Stabilisers useful in low fat spread production

1. A method for producing a low fat spread, comprising 1-7% whey protein, said method comprising the following steps:

(i) preparing an aqueous solution comprising about 5 to 10% whey protein, wherein the aqueous solution has a calcium concentration of about 0.0 to 1.4 mM and a pH value of about 7 to 9;

(ii) heating the solution resulting from step (i) to a temperature of about 50 to 100° C. for about 0.15 to 30 minutes;

(iii) cooling the solution resulting from step (ii) to a temperature of about 1 to 40° C.;

(iv) adjusting the solution resulting from step (iii) to a protein concentration of about 4 to 7%, and a pH value of about 5.2 to 7.0; and

(v) mixing the solution resulting from step (iv) with a fat phase in order to obtain the low fat spread.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the low fat spread is an emulsion of the w/o type.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the low fat spread comprises about 10 to 60% fat.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the low fat spread comprises about 20 to 60% fat.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the low fat spread comprises about 2 to 5% whey protein.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the low fat spread further comprises about 0.5 to 4.5% NaCl.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the solution obtained in step (iv) is mixed with the fat phase within 5 hours, packed in containers, and stored at about 4 to 10° C. for at least about 24 hours.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the solution obtained in step (iv) is mixed with the fat phase within 2 hours.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the whey protein is enriched with β lactoglobulin.

10. A method for producing a low fat spread, wherein a low fat spread comprising about 20-60% fat and about 2-5% whey protein is produced, said method comprising the following steps:

(i) preparing an aqueous solution comprising about 3-10% whey protein, with a pH value of about 7 to 9, wherein the calcium concentration of the whey protein is 1.4 mM or less or has been reduced at least about 50%;

(ii) heating the solution resulting from step (i) to a temperature of about 50-100° C. for about 0.15 to 30 minutes;

(iii) cooling the solution resulting from step (ii) to a temperature of about 1 to 17° C.;

(iv) adjusting the solution resulting from step (iii) to a protein concentration of about 5 to 7% and a pH value of about 5.5 to 7; and

(v) mixing the solution resulting from step (iv) with fat phase in order to obtain the low fat spread.

11. A method for producing a low fat spread, wherein a low fat spread comprising about 40% fat and about 3% whey protein is produced, said method comprising the following steps:

(i) preparing an aqueous solution comprising about 7.9% whey protein, a calcium concentration of about 0.0 to 1.4 mM, and a pH value of about 8;

(ii) heating the solution resulting from step (i) to a temperature of about 80° C. for about 15 minutes;

(iii) cooling the solution resulting from step (iii) to a temperature of about 10° C.;

(iv) adjusting the solution resulting from step (iii) to a protein concentration of about 5.7%, adjusting pH value to about 5.7 by addition of an aqueous solution of lactic acid, and adding NaCl to a concentration of about 1.9%; and

(v) mixing 53 parts of the water phase resulting from step (iv) with 27 parts butter, and 17 parts rapeseed oil.

12. A method according to any of claims 1 , 10 , and 11 , wherein the spread comprises no stabilizers other than said whey protein.

13. A method according to any of claims 1 , 10 , and 11 , wherein the spread comprises one or more additional stabilizers selected from the group consisting of: gelatine, Na caseinate, inuline, β-glucan, guar gum, carrageenan, pectin, gellan gum, agar, alginate, maltodextrin, soy protein, xanthan gum, locust bean gum, microcrystalline cellulose, caseinate, konjac, mannan, carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), gum arabic (acacia gum), tragacanth, tara gum, karaya gum, processed aucheuma seaweed, dextrin, starch, and bleached starch.

14. A method for producing a whey protein product comprising the following steps:

(vi) preparing an aqueous solution comprising about 5 to 10% whey protein, wherein the aqueous solution has a calcium concentration of about 0.0 to 1.4 mM and a pH value of about 7 to 9;

(vii) heating the solution resulting from step (vi) to a temperature of about 50 to 100° C. for about 0.15 to 30 minutes;

(viii) cooling the solution resulting from step (vii) to a temperature of about 1 to 40° C.; and

(ix) adjusting the solution resulting from step (viii) to a protein concentration of about 4 to 7%, and a pH value of about 5.2 to 7.0.

15. A method for producing a whey protein product comprising the following steps:

(vi) preparing an aqueous solution comprising about 3-10% whey protein, a pH value of about 7 to 9, wherein the calcium concentration of the whey protein is 1.4 mM or less or has been reduced at least about 50%;

(vii) heating the solution resulting from step (vi) to a temperature of about 50 to 100° C. for about 0.15 to 30 minutes;

(viii) cooling the solution resulting from step (vii) to a temperature of about 1 to 17° C.;and

(ix) adjusting the solution resulting from step (viii) to a protein concentration of about 5 to 7% and a pH value of about 5.5 to 7.

16. A method according to claim 14 or 15 , wherein the whey protein is enriched with β lactoglobulin.

17. A method according to claim 14 or 15 , wherein the gel further comprises about 0.5 to 4.5% NaCl.

18. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the calcium concentration in step (vi) has been reduced at least about 98%.