Utilization of milk proteins as starting materials for other foodstuffs

Abstract

The modern food-processing industry is placing more and more emphasis upon the utilization of protein ingredients to provide specific functional properties to a wide range of formulated foods. Isolated milk protein products represent an important and valuable source of protein ingredients due to their recognized superior nutritional, organoleptic and functional properties. This paper provides up-to-date information on the quantities, production processes, composition, general properties, and specific functional properties of the major milk protein products, e.g. caseinates, co-precipitates, lactalbumin, whey protein concentrates and milk blends. The subject of chemical and enzymic modification to improve certain functional properties of milk proteins is considered briefly.