Patent ID: 6613377
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: A23C,A23J,A23V

Abstract:
An &agr;-lactalbumin enriched whey protein product that is manufactured by a process comprising:mixing a whey protein product with a sufficient amount of an acid such that the pH of the whey protein product is towered to 4.0 or below; and fractionating the proteins in the acidified whey protein product to produce an &agr;-lactalbumin enriched whey protein product by concentrating the proteins in the acidified whey protein product until the calcium to protein ratio is less than about 0.001 to form a low-calcium whey protein product; and precipitating the &agr;-lactalbumin from the low-calcium whey protein product to form an &agr;-lactalbumin enriched whey protein product, said precipitating step including the substeps of: diluting the low-calcium whey protein product; adjusting the pH of the diluted low-calcium whey protein product to a range between about 4.0-5.0 to form precipitated and soluble proteins; and separating the precipitated proteins from the soluble proteins; whereby the &agr;-lactalbumin enriched whey protein product has a calcium to protein ratio of less than about 0.001.