Free flowing modified whey powder

Claim 2

A process for making a free flowing modified whey powder comprising: (a) mixing titanium dioxide, fat and water and forming an emulsion thereof by processing at a temperature range of 32° F to 200° F for a time period between 16 seconds and 3 hours; (b) adding said mixture to concentrated whey and (c) spray drying the same; and wherein the level of titanium dioxide in the final dried product falls within 0.5 and 20% and the fat level falls between 0.5 and 70%.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein said whey is selected from a group consisting of acid whey from the production of soft cheeses; or acid whey from the production of casein; or sweet whey from the production of hard cheese, or whey from the churning of butter.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein the titanium dioxide is of anatase or rutile form.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein the fat is selected from a group consisting of animal, marine and vegetable triglycerides, and hydrogenated products of such triglycerides.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein after the mixture of titanium dioxide, fat and water is emulsified and added to the whey, the emulsified mixture and whey are agitated prior to spray drying.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1 wherein said whey is concentrated to 20-70% solids before introduction of said "a" mix.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 wherein said whey is neutralized to pH 5.6 to 8.0 before introduction of said "a" mix.

Claim 9

The process of claim 1 wherein said whey is neutralized and concentrated before introduction of said "a" mix.

Claim 10

The process of claim 1 wherein said "a" mix is introduced during the concentration of said whey.

Claim 11

The process of claim 1 wherein said whey is concentrated and crystallized before introduction of said "a" mix.

Claim 12

The process of claim 1 wherein said "a" mix contains an emulsification agent selected from a group consisting of mono and diglycerides of fat forming fatty acids, mono and diolein, partial esters of carboxylic acids from a group consisting of citric, lactic and tartaric acids with the mono and diglycerides of fatty acids; and diesters of glycols and fatty acids; the fatty acids used to prepare the above emulsifiers are selected from a group consisting of those derived from beef tallow and castor, coconut, hydrogenated coconut, cottonseed, mustard seed, palm, peanut, rapeseed, rice bran, soybean, tall and marine oils.

Claim 13

The process of claim 1 wherein said "a" mix contains sufficient lime to neutralize the whey from pH 5.6 to a range of pH 6.2 to 7.4.

Claim 14

The process of claim 1 wherein the "a" mix contains 20% titanium dioxide, 40% fat and 40% water.

Claim 15

The process of claim 1 wherein the "a" contains 10% titanium dioxide, 50% fat and 40% water.

Claim 16

The process of claim 1 wherein the "a" mix contains 20% titanium dioxide, 23% fat and 57% water.

Claim 17

The process of claim 1 wherein additional proteinaceous materials are added to the whey along with the "a" mix.

Claim 18

The process of claim 1 wherein said "a" mix contains a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of proteins, pectins and naturally occuring plant polysaccharide gums.

Claim 19

The process of claim 1 wherein said "a" mix contains an emulsification agent selected from a group consisting of mono and diglycerides of fat forming fatty acids, partial esters of carboxylic acids from a group consisting of citric, lactic and tartaric acids with the mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, and diesters of glycols and fatty acids; the fatty acids used to prepare the above emulsifiers selected from the group consisting of those derived from beef tallow and castor, coconut, hydrogenated coconut, cottonseed, mustard seed, palm, peanut, rapeseed, rice bran, soybean, tall and marine oils, and a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of proteins, pectins and naturally occuring plant polysaccharide gums.

Claim 20

A free flowing modified whey powder consisting of (a) whey solids coated with; (b) an anti-caking and non-sticking additive consisting of an admixture of titanium dioxide, fat and water; the level of titanium dioxide in the final product lying between 0.05% and 20% and the fat level lies between 0.5% and 70%.

Claim 21

A free flowing modified whey powder consisting of (a) whey solids coated with; (b) an anti-caking and non-sticking additive consisting of an admixture of titanium dioxide, fat and water; the level of titanium dioxide in the final product lying between 0.05% and 20% and the fat level lies between 0.5% and 70%.

Claim 22

The powder of claim 19 wherein the additive is U.S. pure titanium dioxide in the anatase form.

Claim 23

The powder of claim 20 wherein the fat is whey fat.

Claim 24

The powder of claim 20 wherein the fat is animal fat.

Claim 25

The powder of claim 20 wherein the fat is vegetable fat.

Claim 26

The powder of claim 20 wherein the titanium dioxide comprises 0.5% to 1% of the product and the fat comprises 2.5%.

Claim 27

The powder of claim 20 wherein the titanium dioxide comprises 2% of the product and the fat comprises 2.5%.

Claim 28

The powder of claim 20 wherein the titanium dioxide comprises 1.8% of the product and the fat comprises 4%.