A method for production of near sterile whey protein concentrates is proposed, which comprises the following steps: (a) Ultrafiltration of whey at a temperature of about 2 to about 25 °C to produce a first retentate R1 and a first permeate P1 (b) Microfiltration of the retentate R1 from step (a) at a temperature of about 2 to about 35 °C to produce a second retentate R2 and a second permeate P2 (c) Ultrafiltration of the second permeate P2 from step (b) at a temperature of about 6 to about 25 °C to produce a third retentate R3 and a third permeate P3 (d) Pasteurization of the retentate R3 from step (c) (e) Drying of the pasteurized product from step (d).
