Lactose is usually supplied and used in wet blends that also contain other key ingredients in infant formula, such as proteins, fats, skim milk powder, vitamins and minerals. These wet blends are heat-treated and spray dried ready for packaging.
However, Arla Foods Ingredients’ new dry blend lactose can be introduced to the manufacturing process after heat treatment and drying has taken place, when it can simply be combined with the spray-dried wet blend ingredients and packaged. This leaves significantly more space available for the other ingredients during the wet blend stage, making it possible to increase capacity by up to 25% on existing production lines.
Luis Cubel, sales director for Arla Foods Ingredients’ Permeate & Lactose Business, said: “Our dry blend lactose makes it possible for infant formula producers to increase output and reduce costs without compromising food safety. In addition, it is a CO2-neutral way to achieve this, ensuring companies can maintain their sustainability credentials while boosting their bottom line.”
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