DAIRY PRODUCTS

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a low fat cheese is described, in which starch or pregelatinized starch, having a partical size of 4.0 - 20.0 µm, is added to the milk component before the aggregation of the casein is carried out.

Description: This invention relates to low-fat dairy products and to the preparation of improved low-fat dairy products. In the prevailing appeal among consumers of a healthy diet, particular attention is drawn to reducing the daily intake of animal fat, not only to reduce the calorific content of the diet, but also the content of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol. To this end, the high fat content in traditional food products has been reduced in recent years, while attempting to retain the mouth response characteristic of full fat products. When the amount of fat in cheese is reduced, the textural properties of a hard or semi-hard cheese, in particular in the case of Gouda cheese, are changed. Such a reduction makes the cheese firm, increasing the rubbery texture of the cheese which ultimately can be almost inedible owing to its extreme toughness. On the other hand, reducing fat in yoghurt, soft or fresh cheese results in a loss of creaminess and an enhanced dryness in the mouth is perceived. Here, too, the product may be almost inedible. A solution to this problem has now been found in a process to prepare low-fat dairy products in which, in a particular step of the process, part of the fat is replaced by hydrated starch or pregelatinized starch particles having a particle size of 4.0-20.0 µm. These particles induce a mouthfeel similar to that of the fat in cheese-like products. The present invention therefore provides a process for the preparation of improved low-fat dairy products, preferably cheese, by aggregation of casein in milk, in which at least part of the milk fat normally present in the milk is replaced by other ingredients, which process is characterized by the fact that at least part of the milk fat is replaced by an amount of hydrated starch or pregelatinized starch particles having a particle size of 4.0-20.0 µm before aggregation of the casein by rennet is carried out. The starch or pregelatinized starch particles can be added to skimmed or partly skimmed milk before or after pasteurization thereof. The invention also provides an improved low-fat cheese which contains an amount of hydrated starch or pregelatinized starch particles having a particle size of more than 4.0-20.0 µm. A prerequisite of the particles that can be used is that the particles retain their solid properties during the process. Particle sizes substantially above 20 µm are not satisfactory in terms of mouth response to the product. In WO 89/12403 (published on 28th December 1989) the use of hydrated carbohydrate particles having a mean particle size of 0.1-4.0 µm with less than 2% of the total number of particles exceeding 5 µm in diameter in food products is described. The food products include cheeses, cream cheese and yoghurt. However, the addition of the carbohydrate particles in a particular step of the process is not mentioned. Preferably, low-fat cheeses are prepared in accordance with the invention with a fat on dry matter content of less than 40% by regulating the fat content of the skimmed milk and by varying the amount of added hydrated starch particles. In this way, either hard, semi-hard, processed, fresh or soft cheeses or yoghurt can be prepared. Preferably, the amount of particles added to the cheese milk is from 1 to 5 wt.% based on the fat content of the milk. EXAMPLE I Cheese milk was prepared by mixing sufficient skim milk with full fat milk to a fat level of 1.5 wt.%, to which a pregelatinized starch (= Remyrice AP, average particle size 6.0 µm) was added at a ratio of 1 part to 30 parts of the milk composition. The milk mixture so obtained was pasteurized in a conventional manner by passage through a heat exchanger for 35 seconds at 72°C. Gouda cheese was prepared in a traditional manner from the resulting reduced fat milk composition by adding starter culture and rennet at 31°C. The resulting curd had the same structure as the equivalent full fat cheese and subsequent cutting, wheying off and washing procedures were unchanged. The cheese was pressed before brining and coated as usual before storage for 10 weeks in a cheese ripening room. Cheese taste and texture of the ripened product were evaluated by a panel on a 5 point scale in comparison with full fat Gouda cheese and with a product made in a comparative test, in which the above example was repeated without adding whey protein. The results of the comparison appear on the accompanying Table. The fat content on dry matter of the samples A and B was 20%. The results must be interpreted in such a way that the figure that is closest to the figure for sample 48+ is the best.

Claims: Process for the preparation of improved low-fat dairy products by aggregation of casein in milk, in which at least part of the milk fat normally present in the milk is replaced by other ingredients, characterized by the fact that at least part of the milk fat is replaced by an amount of hydrated starch or pregelatinized starch particles having a particle size of 4.0-20.0 µm before the aggregation of the casein is carried out. Process according to Claim 1, wherein the fat content of the skimmed milk and the amount of added hydrated starch or pregelatinized starch particles are such that the low-fat dairy product has a fat on dry matter content of less than 40%. Process according to Claims 1 to 2, wherein yoghurt or hard, semi-hard, processed, fresh or soft cheeses are prepared. Low-fat cheese, which contains an amount of hydrated starch or pregelatinized starch particles having a particle size of more than 4.0-20.0 µm.

Inventors: KLOOSTERMAN, JOHANNES, UNILEVER RES. LAB., TORENVLIET, LIM, UNILEVER RES. LAB., VISSER, JOHANNES, UNILEVER RES. LAB.
Applicants: UNILEVER N.V., UNILEVER PLC
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A23C19
IPC codes: A23C19, A23C21, A23C9