Arla Foods Ingredients (AFI) has introduced a new approach to transforming acid whey into a valuable raw material for protein-rich dairy products.

At the upcoming Gulfood Manufacturing exhibition in Dubai (November 5-7), Arla Foods Ingredients will showcase its new concept, “Upcycle Your Whey to Value.” This concept demonstrates how acid whey can be converted into a valuable ingredient for protein-enriched dairy products while also recycling whey, which is typically a byproduct of Greek yogurt and other fermented dairy product production.

Gulfood Manufacturing is the Middle East’s leading trade fair for the food processing industry, making it an ideal audience for AFI’s concept.

The new concept addresses a major challenge within the dairy industry, where two-thirds of the milk used to produce Greek yogurt and other fermented dairy products ends up as waste. Disposal of acid whey, the primary byproduct of this process, is both costly and poses environmental risks. However, acid whey is nutrient-rich and can be transformed into a nutritious ingredient, opening new opportunities for innovative food and beverage products, AFI emphasizes.

AFI has developed three product examples: a drinkable yogurt, a creamy dessert, and a beverage, each containing 8% protein and fruit flavors. In each recipe, sour whey makes up between 50% and 73% of the final product, combined with ingredients from the Nutrilac® ProteinBoost series of patented microparticulated whey proteins.

Claus Bukbjerg Andersen, Senior Dairy Category Manager at Arla Foods Ingredients, explains:

• The use of upcycled side-streams can help brands reduce waste and increase their appeal to climate-conscious consumers. Additionally, acid whey is nutrient-rich and in combination with the right ingredients can be used to create exciting new products that offer indulgence as well as nutritional value. Allowing all the goodness of milk to be kept in the food chain is good for the planet, good for consumers and good for manufacturers, who can position products as upcycled, in line with a growing dairy industry trend.

Read more about the concept HERE

Photo: AFI