Protein fortification of model cheese matrices using whey protein-enriched double emulsions

Abstract

Whey proteins represent 20% of the protein content of milk and are an underutilised by-product of cheese manufacturing. This study was aimed at encapsulating whey proteins in the fat content of cheese using double emulsions. A two-stage power ultrasound (20 kHz) emulsification process was used to produce double emulsions with an internal aqueous phase enriched with high concentrations of whey proteins contained within droplets of sunflower oil. Primary water-in-oil (W1/O) nanoemulsions were successfully formed at an applied ultrasonic power of 1.35 W/mL, using 20% w/w and 30% w/w whey protein concentrate (WPC) solutions in the internal phase. The inner water droplets were stabilised by a com..