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Delving into dairy: How one DMI-sponsored dairy research center is tackling dairy ingredient research. (Ingredient Technology).

Article Excerpt
Years ago, dairy processors surprised the food industry by revitalizing the commodity status of milk and repositioning milk as a grab-and-go beverage. This time it's milk research that is hitting the radar screen, as dairy ingredients are becoming one of the hottest areas for research and development within the food industry.

Dairy ingredients are used in a major portion of food products: dairy as an ingredient is almost as ubiquitous as retail milk is to consumers. The functional benefits that dairy ingredients can impart to food applications continue to be developed -- current studies have demonstrated gelling and emulsion properties as well as flavor enhancement, shelf life extension and viscosity modification.

The dairy industry invests heavily in dairy ingredient research to explore dairy ingredient applications, new variations upon existing dairy ingredients and the properties and activities of dairy products and dairy ingredients.

"We believe that we create the future of U.S.-produced dairy milk by supporting and facilitating research projects on milk products and dairy ingredients. Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) places a priority upon dairy ingredient research and supports six dairy food research centers across the nation," says Bill Haines, vice president of business to business marketing at DMI, Rosemont, Ill. "The research at these centers uncovers where the dairy industry needs to go to continue to remain viable in the food industry, and the knowledge we need from the research side of the business to get there. Research is the long range investment in creating new technologies, new knowledge and new understanding of dairy...