Arla Foods Launches Acid Whey Solution

Arla Foods Ingredients has launched an innovative processing solution that enables manufacturers of traditional Greek strained yogurts to profit from their acid whey waste stream. 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 yogurt. For every 100kg of milk used to make traditional Greek yogurt, 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 yogurt 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. Now, Arla Foods Ingredients has developed a unique and simple process using Nutrilac dairy products that can be sold at a high margin on consumer markets, say company officials. 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, they add. "Until now it has simply been accepted that acid whey is an unavoidable waste product of Greek yoghurt production – but not any more," says Torben Jensen, application manager at Arla Foods Ingredients. "With the addition of our Nutrilac 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.