[Problems] The object of the invention is to provide a process for producingfermentedmilk having a satisfactory level of harness and smooth texture.[Means of solving the problems] It is found that fermented milk having asatisfactorylevel of hardness as well as extremely smooth texture can be produced bydeoxidizing(deaerating) a yogurt mix, subjecting the deoxidized (deaerated) product to anUHTprocessing, and then fermenting the resulting product. Specifically disclosedis aprocess for producing a fermented milk, which comprises a first deoxygenatingstep fordecreasing oxygen concentration in yogurt mix a ultra high temperaturesterilizationstep for heating the yogurt mix after the first deoxygenating step for longerthan 1second at higher than 110 degrees Celsius so as to sterilize the yogurt mixand afermentation step for fermenting the yogurt mix after the ultra hightemperaturesterilization step.
