Many consumers will continue to eat dairy foods as a mainstay of their diets. However, dairy foods also find their way into the diet as an ingredient in other food products. Consumer demands for convenience, the large number of meals eaten away from home and other changing consumer habits continue to fuel their interest in finding new ways in which dairy foods can be part of a healthy and enjoyable diet.
Today's dairy product manufacturers are much more cognizant of the need to tailor their products to perform as an ingredient in other food systems. Fortunately for dairy manufacturers, they have a head start in regards to this task in that much already has been demanded of their products: a good shelflife; the ability to withstand thermal processing; the retention of desirable dairy flavors; a smooth, creamy mouthfeel; and the delivery of key nutrients.