Patent ID: 6458394
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: A23C

Abstract:
A process for providing substantially uniform, homogeneous coloration to cheese during its manufacture comprising the steps of:(a) forming a renaturable coloring composition comprising a water-soluble annatto colorant bound with a renaturable casein carrier; (b) subsequently adding the renaturable coloring composition to the milk used to form cheese; (c) processing the milk to separate it into a curd portion and a whey portion wherein color is provided to the curd portion as a result of the renaturable casein carrier having an affinity to the curd portion as compared to the whey portion; (d) separating the curd portion from the whey portion; and (e) converting the curd portion into cheese, such that the resulting colored cheese has improved color compared to a similarly prepared cheese but wherein insolubilized annatto colorant is added to the milk without first being bound with renaturable casein carrier.