The invention provides a process of decolourising annatto-containing whey or products produced therefrom, by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide, characterised in that the oxidation is carried out in the presence of a catalytic amount of an active peroxidase, in that the amount of hydrogen peroxide used is sufficient to effect the oxidation of the annatto and in that the time for which the peroxidase is exposed to a deactivating concen­tration of hydrogen peroxide is insufficient to permanently deactivate the peroxidase. The process is generally applicable to inter alia whey, demineralised whey, reconstituted whey powders, whey protein concentrates and reconstituted whey protein concentrate powders. It may be applied as a batch, semicontinuous or a continuous in line process.

A method for preparing a low-pH, high-moisture shelf-stable food composition with reduced sourness comprising: preparing the food composition with a low sourness acidulant having an acidifying power of at least about 0.005 mole/liter per gram of acidulant at pH 4.0, in an amount effective for providing a food composition having a final pH of 5.0 or less with an Aw of about 0.90 or greater and a total organic acid content of 0.22 moles per 1000 grams of food composition or less, wherein the acidulant is selected from the group consisting of a highly acidified food ingredient, an edible inorganic acid, an edible metal acid salt of an inorganic acid, or mixtures thereof.

In one aspect the invention relates to use of nutrient in the manufacture of a feeding formula for feeding to human infants in the period up to 2 months of age to avoid long-term adverse health effects consequent upon excessive weight gain in that period, wherein said feeding formula comprises 0.5 to 1.00 gram of protein or 25 to 50 kilocalories per 100ml. In another aspect the invention provides an infant feeding formula for feeding to babies in the first two weeks of life which is beneficial for long term health and which contains from 0.5 to 1.00 gram of protein per 100ml of formula or 25 to 50 kilocalories per 100ml of formula.

There are provided an iron composition including a milkprotein and an iron preparation, which is stable in the presence of a substance having a property of releasing iron from the composition or reducing the released iron, and foods or drinks, animal feeds, and medicines blended with the iron composition. A milk protein such as skim milk is blended into an iron preparation, thereby producing the iron composition which is stable in the presence of a substance having a property of releasing iron from the composition or reducing the released iron (e.g., vitamin C or citric acid).