Skim Milk Powder Selection Using Fermentability Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
The variability in skim milk powder composition due to season, region, and manufacturing conditions leads to inconsistent fermentability, causing fermentation delays and quality issues in yogurt production.
Innovation Solution
Identify and utilize skim milk powder with high homoserine and creatinine concentrations as indicators of fermentability, measuring these concentrations to select and produce yogurt with optimized fermentability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If skim milk powder is used as a source of SNF in yogurt production, then the yogurt can be produced with desired nutritional composition, but fermentation delay occurs due to variable composition of skim milk powder
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter selection from general skim milk powder composition to specific indicator substance concentrations (homoserine and/or creatinine). By establishing threshold values for these indicators, the method selects skim milk powder batches that guarantee optimal fermentation performance, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining SNF content and preventing fermentation delay.
2Adaptability or versatility
If skim milk powder composition varies due to season, region, and manufacturing conditions, then different nutritional profiles are achieved, but fermentability becomes inconsistent leading to quality issues
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces indicator substances (homoserine and/or creatinine) as intermediary parameters that mediate between skim milk powder composition variability and fermentability. These indicators serve as reliable proxies that correlate with fermentation performance, allowing consistent selection of skim milk powder batches regardless of seasonal, regional, or manufacturing variations.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional skim milk powder without indicator evaluation is used, then production cost is lower, but fermentation delay occurs reducing production efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary evaluation of indicator substance concentrations in skim milk powder before production. By measuring homoserine and/or creatinine levels in advance and selecting batches meeting specified thresholds, the method prevents fermentation delays before they occur, thus improving production efficiency without adding complex processing steps during manufacturing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents fermentation delays and improves yogurt production efficiency by shortening fermentation time using skim milk powder with high homoserine and creatinine levels.
Implementation Method 1
fermenting the skim milk powder or the whole milk powder with a homoserine concentration of 3.4pM or more and a creatinine concentration of 950μM or more in the 10% reconstituted skim milk powder or in the 10% reconstituted whole milk powder, with a lactic acid bacterium
Data Source
AI summary
The objectives are to provide indicator substances for fermentability of skim milk powder, skim milk powder containing optimal content of the indicator substances and having excellent fermentability and its use, and method for evaluating fermentability of skim milk powder using the above-mentioned indicator substances. It has been found that skim milk powder having a high homoserine concentration and/or high creatinine concentration has a short fermentation time in yoghurt production and excellent fermentability. The present invention provides a skim milk powder highly containing the above-mentioned substance and having superior fermentation, its use, and a method for evaluating the fermentability of the skim milk powder.