Abstract: A lightweight finish for a hot-fill container uses less material compared to existing hot-fill container finishes. The lightweight finish yields a cost savings while still providing adequate dimensional stability to allow the container to maintain its shape during the hot-fill process.

Abstract: An apparatus for sterile filling of beverage containers has a first module and a second module. The first module rinses and sterilizes empty containers and delivers the sterilized containers to the second module. The second module fills and caps the containers with beverage product at ambient temperature in an active sterilization zone utilizing an e-beam sterilization unit.

Abstract: A system and method of cleaning an enclosure of a container defined by inner walls, including providing a container, orienting the container so that the opening is lowermost and opens downwardly and generating resonant vibration in the container at a predetermined frequency and at an energy level sufficient to dislodge any loose solid particles from the inner walls of said container but not being of an energy level to impact the structural integrity of the container and maintaining the resonant vibration within the container enclosure for a sufficient time to dislodge all loose solid particles from the inner walls of said container. The system may include a resonant chamber in the form of a shroud and means to effectuate the method steps and may also include a sanitizing step in which the containers are further sanitized to render inactive any organic contaminants.

Abstract: An improved sports beverage containing an acidulant system that results in a sports beverage with reduced total aftertaste and an increase in the pleasantness of the aftertaste as well as significantly higher gulpability compared to conventional sports beverages. The acidulant system is composed of citric and phosphoric acid in specific relative amounts.

Abstract: A carbohydrate blend is provided, including at least fructose and glucose. Some or all of the glucose may be provided by glucooligosaccharides having a structure containing up to ten degrees of saccharide polymerization. An aqueous solution having 6% by weight of the carbohydrate blend has a measured osmolality of 230-300 mOsm/kg. Further, the measured osmolality of the carbohydrate solution is substantially stable during storage for up to six months. Also, a rehydration/sports beverage composition is provided, including water, a carbohydrate blend, electrolytes, and optionally edible acids, coloring agents, flavoring agents and the like. The beverage composition may have a measured osmolality of about 230-260 mOsm/kg, which provides faster absorption by the gastrointestinal system of a subject than a beverage composition with a higher osmolality.

Abstract: A method for hot-filling and closing a polymer container is disclosed in which one of the closure for the container and the head space area of the container is provided with a hole covered with a hydrophobic air permeable membrane. The container is then filled with a hot liquid and the filled container is closed but for the air permeable component. The filled container is then cooled with the pressure between the interior of the container and the ambient pressure being equalized due to the air permeable membrane. Subsequent to cooling, an air-tight seal is provided over the membrane-covered hole. An associated container and closure cap is also disclosed.

Abstract: The applicants have discovered that consuming milk-based protein, carbohydrate, Vitamin D, calcium, and CLA in combination and in the relative concentrations disclosed herein results in a beneficial synergistic impact on body composition. It is believed that each component is directly or indirectly utilized in metabolic pathways which alter body composition in beneficial ways that would not be realized if one or more of the components were delivered separately and/or in concentrations other than those disclosed herein. Conventional food and beverages do not deliver the combination of these components in concentrations that maximize the synergistic potential. In certain exemplary embodiments, the composition described herein delivers, per 8 ounce serving, about 5 to 20 grams of milk-protein, about 5 to 26 grams of carbohydrate, about 98 to 1000 IU of Vitamin D, about 350-600 mg of calcium, and about 0.5 to 5 grams of conjugated linoleic acid to a consumer.

Abstract: A method for hot-filling and closing a polymer container is disclosed in which one of the closure for the container and the head space area of the container is provided with a hole covered with a hydrophobic air permeable membrane. The container is then filled with a hot liquid and the filled container is closed but for the air permeable component. The filled container is then cooled with the pressure between the interior of the container and the ambient pressure being equalized due to the air permeable membrane. Subsequent to cooling, an air-tight seal is provided over the membrane-covered hole. An associated container and closure cap is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for sterile filling of beverage containers has a first module and a second module. The first module rinses and sterilizes empty containers and delivers the sterilized containers to the second module. The second module fills and caps the containers with beverage product at ambient temperature in an active sterilization zone utilizing an e-beam sterilization unit.