Ground-breaking acid whey concept named ‘Best Beverage Ingredient’

An innovative processing solution that enables manufacturers of traditional Greek strained yoghurts to profit from their acid whey waste stream has been named ‘Best Beverage Ingredient’ at the Beverage Innovation Awards, held at the Drinktec trade show in Munich on 19 September 2013.

Based on Arla Foods Ingredients’ Nutrilac® protein, the new process allows companies to use their acid whey to make value-added dairy products, such as high protein fermented beverages, whey smoothies and fermented desserts.

Acid whey has been put into the spotlight recently as a result of the booming popularity of Greek yoghurt. For every 100kg of milk used to make traditional Greek yoghurt, only 33kg ends up used in the final product. The remaining two-thirds is acid whey, a by-product that must be dealt with by the processor.

Until now, Greek yoghurt makers have tended to offload acid whey into the animal feed and biofuels markets. But handling costs are high and returns are low, making both of these uneconomical options. Alternatively, some producers simply dispose of acid whey in their waste stream, a solution that attracts unwelcome overheads and zero income – and controversy on environmental grounds.

However, Arla Foods Ingredients has developed a unique and simple process using Nutrilac® protein, which is derived from milk, to turn acid whey into a range of dairy products that can be sold at a high margin on consumer markets. The result is a fresh tasting and nutritious product that is a good source of calcium, protein and essential amino acids. In addition, using acid whey in this way eliminates the storage and transportation requirements associated with other methods of disposing of it.

After collecting the award at Drinktec, Carsten Valentin, Senior Director – Functional Milk Proteins at Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “We’re very pleased to win this award and delighted the judges have recognised the ground-breaking nature of our new acid whey concept. It is an important development for the Greek yoghurt industry and winning this award reflects the hard work and skills of our superb development team.”

He added: “Until now it has simply been accepted that acid whey is an unavoidable waste product of Greek yoghurt production – but not any more. With the addition of our Nutrilac® protein solution to the acid whey, what was once a waste product is now a raw material that can be used to create a high quality product with added value.”

Arla Foods Ingredients’ acid whey concept is also suitable for use in other applications where acid whey is a by-product, including quark production.