Cream Cheese Product And Its Method Of Preparation

Abstract

The invention relates to a cream cheese product obtainable by a process comprising the steps of: (a) acidifying a whey protein concentrate with a food grade acidulant or with starter bacteria to reduce the pH to more than 4.5 to about 5.2, (b) heating the acidified whey protein concentrate of step (a) slowly to a temperature of about 75° to about 90° C. and maintaining it for at least about 30 min to produce a 1.5 functional whey protein concentrate, (d) homogenizing the blend obtained in step (b) to produce an emulsified functional whey protein concentrate, (e) blending the product of step (d) with curd the fat content of which is adjusted in accordance with the desired product, and adding salt and optional stabilizers, and (f) homogenizing the product of step (e).

1 . A cream cheese product prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
 (a) acidifying a whey protein concentrate with a food grade acidulant or with starter bacteria to reduce the pH to 4.5 to about 5.2,   (b) heating the acidified whey protein concentrate of step (a) slowly to a temperature of about 75° to about 90° C. and maintaining it for at least about 30 min. to produce a functional whey protein concentrate,   (c) homogenizing the blend obtained in step (b) in a 2-stage high-pressure homogenizer at pressures of about 300 to about 400 bar in its first stage and about 50 to about 80 bar in its second stage and a temperature of about 5° to about 75° C. to produce an emulsified functional whey protein concentrate,   (d) blending the emulsified functional whey protein concentrate of step (c) with curd, the fat content of which is adjusted in accordance with the desired fat content of the cream cheese product, and adding, and   (e) homogenizing the blend of step (d) in a second 2-stage high-pressure homogenizer at pressures of about 300 to about 400 bar in its first stage and about 50 to about 80 bar in its second stage and at a temperature of about 68° to about 90° C. to form the cream cheese product, wherein the cream cheese product prepared by the process has a lower casein:whey protein ratio, a lower dry matter content and a higher lactose content than a cream cheese product made without acidifying a whey protein concentrate and heating a whey protein concentrate as described in steps (a) and (b).   
     
     
         2 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 1 , further comprising an additional step of:
 (f) agitating the cream cheese product of step (e) at a temperature of about 68° to about 90° C. for at least about 15 min.   
     
     
         3 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 1 , wherein the food grade acidulant is selected from the group consisting of citric acid and lactic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 2 , wherein the food grade acidulant is selected from the group consisting of citric acid and lactic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 1 , wherein the pH in step (a) is reduced to about 4.7 to about 4.9. 
     
     
         6 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 2 , wherein the pH in step (a) is reduced to about 4.7 to about 4.9. 
     
     
         7 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 1 , wherein the acidified whey protein concentrate of step (a) is slowly heated to the temperature of about 75° to about 90° C. in step (b) within a period of about 15 to about 120 min. 
     
     
         8 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 2 , wherein the acidified whey protein concentrate of step (a) is slowly heated to the temperature of about 75° to about 90° C. in step (b) within a period of about 15 to about 120 min. 
     
     
         9 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 7 , wherein the temperature in step (b) is maintained for at least about 45 min. 
     
     
         10 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 8 , wherein the temperature in step (b) is maintained for at least about 45 min. 
     
     
         11 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 9 , wherein the temperature in step (b) is about 78° to about 85° C. 
     
     
         12 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 10 , wherein the temperature in step (b) is about 78° to about 85° C. 
     
     
         13 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature in step (c) is about 15° to about 70° C. 
     
     
         14 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 2 , wherein the temperature in step (c) is about 15° to about 70° C. 
     
     
         15 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature in step (e) is about 75° to about 85° C. 
     
     
         16 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 2 , wherein the temperature in step (e) is about 75° to about 85° C. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 2 , wherein the temperature in step (f) is about 75° to about 85° C. 
     
     
         19 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 1 , wherein the food grade acidulant is selected from the group consisting of citric acid and lactic acid, wherein the pH in step (a) is reduced to about 4.7 to about 4.9, wherein the acidified whey protein concentrate of step (a) is slowly heated to the temperature of about 75° to about 90° C. in step (b) within a period of about 15 to about 120 min, wherein the temperature in step (b) is about 78° to about 85° C. and is maintained for at least about 45 min, wherein the temperature in step (c) is about 15° to about 70° C., and wherein the temperature in step (e) is about 75° to about 85° C., and wherein the temperature in step (g) is about 75° to about 85° C. 
     
     
         20 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 2 , wherein the food grade acidulant is selected from the group consisting of citric acid and lactic acid, wherein the pH in step (a) is reduced to about 4.7 to about 4.9, wherein the acidified whey protein concentrate of step (a) is slowly heated to the temperature of about 75° to about 90° C. in step (b) within a period of about 15 to about 120 min, wherein the temperature in step (b) is about 78° to about 85° C. and is maintained for at least about 45 min, wherein the temperature in step (c) is about 15° to about 70° C., wherein the temperature in step (e) is about 75° to about 85° C., and wherein the temperature in step (f) is about 75° to about 85° C. 
     
     
         21 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 1  wherein the process further comprises the step of:
 blending the acidified whey protein concentrate with milk fat in a weight ratio of about 60:40 to about 100:0. 
 
     
     
         26 . The cream cheese product according to  claim 1  wherein the process further comprises the step of:
 blending the functional whey protein concentrate with milk fat in a weight ratio of about 60:40 to about 100:0.