonfat milk solids sufficient to produce the UHT milk concentrate having a nonfat milk solids content of at least about 30% by weight when said UHT milk concentrate is reconstituted with water,
• said stabilizers being present in effective amounts to form a stable dispersion of said milk solids,
• directing a continuous flow of said stabilized condensed liquid milk blend into direct contact with steam by injecting steam directly into said flow of condensed liquid milk blend at an effective ultra-high pasteurizing temperature for a time sufficient to form said UHT milk concentrate having a nonfat milk solids content of at least about 30% by weight with
• (a) an extended shelf stability of at least about 30 days without granulation and/or separation of the milk solids,
• (b) milk solids which do not separate upon dilution with water, and
• (c) upon dilution provides a drinkable product which tastes like fresh milk.

A method for producing an ultrapasteurized liquid (UHT) milk concentrate to be mixed with water to form a reconstituted milk beverage comprising

• providing a pasteurized liquid milk concentrate having an amount of nonfat milk solids sufficient to produce said UHT milk concentrate having a nonfat milk solids content of at least 30% by weight when said UHT milk concentrate is reconstituted with water,
• mixing a sufficient amount of cream with said pasteurized liquid milk concentrate to provide a condensed liquid blend having a sufficient amount of fat content effective to form a reconstituted milk beverage having a fat content of from less than about 0.21% up to 3.25% by weight of said milk beverage when said UHT milk concentrate is reconstituted with water,
• mixing effective amounts of sodium hexametaphosphate and carrageenan stabilizers with said condensed liquid blend to form a stable dispersion of said milk solids and fat in said condensed liquid blend, and
• directing a continuous flow of said stabilized condensed liquid milk blend into direct contact with steam by injecting steam directly into said flow of condensed liquid milk blend at an effective ultra-high pasteurizing temperature for a time sufficient to form said UHT milk concentrate having a nonfat milk solids content of at least about 30% by weight with
• (a) an extended shelf stability of at least about 30 days without granulation and/or separation of the milk solids and fat,
• (b) milk solids and fat which do not separate upon dilution with water, and
• (c) upon dilution provides a drinkable product which tastes like fresh milk.

A package of an ultra-high temperature pasteurized liquid (UHT) milk concentrate for mixing with water to provide a reconstituted milk beverage that tastes like fresh milk comprising

• a container containing an ultra-high temperature pasteurized liquid (UHT) milk concentrate which is produced by directly injecting steam into a condensed liquid milk blend, said concentrate having a nonfat milk solids content of at least about 30% by weight and containing sodium hexametaphosphate and carrageenan stabilizers in effective amounts to provide
• (a) an extended shelf stability of at least about 30 days without granulation and/or separation of the milk solids,
• (b) milk solids which do not separate upon dilution with water, and
• (c) upon dilution with water provides a drinkable product which has the characteristics of and tastes like fresh milk.