Milk Specialties Global, one of the nation’s largest producers of high-quality milk and whey proteins, has added casein to the company’s product portfolio.
Production began March 6, 2013 at its Norfolk, Neb., facility. It’s the first U.S. casein production in more 50 years.
The U.S. is the major world market for casein consumption yet is entirely dependent on import for this commodity. Milk Specialties Global has estimated its initial production to be in excess of 5 million pounds annually.
«Casein proteins are the major portion of milk proteins,» Suvash Kafley, Director of Research and Development, says. «Caseins are known for sustained release and satiety enhancing properties. With growth in casein awareness and demand of milk proteins, we are producing caseins, caseinates, native micellar caseins and low-grit micellar caseins. Additionally, our caseins are customizable to sodium caseinate or calcium caseinate.»
Kafley adds that the company’s caseins are produced by using membrane filtration to isolate casein from milk in its native state. Traditional processing methods use acid to drop the pH of milk and precipitate it out. This precipitated casein is washed and decanted to yield what is known as acid casein. This method denatures the casein structure and strips out the naturally occurring minerals that are found in milk.
«The process is cleaner, and we are really excited about it,» CEO David Lenzmeier says. «Dual-step membrane filtration isolates the casein protein to the functional level that caseinates are desired for, while producing a better quality, intact protein. You can taste the difference; our native micellar casein has a nice, clean flavor. We’re also thrilled to be able to add domestic Casein to the U.S. marketplace for our customers.»
Casein markets include ready-to-drink nutritional beverages, sports nutrition powders, protein bars, yogurts, processed cheeses and chocolates and candy, baking goods, coffee creamers, spreads, ice creams, frozen desserts, soups and gravies.
Milk Specialties Global is an industry-leading manufacturer of innovative nutritional ingredients for the health and wellness industry, with certified manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Illinois, Utah and California. The core of MSG’s business is in value-added dairy ingredients, including whey protein isolate, concentrate, and hydrolysate, as well as milk protein, micellar casein, and lactose. MSG also manufactures products which support animal nutrition including milk replacer and energy booster supplements.
Source: AgWeb