Processes and compositions for treating food products comprising adding to the food product an aqueous composition which is gellable in the food product. The process can include wherein the composition comprises a thixotropic gel which has been shear thinned, and is added to the food product in a shear thinned condition, as well as wherein the aqueous composition comprises a composition that does not form a gel externally of the food product, and which is gellable in the food product.