Protein containing fruit drink and process for the manufacture thereof

A protein containing fruit juice drink comprising a fruit juice portion of 10-85% containing at least a citrus juice portion, and a milk raw material portion of 90-15 percents by weight in which the fruit juice portion preferably comprises the citrus juice and one or more further juices and/or fruit aromas and in which the milk raw material portion comprises whey proteins in an amount of 0,5-10 or preferably 1-3 percents by weight of the finished product, and as sweetener a hydrolysed lactose made of substantially pure lactose prepared from whey or a permeate from ultrafiltration of milk or whey and containing glucose and galactose free from salts and substances giving a by-taste to the fruit drink. The hydrolysed pure lactose is present in an amount of 2,5-20 or preferably 6-10 percents by weight of the finished product. The invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of a product of the aforementioned type, in which a whey protein solution is prepared, the fruit juice or fruit juices and/or the fruit aromas are added while stirring the mixture, hydrolysed pure lactose is prepared by solving pure lactose crystals obtained from whey or from a permeate of ultrafiltration of milk or whey, and hydrolysing the pure lactose solution at a temperature of 60- 150 or preferably 90-120 DEG C to a dry maner content of 30-90% or preferably 40-80% and a hydrolysing degree of 40-100% or preferably 70-90%, whereupon the pure glucose-galactose product thereby obtained is admixed in the protein containing fruit-juice solution, whereupon the combined solution is pasteurized, possibly homogenised, cooled and packed.