Current R & D

Food markets across the world are changing dramatically, with innovative functional food products that provide added health benefits being created every week. However, there are a few products that have been around for some time and are only now beginning to make an impact within the healthy food market. One of these is whey.

Although highly popular as a powder for athletes and body builders, whey in the form of beverages and yogurt drinks has never been marketed in UK, despite accounting for a large proportion of the dairy market in the rest of Europe. In the UK whey has always been labelled as a ‘waste’ product that is given to animals. However, the ever increasing research into its health benefits has resulted in whey becoming more accepted as a health product, containing high levels of protein with essential amino acids. This trend seems to be increasing, with the UK currently developing similar products to those seen in Europe.

So what actually is whey?

Whey is a by-product from the cheese making industry and is formed when the curds separate from the milk or cream. Once the curds are formed the liquid remaining is referred to as whey. It tends to be pale yellow and very watery, however, this may change depending on the cheese produced, the type of milk or cream used and whether the whey is treated in any form.

Whey can be formed from any milk producing animal but the most popular source is from cow’s milk.

Here at the FTC the research into whey-based beverages have involved a number of trials on whey processing techniques. These trials have included a number of filtration and separation trials together with work on the concentrate forms of the liquid. This research has played an important role in the development of a whey based beverage, which has then been further developed to include fruit flavours.

To find out more about the whey drink please contact the Food Technology Centre.