Process for the preparation of packaged heat-preserved aqueous drink comprising casein micelles and tryptophan-rich peptides, and product so obtained

A process for preparing a packaged, aqueous liquid composition comprising 0.5-4%, based on dry weight, on total liquid composition, of casein micelles and 0.1-5% based on dry weight, on total liquid composition, of a tryptophan-containing peptide composition, wherein the tryptophan-containing peptide composition comprises 1-10% by dry weight of tryptophan based on total dry weight of tryptophan-containing peptides in the tryptophan-containing peptide composition, wherein the process comprises the steps of:

• (a) obtaining an aqueous liquid composition comprising an aqueous mixture of (i) 50-97% by weight of water based on total composition weight, (ii) 0.5-4% based on dry weight of casein micelles, (iii) 0.1-5% based on dry weight of a tryptophan-containing peptide composition, wherein the tryptophan-containing composition comprises 1-10% by dry weight of tryptophan based on total dry weight of tryptophan-containing peptides in the tryptophan-containing composition, and (iv) 0.5-5% by weight based on total composition of a starch component which is at least one selected from the group consisting of starch derivatives and starch hydrolysates,
• (b) subjecting the aqueous mixture of step (a) to a heat preservation treatment at a temperature of 80-150° C. to obtain an aqueous liquid product, and
• (c) packaging the aqueous liquid product obtained in step (b) by aseptic packaging, wherein
• the aqueous mixture of step (a) which is subjected to the heat preservation treatment according to step (b) has a pH of below 8.1 and above Uthell a pH given by the relationship:
• pH>0.02*T(° C.)+0.23*(casein micelles in dry weight %)+3.8
• wherein casein micelles in the relationship are expressed as weight % on total dry weight of the formulation.