Fuente: WIPO "tomato" Described herein are compositions and methods for the production of a whey fermentate. An initial composition including acid whey or sweet whey, a Leuconostoc citreum bacterium, and sucrose may be fermented for a time and under conditions suitable to produce a whey fermentate. The resulting whey fermentate will have increased viscosity relative to an equivalent whey composition that has not been contacted with or fermented by a Leuconostoc citreum bacterium.