Protein Hydrolysate and Method for Making a Protein Hydrolysate

Abstract

Disclosed is a simplified method for producing a protein hydrolysate, the method having the advantages of decreasing costs associated with energy, materials, and space as compared to that of conventional methods. A protein hydrolysate/enzyme composition is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing a hydrolyzed protein product, the method comprising the steps of
 a) admixing at least one proteolytic enzyme with at least one protein to produce a protein/enzyme admixture, and   b) holding the protein/enzyme admixture for a period of time under agitation to produce a protein hydrolysate/enzyme admixture,   
       wherein the method is performed without the additional steps of heating the protein, the at least one proteolytic enzyme, the protein/enzyme admixture, or a combination thereof, to increase the activity of the at least one proteolytic enzyme in the protein/enzyme admixture; adjusting the pH to optimize the activity of the at least one proteolytic enzyme; and heating the protein hydrolysate/enzyme admixture to inactivate the at least one proteolytic enzyme; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of drying the protein hydrolysate/enzyme admixture. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of drying the protein hydrolysate/enzyme admixture is performed by spray-drying. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the protein is whey protein. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the whey protein is selected from the group consisting of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the whey protein comprises a solution of at least about 30 percent w/v. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the period of time during which the protein/enzyme admixture is held comprises from about 1 to about 72 hours. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the period of time during which the protein/enzyme admixture is held comprises from about 4 to about 8 hours. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the period of time during which the protein/enzyme admixture is held comprises from about 6 to about 8 hours. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the period of time during which the protein/enzyme admixture is held comprises from about 6 to about 24 hours. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the period of time during which the protein/enzyme admixture is held comprises from about 6 to about 72 hours. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the protein/enzyme admixture is held at a temperature of from about 33 to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one proteolytic enzyme is selected from the group consisting of proteolytic enzymes of plant, animal, fungal, algal, and bacterial origin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A composition comprising a hydrolyzed protein/enzyme product produced by a method comprising the steps of admixing at least one proteolytic enzyme with at least one protein to produce a protein/enzyme admixture, holding the protein/enzyme admixture under agitation for a period of time sufficient to produce a hydrolyzed protein/enzyme admixture, the method being performed without the additional steps of heating the protein, at least one proteolytic enzyme, admixture, or a combination thereof, to increase the activity of the enzyme in the admixture; adjusting the pH to optimize the activity of the at least one proteolytic enzyme; and heating the admixture to inactivate the at least one proteolytic enzyme. 
     
     
         15 . A method for producing a hydrolyzed protein product, the method comprising the steps of
 a) admixing at least one proteolytic enzyme with at least one protein to produce a protein/enzyme admixture, and   b) holding the protein/enzyme admixture for a period of time under agitation to produce a protein hydrolysate/enzyme admixture,   wherein the method is performed without the steps of heating, adjusting the pH, or heating and adjusting the pH, to optimize the activity of, or to deactivate, the at least one proteolytic enzyme.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the protein/enzyme admixture is held at a temperature of from about 33 to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the period of time during which the protein/enzyme admixture is held comprises from about 1 to about 72 hours. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the period of time during which the protein/enzyme admixture is held comprises from about 4 to about 8 hours. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the period of time during which the protein/enzyme admixture is held comprises from about 6 to about 24 hours.