[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to food compositions. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to high protein yogurts containing lactose-
reduced skim milk and methods for making such yogurts.
[0002] Yogurt is obtained by fermentation of milk, typically with a combination of strains of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus but not limited to these cultures, and is present in the form of a gel containing the living strains. Yogurt is a fresh product with complex organoleptic properties, and various processes have been proposed for maintaining or enhancing these organoleptic qualities.
[0003] Typical yogurt, including frozen yogurt, has approximately 3-5% protein by weight and 5-7% lactose by weight using conventional skim milk. For frozen yogurt, increasing the amount of lactose above 7% by weight of the yogurt causes the texture to be undesirably gritty and coarse due to lactose crystallization that occurs in the frozen yogurt. Furthermore, traditional skim milk is not capable of providing a high protein content without using added protein or straining the yogurt. For example, added proteins such as whey protein, milk protein concentrate (MPC) and protein isolates can supplement the traditional skim milk in yogurt to achieve a higher protein content. However, this increased amount of total solids in the yogurt can result in a poor textural quality of the yogurt and can limit the growth of the cultures. Moreover, straining yogurt requires additional equipment and creates acidic whey, a by-product of straining, that must be disposed or used in an alternative way.
SUMMARY