Soluble fiber from yogurt whey

Abstract

A method includes contacting yogurt whey with an enzyme to form a soluble fiber. An oligosaccharide product that includes inactive yogurt cultures is also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 contacting yogurt whey with an enzyme to form a soluble fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising pasteurizing the yogurt whey and the yogurt whey comprises yogurt cultures. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the yogurt whey has less than 5% wt protein on a dry basis. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the yogurt whey comprises galactose. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the yogurt whey comprises at least about 5% wt galactose on a dry basis. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising concentrating the yogurt whey to a total solids content in a range from about 40% to about 60% wt before the contacting step. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the enzyme comprises beta-galactosidases or beta-glycosidases. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising incorporating the soluble fiber into a food product. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the soluble fiber comprises galacto-oligosaccharide. 
     
     
         10 . A soluble fiber composition comprising:
 an oligosaccharide; and   inactive yogurt cultures.   
     
     
         11 . The soluble fiber composition according to  claim 10 , further comprising less than 5% wt protein on a dry basis. 
     
     
         12 . The soluble fiber composition according to  claim 10 , comprising a total solids content of at least about 70% wt and a total soluble fiber of at least about 65% wt with at least 3 degrees of polymerization (DP). 
     
     
         13 . The soluble fiber composition according to  claim 10 , comprising a total solids content of at least about 95% wt and a total soluble fiber of at least about 90% wt with at least 3 degrees of polymerization (DP). 
     
     
         14 . The soluble fiber composition according to  claims 10 , wherein the soluble fiber comprises galacto-oligosaccharide. 
     
     
         15 . A food product comprising a soluble fiber of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         16 . A food product according to  claim 15 , wherein the soluble fiber comprises galacto-oligosaccharide.