Abstract: A dried composition with various shapes that has heat resistance by which the dried composition is less likely to melt even being boiled and restorability (imbibition), and food product containing the dried composition. The dried composition including: agar and alginate at a weight ratio of 1:1 to 1:20, the alginate contains a salt of a monovalent cation and a salt of a divalent cation, the divalent cation is 0.04 to 0.30 mol per mol and further the monovalent cation is 0.10 to 0.70 mol per mol with respect to a monomeric unit of the alginate, a mol ratio of the divalent cation to the monovalent cation is 1.0:0.35 to 1.0:8.70, and the dried composition absorbs water and swells in distilled water at 20° C. and distilled water at 90° C., and in both the cases dried composition becomes a gel having a weight of 15 to 100 times of the dried composition.

Abstract: A dried composition with various shapes that has heat resistance by which the dried composition is less likely to melt even being boiled and restorability (imbibition), and food product containing the dried composition. The dried composition including: agar and alginate at a weight ratio of 1:1 to 1:20, the alginate contains a salt of a monovalent cation and a salt of a divalent cation, the divalent cation is 0.04 to 0.30 mol per mol and further the monovalent cation is 0.10 to 0.70 mol per mol with respect to a monomeric unit of the alginate, a mol ratio of the divalent cation to the monovalent cation is 1.0:0.35 to 1.0:8.70, and the dried composition absorbs water and swells in distilled water at 20° C. and distilled water at 90° C., and in both the cases dried composition becomes a gel having a weight of 15 to 100 times of the dried composition.

Abstract: A composition containing a swelling agent is provided, which less burdens the stomach and intestine even after excessive intake. A food, anti-obesity agent and constipation alleviator each containing the composition is also provided. [Means for Solution] A composition comprises a swelling agent composed of a water-soluble polysaccharide swellable in Japanese Pharmacopoeia first fluid or Japanese Pharmacopoeia second fluid and water; and a swell inhibitor operative to control the swell of the swelling agent. The swelling agent and the swell inhibitor are mixed in the state of solution, unified and then dried.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid additive thickener, or a liquid thickening agent, which can thicken easily when it is added to an object. The liquid additive thickener comprises a liquid that is prepared by dissolving a thickening agent into water and is initially inhibited from forming viscous solutions or gels. The liquid can begin to form a viscous solution when it is added to a water-containing object. The liquid may be: (a) prepared to have a low viscosity by dissolving a thickening agent into water together with a poor solvent; (b) prepared to have a low viscosity by dissolving a thickening agent into water together with a low viscous saccharide; or (c) prepared to have a low viscosity by dissolving a thickening agent into water together with a reactive ion.

Abstract: According to a low gel strength agar of the invention, the molecules of agar are cut to short fragments, and the gel strength of the agar is adjusted to be 250 g/cm.sup.2 or below at 1.5 % agar concentration. Thus, even when the agar is used at a certain agar concentration or above, a soft gel having a low gel strength with no syneresis can be obtained. When the agar is contained in foods or cosmetics, special advantages, which are not obtainable with prior-art products, can be achieved.