Sweetened dairy product comprising steviol glycosides and further additives

Abstract

The invention concerns a sweetened dairy product comprising a dairy material, at least one steviol glycoside, at least one additive selected from a polysaccharide of fructose units and a salt.

1 . A sweetened dairy product comprising:
 a fermented dairy composition based on a dairy material,   at least one steviol glycoside, and   at least one additive selected from the group consisting of:
 a polysaccharide of fructose units, 
 a salt, and 
 their mixtures or associations. 
   
     
     
         2 . A product according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one steviol glycoside comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Rebaudioside A, Rebaudioside B, Rebaudioside C, Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside M and stevioside. 
     
     
         3 . A product according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one steviol glycoside is a steviol glycoside composition comprising Rebaudioside B, at least one of Rebaudioside A, Rebaudioside D and Rebaudioside M, and optionally stevioside. 
     
     
         4 . A product according to  claim 1 , wherein the salt comprises a sodium or potassium cation and a chloride anion. 
     
     
         5 . A product according to  claim 1 , wherein the salt is a sea salt composition. 
     
     
         6 . A product according to  claim 1 , wherein the polysaccharide of fructose units is an inulin or a FructoOligoSaccharide (FOS). 
     
     
         7 . A product according to  claim 6 , wherein the polysaccharide of fructose units is FructoOligoSaccharide (FOS) compound having an average number of Fructose units of from 3 to 5, preferably substantially free of free fructose. 
     
     
         8 . A product according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lactase enzyme. 
     
     
         9 . A product according to  claim 1 , comprising a source of fat. 
     
     
         10 . A product according to  claim 9 , having a fat content of from 0.01% to 8% by weight. 
     
     
         11 . A product according to  claim 1 , comprising a source of protein. 
     
     
         12 . A product according to  claim 11 , having a protein content of from 0.5% to 12% by weight. 
     
     
         13 . A product according to  claim 1 , further comprising fruit and/or at least one flavor. 
     
     
         14 . A product according to  claim 1 , wherein the dairy material comprises animal milk, preferably cow milk. 
     
     
         15 . A product according to  claim 1 , being comprised in a container, preferably a sealed container. 
     
     
         16 . A product according to  claim 1 , comprising an intermediate composition. 
     
     
         17 . A product according to  claim 16 , wherein the fermented dairy composition is a strained fermented dairy composition. 
     
     
         18 . A process of making the product according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 step a) preparing a dairy composition comprising the dairy material, and   step b) adding an intermediate composition comprising the at least one steviol glycoside and the at least one additive.   
     
     
         19 . A process according to  claim 18 , wherein the dairy material comprises lactose and the dairy composition comprises a lactase enzyme. 
     
     
         20 . A process according to  claim 18 , wherein the dairy composition is a fermented dairy composition. 
     
     
         21 . A process according to  claim 20 , wherein step a) comprises the following steps:
 a1) providing a milk composition comprising lactose,   a2) adding the enzyme and at least partially hydrolyzing the lactose,   a3) inoculating lactic acid bacteria, and   a4) allowing fermentation of the milk composition.   
     
     
         22 . A process according to  claim 21  wherein the fermented dairy composition is a strained fermented dairy composition, and wherein step a) further comprises the following subsequent step:
 a5) separation to obtain a strained fermented dairy composition and an acid whey by-product.