Sweetened dairy products with steviol glycosides and lactase enzyme

1. A process of making a sweetened dairy product comprising the steps of:

step a) preparing a fermented dairy composition comprising a milk composition and a lactase enzyme, comprising the following steps:

a1) obtaining a milk composition comprising lactose,

a2) adding a sufficient amount of the lactase enzyme for a sufficient time so as to partially hydrolyze the lactose so as to produce a hydrolyzed milk composition,

a3) inoculating the hydrolyzed milk composition with lactic acid bacteria so as to produce a hydrolyzed lactic acid milk composition, and

a4) fermenting the hydrolyzed lactic acid milk composition so as to produce a fermented dairy composition, and

step b) adding an intermediate composition comprising at least one steviol glycoside, a polysaccharide of fructose units, and a salt to the fermented dairy composition.

2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the fermented dairy composition is a strained fermented dairy composition, and wherein step a) further comprises the following subsequent step:

a5) separation of the fermented dairy composition to obtain a strained fermented dairy composition and an acid whey by-product.