Abstract:
The present invention is directed to producing reduced fat food products with improved flavor. The term "reduced fat food product" as used herein is meant to include both those food products which qualify for being labeled fat free (less than 0.5 grams of fat per serving) and those food products which qualify for being labeled low fat (less than 1.68 grams of fat per ounce). In the method of the invention, an initial reduced fat food product is provided. The initial reduced fat food product has a fat content below that required for a fat free food product or a low fat food product. The initial reduced fat food product is blended with a high fat emulsion counterpart of the reduced fat food product to provide a final reduced fat food product with improved flavor. The high fat emulsion counterpart is added to the initial reduced fat food product at levels such that the final reduced fat food product still qualifies to be labeled either a fat free food product or a low fat food product.
Abstract:
Methods and compositions are presented to add a flavor to a food by incorporating the flavor into a lipid phase of the food by means of a fat substitute carrier. Adding flavor to the fat substitute carrier, in particular via volatilization, produces excellent characteristics such as reduced mouthcoating and flavor equivalent to that of a comparable full fat food, with the least amount of added triglyceride. The invention is useful for adding flavor to both reduced fat and full fat foods.
Abstract:
A particulate dry mix foaming creamer comprises a conventional particulate creamer for coffee beverages and the like together with a foam generating component comprising a food grade acidulant and an alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonate. A dry mix instant hot cappuccino product in accordance with the invention comprises a water soluble coffee component, the foam generating component, an optional creamer component, and an optional sweetener component. Cappuccino beverages are prepared by mixing a liquid component and the dry mix composition and heating. The liquid component may comprise milk or water. Heating, preferably microwave heating, may be carried out by pre-heating the liquid component or by heating after addition of the liquid component, or by a combination of these heating techniques.
Abstract:
Low-fat or reduced-fat chocolate products containing sucrose fatty acid polyesters and dextrose are provided which have texture and mouthfeel properties similar to conventional chocolate products. The sweetener used is dextrose or blends of dextrose and sucrose. These chocolate products are prepared using a sucrose fatty acid polyester or a blend of sucrose fatty acid polyesters in place of the conventional cocoa butter constituent and dextrose or blends of dextrose and sucrose in place of the conventional sucrose sweetener. The preferred form of dextrose is dextrose monohydrate. The sucrose fatty acid polyesters used do not necessarily mimic the rheological and thermal properties of cocoa butter. The improved chocolate products have similar texture and mouthfeel properties of conventional chocolate with significantly fewer calories and lower fat content. Moreover, the texture and mouthfeel properties can be varied for various uses by varying the relative proportions of the sucrose fatty acid polyesters and the relative proportions of the dextrose and sucrose in the sweetener. The use of dextrose results in chocolate compositions having improved mouthfeel and significantly reduced levels of waxiness.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method for providing a reduced fat, reduced calorie peanut butter composition. In one embodiment, the method consists of the steps of providing a mixture of peanut meal having from about 5 % to about 35 % peanut oil and a polyol fatty acid polyester having at least four esterified hydroxyl groups. The polyol polyester is present in the mixture at a level of from about 10 % to about 25 % by weight, based on the weight of the peanut meal. The mixture is ground to provide a peanut paste and the peanut paste is mixed with additional polyol fatty acid polyesters having at least four esterified hydroxyl groups to provide a peanut butter product having a total fat content of from about 45 % to about 55 % by weight, but having a reduced level of digestible fat.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method of an apparatus for opening flattened bags (4'). An open topped container (3; 401) is carried at the top of a flanged member (9) carried by a carriage (6) which moved by an endless chain (2) at a constant speed along a path in a conveying direction (A). The open topped container (3; 401) is in two halves (24, 25) which are separated at a bag opening station to allow a flattened bag (4') moving faster than the endless chain (2) to enter the container (3; 401) and then slow down to the same speed as the endless chain (2). The two halves (24, 25) then close thereby trapping the bottom seal (63) of the bag between the bottom parts (24d, 25d) of the two halves (24, 25). Plenum chambers (47, 48) in the base of the container (3; 401) can be evacuated, as the container (3; 401) and bag (4') travel on, so as to effect evacuation of chamber which surrounds the bottom part of flattened bag (4') and is formed by the bottom walls (24d, 25d; 201, 202), the side walls (24a to 24c, 25a to 25c), and two stationary members (61, 62; 421, 422) under which the container (3; 401) is caused to pass to cause the flattened bag (4') to open and conform closely to the interior of the container (3; 401).
Abstract:
A self-stable gelled confectionery piece which can be hand-held and eaten as is or dissolved in hot water or milk to produce a beverage. The pieces have an Aw of from 0.5-0.85, or density of from about 0.8 g/cc to about 1.5 g/cc and a moisture content of from about 17 % to about 44 %. The confection contains sugars, hydrocolloid gelling agent (e.g., gelatin), fat, modified starch, emulsifier and powdered vegetable material (e.g., cocoa material). The confections may be produced with conventional starch molding processing.
Abstract:
A gel composition of water, substantially linear polymeric monosaccharide and insoluble material exhibiting exceptional gel strength, thermal stability and organoleptic properties that may be utilized as a fat mimetic in food products. A preferred manufacturing method includes microparticulating the composition at elevated temperatures.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method for reducing the viscosity of melted chocolate. In the method, a chocolate mixture is provided which includes a chocolate source, a fat source and a sweetener. The chocolate mixture is subjected to refining and conching or other processing. Thereafter, the liquified chocolate mixture, which is liquified during conching, is subjected to high shear mixing while the chocolate mixture is still in the molten state.
Abstract:
Low-fat or reduced-fat chocolate products containing sucrose fatty acid polyesters are provided which have texture and mouthfeel properties similar to conventional chocolate products. These chocolate products are prepared using a sucrose fatty acid polyester or a blend of sucrose fatty acid polyesters in place of the conventional cocoa butter constituent. The sucrose fatty acid polyesters used do not necessarily mimic the rheological and thermal properties of cocoa butter. Rather, the desired texture and mouthfeel properties of the chocolate products of this invention are obtained by incorporating a hydrogenated or hardened oil (i.e.), a hardstock triglyceride) and an emulsifier selected from the group consisting of lactylated glycerides, sorbitan esters, acetylated glycerides, polysorbate esters, and polyglycerol esters, along with the one or more sucrose fatty acid polyesters, into conventional chocolate formulations containing essentially no cocoa butter or substantially reduced levels of cocoa butter. In one especially preferred embodiment, two sucrose fatty acid polyesters of different firmness and having high levels of sucrose fatty acid octaesters are employed. The improved chocolate products have similar texture and mouthfeel properties of conventional chocolate with significantly fewer calories and lower fat content. Moreover, the texture and mouthfeel properties can be varied for various uses by varying the relative proportions of the sucrose fatty acid polyesters and the hardened oil.