Abstract: A starch-based snack food pellet for manufacturing an expanded snack food, the pellet being essentially free of sodium chloride and comprising a starch matrix, the starch matrix including a crystalline fraction and an amorphous fraction, wherein the weight ratio of the crystalline fraction to the amorphous fraction is from 0.52 to 0.60.

Abstract: The present invention relates to food products which are dry and which contain a table salt formulation characterized in that said table salt formulation comprises a mixture of at least two types of particles of one or more physiologically acceptable inorganic salts and at least one of the type of said particles is composed of primary particles of which at least 50 wt % are 5-5000 nanometer in diameter; to manufacturing methods of such food products; further it relates to specific table salt formulations, to manufacturing methods and methods of use of such table salt formulations.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fruit-containing snack food comprises providing a fruit material comprising whole fruit solids; providing a binder material, the binder material being selected from the group comprising cereal material, starch material, nuts seeds, egg, soy, pulses and dairy material; mixing together the fruit material and the binder material to form a mixture having a weight ratio of whole fruit solids: binder material solids of from 0.6:1 to less than 4:1, the whole fruit solids and binder material solids each being on a dry basis, and a moisture content of from 49 to 75 wt % based on the weight of the mixture; forming the mixture such that it has a thickness of between 1 and 4 millimetres; and cooking the mixture in a vacuum-controlled atmosphere having a pressure of less than 1 bar absolute.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a snack chip, the method comprising the steps of: i. providing a plurality of pellets including at least one potato ingredient; ii. compressing the pellets in a closed mould; iii. baking the compressed pellets in the closed mould at an elevated baking temperature to form a snack chip having a moisture content of from 4 to 10 weight % based on the weight of the snack chip; iv. ejecting the snack chip from the mould; and v. drying the snack chip to a final snack chip moisture content of from 0.5 to less than 4 weight % based on the weight of the snack chip.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating an operating fluid, the apparatus comprising a closed circuit for a working fluid, the closed circuit having first and second heat exchangers and a compressor therebetween, the first heat exchanger having a heat input side for connection to an external fluid heat source and a heat output side for vaporizing working fluid within the closed circuit, the compressor being a vapor compressor adapted to compress the vaporized gaseous working fluid from the first heat exchanger to form a higher pressure gaseous working fluid, and the second heat exchanger having a heat input side for receiving and condensing the higher pressure gaseous working fluid from the compressor and a heat output side for heating an external operating fluid. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of storing potatoes comprises storing a plurality of endodormant or ecodormant potatoes in a first gaseous environment including carbon dioxide in an amount of from greater than the amount of carbon dioxide present in atmospheric air to up to 5 mol % based on the composition of the first gaseous environment; and in a subsequent storage step storing the potatoes in a second gaseous environment including carbon dioxide in an amount of from 0.03 to 2 mol % based on the composition of the second gaseous environment, the first and second gaseous environments having different carbon dioxide contents. The method may comprise: monitoring the dormancy of the potatoes; in response to eye movement of a potato, changing the first gaseous environment to a second gaseous environment; maintaining a level of carbon dioxide in the second gaseous environment below a selected threshold to control sugar content of the potatoes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a newly identified lipase belonging to the Ustilaginaceae family of Basidomycetes and variants thereof. The invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the lipase and the variants thereof. The invention further relates to procedures for producing the lipase, and variants thereof, polypeptides and polynucleotides. The invention further relates to lipase variants with an increased trans-selectivity. The invention further relates to lipase variants with a preference for long chain fatty acid esters or carboxylic acid moieties with a chain length greater than C12. The invention further relates to a method of reducing, or eliminating, trans-fatty acids from liquid oil stable enough for frying systems.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a gel-stabilized foam for use in food products. Foam bubbles are stabilized by either a continuous gel coating or a particulate gel coating created under high shear conditions. The foam is viscous and shelf-stable, and can be combined with a viscous food product to lower its caloric density and improve its organoleptic properties.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a gel-stabilized foam for use in food products. Foam bubbles are stabilized by either a continuous gel coating or a particulate gel coating created under high shear conditions. The foam is viscous and shelf-stable, and can be combined with a viscous food product to lower its caloric density and improve its organoleptic properties.

Abstract: An apparatus for lipophilically conditioning potato slices, the apparatus with an elongate tank for containing a reservoir of oil, the tank having an upstream end and a downstream end, an elongate longitudinal conveyor disposed in the tank, the conveyor being adapted to pass products through the reservoir of oil from the upstream end to the downstream end, the conveyor defining therealong a plurality of compartments for containing respective groups of products during passage from the upstream end to the downstream end, and at least one oil jet located on the tank for causing turbulent flow in the reservoir of oil.

Abstract: An apparatus for frying foodstuffs, the apparatus comprising a fryer having inlet and outlet longitudinal ends, an oil recirculating system coupled to the fryer, a heat exchanger for heating the oil in the oil recirculating system, a hood above the fryer for collecting steam generated during the frying process, a conduit for conveying steam from the hood, and a compressor for compressing the steam, the compressor having an input connected to the conduit and an output for compressed steam connected to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method for frying foodstuffs, the method comprising a fryer having inlet and outlet longitudinal ends, an oil recirculating system coupled to the fryer, a heat exchanger for heating the oil in the oil recirculating system, a hood above the fryer for collecting steam generated during the frying process, a conduit for conveying steam from the hood, and a compressor for compressing the steam, the compressor having an input connected to the conduit and an output for compressed steam connected to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus including a rotary jaw device, the rotary jaw device comprising an elongate holder, an elongate knife mounted on and projecting outwardly from the elongate holder, the knife having an elongate cutting edge parallel to a plane of the knife, and at least one part of a heat seal device located on the elongate holder on opposed sides of the knife. A packaging method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for de-oiling potato slices, the apparatus comprising an elongate longitudinal conveyor having an upstream end and a downstream end, the conveyor being permeable to oil, water and air and being adapted to convey potato slices on the conveyor, a water spray station located towards the upstream end and a plurality of air-blower stations located in succession downstream of the water spray station, the water spray station comprising upper and lower water spray units adapted to spray water downwardly and upwardly, respectively, towards the conveyor, and each air-blower station comprising upper and lower air knife units adapted to direct an air blade downwardly and upwardly, respectively, towards the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for lipophilically conditioning potato slices, the apparatus comprising an elongate tank for containing a reservoir of oil, the tank having an upstream end and a downstream end, an elongate longitudinal conveyor disposed in the tank, the conveyor being adapted to pass products through the reservoir of oil from the upstream end to the downstream end, the conveyor defining therealong a plurality of compartments for containing respective groups of products during passage from the upstream end to the downstream end, and at least one oil jet located on the tank for causing turbulent flow in the reservoir of oil.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating an operating fluid, the apparatus comprising a closed circuit for a working fluid, the closed circuit having first and second heat exchangers and a compressor therebetween, the first heat exchanger having a heat input side for connection to an external fluid heat source and a heat output side for vaporising working fluid within the closed circuit, the compressor being a vapour compressor adapted to compress the vaporised gaseous working fluid from the first heat exchanger to form a higher pressure gaseous working fluid, and the second heat exchanger having a heat input side for receiving and condensing the higher pressure gaseous working fluid from the compressor and a heat output side for heating an external operating fluid. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for frying foodstuffs, the method comprising a fryer having inlet and outlet longitudinal ends, an oil recirculating system coupled to the fryer, a heat exchanger for heating the oil in the oil recirculating system, a hood above the fryer for collecting steam generated during the frying process, a conduit for conveying steam from the hood, and a compressor for compressing the steam, the compressor having an input connected to the conduit and an output for compressed steam connected to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus including a rotary jaw device, the rotary jaw device comprising an elongate holder, an elongate knife mounted on and projecting outwardly from the elongate holder, the knife having an elongate cutting edge parallel to a plane of the knife, and at least one part of a heat seal device located on the elongate holder on opposed sides of the knife. A packaging method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a newly identified lipase belonging to the Ustilaginaceae family of Basidomycetes and variants thereof. The invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the lipase and the variants thereof. The invention further relates to procedures for producing the lipase, and variants thereof, polypeptides and polynucleotides. The invention further relates to lipase variants with an increased trans-selectivity. The invention further relates to lipase variants with a preference for long chain fatty acid esters or carboxylic acid moieties with a chain length greater than C12. The invention further relates to a method of reducing, or eliminating, trans-fatty acids from liquid oil stable enough for frying systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a newly identified lipase belonging to the Ustilaginaceae family of Basidomycetes and variants thereof. The invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the lipase and the variants thereof. The invention further relates to procedures for producing the lipase, and variants thereof, polypeptides and polynucleotides. The invention further relates to lipase variants with an increased trans-selectivity. The invention further relates to lipase variants with a preference for long chain fatty acid esters or carboxylic acid moieties with a chain length greater than C12. The invention further relates to a method of reducing, or eliminating, trans-fatty acids from liquid oil stable enough for frying systems.