Fruit And Vegetable Juice Patents (Class 426/330.5)
  • Publication number: 20080081096
    Abstract: Calories in a juice can be reduced by selectively removing more sucrose than primary sugars, for example, glucose and fructose. An acceptable flavor profile can be achieved since the primary sugars have a higher perceived sweetness than sucrose. The food product processing system for reducing calories can include multiple stages for filtering the juice to produce a clarified low-calorie juice having an acceptable flavor profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Girish Subramaniam, Tedoro Rivera, Nicholas Shields, Diana Pesha
  • Publication number: 20070248725
    Abstract: Method of processing foods and drying apparatus therefor are disclosed. The method includes cutting vegetables, fruits, fish, or meats into pieces; squeezing the pieces for juice; drying the juice in a closed space having a humidity of about zero maintained at a temperature of about 18° C. to about 28° C. until the juice either has a water percentage of about 20% to about 25% or has a sugar percentage of about 60 degrees for forming a paste; mixing the paste with malt; feeding the mixture into the space for drying until the mixture has a water percentage of about 12% to about 15% and grinding same into coarse powder; further drying the coarse powder until the coarse powder has a water percentage less than about 9%, and grinding same into fine powder. The apparatus includes a dehumidifier including a condenser coil and fins having a density increased upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Tsung-li Li, Tsung-hwa Li, Jeng-yan Li, Guan-shing Li
  • Patent number: 7264739
    Abstract: A dendrimer complex comprising a dendrimer and an antimicrobial agent with the dendrimer complex placeable directly into a fluid to inhibit growth of microbes or rid the fluid of microbes. In a further embodiment of the invention the dendrimer complex is secured to a carrier, which is placed in a body of fluid and allowed to dispense the antimicrobial agent into the fluid. Once the antimicrobial agent is dispensed, the dendrimer complex can be removed and recycled to add functional groups to the dendrimer so that the dendrimer can be reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Inventors: Joseph A. King, John E. Hill
  • Patent number: 7264837
    Abstract: The deacidification of citrus juice with ion exchange resin is described. Maintaining a high acid condition of the juice is achieved by passing the juice through regenerated resin that is preconditioned with an aqueous food-grade acid, preferably citric acid. Additionally or optionally, an early bed volume or multiple early bed volumes of juice flow are at a rapid flow rate. The products obtained also are described, and they may be any deacidified citrus juice or juice blend where the pH of the juice does not rise above that of an acid food pH for the juice during deacidification. In preferred embodiments, the juice product is orange juice. In another preferred embodiment, the conditioning process is used to provide a deacidified citrus juice product while avoiding raising the pH of any portion of the juice to 4.6 or above so as to control microbial growth of the juice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongsoo Chung, Osvaldo A. Chu, Marcelo Perez Alvarez
  • Patent number: 7074447
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel composition with antimicrobial activity. It is in the food industry a well-known method to use the product L-arginine, Na-lauroyl-ethylester monohydrochloride (LAE). This product is well tolerated and suitable for use in the preservation of all perishable food products. The action of LAE can be further improved by combining the product with a second component selected from the group consisting of potassium sorbate, sodium sorbate and sorbic acid. The weight ratio of LAE to the second component is preferably in the range of 1:50 to 50:1. The combination of the two products leads to a synergistic combined activity against such microorganisms as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus megaterium, Citrobacter intermedium, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Penicillium camemberti and Cladosporium cladosporioides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Laboratories Miret, S.A.
    Inventors: Joan Seguer Bonaventura, Sergi Figueras Roca, Joan Bta. Urgell Beltran
  • Patent number: 7074448
    Abstract: A system and process for making a low-acid, single strength juice such as a not from concentrate (NFC) citrus juice are provided in which an initial single strength juice flow can be cooled to a temperature of not greater than about 45° F. and maintained at that temperature or below throughout the process (except during pasteurization). From the initial juice flow, a first portion of the juice is diverted from a second portion of the juice. Suspended solids are separated out from the first portion to provide a solids-reduced juice. The solids-reduced juice is subjected to ion-exchange deacidification. Preferably, a portion of the initial single strength juice flow is added to the deacidified juice immediately after deacidification in order to immediately lower the pH of the deacidified juice to a value that discourages microbial activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Scott Lineback, Osvaldo A. Chu, Yongsoo Chung, Mark A. Pepper, Marcelo Perez Alvarez
  • Patent number: 7048864
    Abstract: A dendrimer complex comprising a dendrimer and an antimicrobial agent with the dendrimer complex placeable directly into a fluid to inhibit growth of microbes or rid the fluid of microbes. In a further embodiment of the invention the dendrimer complex is secured to a carrier, which is placed in a body of fluid and allowed to dispense the antimicrobial agent into the fluid. Once the antimicrobial agent is dispensed, the dendrimer complex can be removed and recycled to add functional groups to the dendrimer so that the dendrimer can be reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: King Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. King, John E. Hill
  • Patent number: 6936173
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for purifying carbohydrates, including oligosaccharides, nucleotide sugars, and related compounds, by use of ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and/or reverse osmosis. The carbohydrates are purified away from undesired contaminants such as compounds present in reaction mixtures following enzymatic synthesis or degradation of oligosaccharides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Neose Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn DeFrees
  • Patent number: 6749875
    Abstract: Minimally processed fruits and vegetables are preserved by use of a flavonoid. Cut and peeled fruits or vegetables are sprayed or dipped in a solution containing a flavonoid and an anti-oxidant such as ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid or alpha lipoic acid. Juices are also preserved by the addition of a flavonoid and ascorbic acid if it is not already present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Citrus Sensation, Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Rhonda Selleck
  • Patent number: 6723365
    Abstract: A continuous method using gaseous carbon dioxide or a pressurized flow of liquefied carbon dioxide is described to reduce microbial and/or enzymatic activity in a liquid product. The carbon dioxide is combined with a pressurized flow of the liquid product, or the mixture is pressurized after the mixture is formed. The pressure and temperature in the flow regions are maintained at a level which is sufficient to keep the carbon dioxide in a continuous liquid state, but which does not freeze the liquid product. The pressurized mixture of the carbon dioxide and liquid product flows through a reaction zone for a sufficient time to reduce harmful microorganisms and/or inactivate enzymes and then enters one or more expansion stages wherein the pressure of the mixture flow is sufficiently decreased to vaporize the carbon dioxide for separation from the liquid product. If necessary, heat is applied in at least one of the expansion stages to prevent a freezing of the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Murat O. Balaban
  • Patent number: 6693216
    Abstract: The present invention relates to calcium double salts having good preservative properties. Said salts can be used in foods, feeds, pet food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, food-contact items, silage, brewers' spent grains, pomace, food wastes, brewers' yeast, distillation residues and other wastes from the food industry or for leather treatment. These substances exhibit a considerably extended shelf life after addition of, or treatment with, one of the calcium double salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Nutrinova Nutrition Specialties & Food Ingredients GmbH
    Inventors: Nico N. Raczek, Christoph Mollenkopf
  • Patent number: 6660766
    Abstract: Safe, effective first-pass inhibiting compounds and citrus-derived substances are provided. Formulations containing the compounds are also provided as are methods for inhibiting the first pass effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Bioavailability Systems, LLC
    Inventor: James W. Harris
  • Patent number: 6630186
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cochineal pigment-containing beverage comprising nigerooligosaccharide and an anti-fading method for a cochineal pigment-containing beverage comprising adding thereto nigerooligosaccharide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihisa Takaichi, Toshihiko Okamoto, Tomoo Yamada, Ryuichi Hatai, Takashi Sato
  • Patent number: 6589581
    Abstract: A process for making a commercial packaged watermelon fruit juice drink in which juice extracted from the whole watermelon, except the seeds, is adjusted by adding water, Carrageenan, malic acid, sweetener and natural flavors and then rapidly heated and cooled before being bottled and drinks made from such processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Watermelon Works LLC
    Inventors: Stella Marks, Maris Lunt, Peter Mattson
  • Patent number: 6534107
    Abstract: A method and system for enhancing the flavor of a fruit juice and a fruit juice made according to these methods. Additionally, the methods may be used to produce a shelf-stable fruit juice that is capable of being stored in non-refrigerated conditions for extended periods of time without the development of off-flavors. The methods comprise passing the fruit juice through an adsorbent resin which substantially reduces the off-flavor compounds and/or the precursors of off-flavors thereby making a juice which tastes better immediately. Additionally, since substantial amount of the precursors are removed, the off-flavors will not develop, thereby allowing the juice to be stored under non-refrigerated conditions for one or more months without significant degradation of the flavor of the juice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Sheng Xue Ma, Mark Witold Lada
  • Patent number: 6528104
    Abstract: A flavored filling having a low water activity. The filling includes a flavoring agent, an edible oil, and humectant. The edible oil can include a high and a low melting temperature oil. The high melting point oil, when used, can act as a crystal seeding agent during the formation of the filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: The J. M. Smucker Company
    Inventors: James A. Jindra, John P. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20020102336
    Abstract: A method and formulation for stabilizing fruit concentrate powders, using stabilizing substrates such as magnesium salt, citric acid, and gum, in a vacuum drying system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Douglas G. Mann
  • Patent number: 6406730
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a low acid food product. The low acid food product is first acidified to produce an acidified food product and then packaged as the acidified food product. The acidifying step comprises addition of a GRAS acid to adjust the pH to below about 4.5. The acidified food product is then deacidified to return the acidified food product to the low acid food product having a pH above 4.6. The deacidification is accomplished through the addition of an alkaline substance in an amount sufficient to deacidify the acidified food product to a pH of from about 5.8 to about 7.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventors: Carl E. Banyard, Richard S. Hornack, Michael W. Evon
  • Patent number: 6368654
    Abstract: A method for making fruit and vegetables purees includes selecting raw produce of the type having meat with a cell structure that is not ruptured by cooking or macerating, and seeds and/or skins. The seeds and/or skins are separated from the meat at substantially ambient temperature by extruding the meat through perforations to form a cold break. The cold break is heated to a temperature which cooks the same into a puree. The puree is then finished to the desired texture and consistency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Gerber Products Company
    Inventors: Willis DeWayne Evans, Tracy A. Baker, William P. Burnaw, Richard H. Friday, Randall L. McDaniel, Robert A. Owens, Allen Bruce Zerlaut
  • Publication number: 20020022075
    Abstract: A process of removing off-flavors and off-odors, such as caused by TCA, from food or beverage products by contacting the food or beverage with one or more aliphatic synthetic polymers so as to sufficiently lower the concentration of the off-flavors and off-odors that they are undetectable by taste or smell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: James S. Swan
  • Patent number: 6340489
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a manufacturing process of carrot juice capable of obtaining, with high yield, carrot juice having a high-quality and stable characteristic free from occurrence of cohesion with less fishiness. To this end, the present invention comprises, first, peeling washed raw carrot, carrying out enzyme deactivation processing within one day, preferably, within 12 hours after peeling, and second, completely deactivating pectin esterase activity of carrot and carrying out enzyme deactivation processing so that a residual rate of pectinase activity is less than 60%. Such an enzyme deactivation processing may be done by blanching carrot till an internal temperature reaches 70 to 80° C. in water at 70 to 80° C., or blanching carrot till an internal temperature reaches 60 to 70° C. in 0.02M to 0.05M citric acid solution at 60 to 70° C., or processing carrot with supercritical carbonic acid gas by a microbubble SC—CO2 method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Ito En, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuko Suzuki, Akio Sugimoto, Takami Kakuda, Yasuhiko Ikegawa
  • Patent number: 6309687
    Abstract: Safe, effective first-pass inhibiting compounds and citrus-derived substances are provided. Formulations containing the compounds are also provided as are methods for inhibiting the first pass effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: James W. Harris
  • Patent number: 6309679
    Abstract: A method is provided for improving an enzymatic process using at least one enzyme having pectinase activity which entails contacting the at least one enzyme during the process with a noble gas, mixture of noble gases or gas mixture containing at least one noble gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: American Air Liquide
    Inventor: Kevin C. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6294214
    Abstract: The noncarbonated beverage products have a pH of between 2.5 and 4.5 and contain from about 300 ppm to about 3000 ppm of a polyphosphate; from about 100 ppm to about 1000 ppm of a preservative such as sorbic acid, benzoic acid, alkali metal salts thereof and mixtures thereof; from about 0.1% to about 40% by weight of fruit juice; and from about 80% to about 99% by weight of added water, the added water contains from 0 ppm to about 60 ppm of hardness, and preferably contains from 0 ppm to about 300 ppm of alkalinity. These noncarbonated beverage products can be stored at ambient temperatures for at least about 10 days, without substantial microbial proliferation therein after exposure to beverage spoilage organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Co.
    Inventors: Jonathan Javier Calderas, Thomas Ray Graumlich, Leonard Jenkins, Robert Phillip Sabin
  • Patent number: 6277328
    Abstract: Methods of aseptically transporting a bulk quantity of a sterile product such as an edible food product comprise sterilizing a transporting container by flooding the container with a chemical sterilant, pressurizing the sterilized container with a positive pressure inert gas atmosphere, and aseptically supplying a bulk quantity of the sterile product to the sterilized container. The pressurized container supplied with the sterile product is sealed to substantially maintain the positive pressure during transport of the container, and the container with the sterile product therein is then transported to a remote location. A transporting container for use in the present methods comprises an insulated transportable storage tank provided with a sealable atmospheric vent on an upper portion thereof, an inert gas valve provided with a microbial filter, and an aseptic inlet/outlet valve for supplying a sterile product therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Enerfab, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Raasch, Charles E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6274186
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning apparatus used during the production of foodstuffs, in particular the filtration thereof, wherein this apparatus is contacted after use with a cleaning system based on the combination of a cyclic nitroxyl compound and a hypohalite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Heineken Technical Services B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Nicolaas Maria Mol, Stephan Cornelus Johannes Van Hoof, Arie Cornelis Besemer
  • Patent number: 6268003
    Abstract: The noncarbonated beverage products have a pH of between 2.5 and 4.5 and contain from about 300 ppm to about 3000 ppm of a polyphosphate; from about 100 ppm to about 1000 ppm of a preservative selected from sorbic acid, benzoic acid, alkali metal salts thereof and mixtures thereof; from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of fruit juice; and from about 80% to about 99% by weight of added water, wherein the added water contains from 0 ppm to about 60 ppm of hardness, and preferably contains from 0 ppm to about 300 ppm of alkalinity. These noncarbonated beverage products can be stored at ambient temperatures for at least about 10 days, without substantial microbial proliferation therein after exposure to beverage spoilage organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Javier Calderas, Thomas Ray Graumlich, Leonard Jenkins, Robert Phillip Sabin
  • Patent number: 6265008
    Abstract: Disclosed are noncarbonated beverage products with improved microbial stability, and processes for preparing them. The noncarbonated beverage products have a pH of between 2.5 and 4.5 and comprise from about 300 ppm to about 3000 ppm of a polyphosphate having an average chain length ranging from about 17 to about 60: from about 100 ppm to about 1000 ppm of a preservative selected from the group consisting of sorbic acid, benzoic acid, alkali metal salts thereof and mixtures thereof; from about 0.1% to about 40% by weight of fruit juice; and from about 80% to about 99% by weight of added water, wherein the added water contains from 61 ppm to about 220 ppm of hardness. These noncarbonated beverage products can be stored at ambient temperatures for at least about 28 days without substantial microbial proliferation therein after exposure to beverage spoilage organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Co.
    Inventors: James Arthur Smith, Thomas Ray Graumlich, Robert Phillip Sabin, Judith Wells Vigar
  • Patent number: 6261619
    Abstract: The noncarbonated beverage products have a pH of between 2.5 and 4.5 and contain from about 300 ppm to about 3000 ppm of a polyphosphate; from about 100 ppm to about 1000 ppm of a preservative selected from sorbic acid, benzoic acid, alkali metal salts thereof and mixtures thereof; from about 0.1% to about 40% by weight of fruit juice; and from about 80% to about 99% by weight of added water, wherein the added water contains from 0 ppm to about 60 ppm of hardness, and preferably contains from 0 ppm to about 300 ppm of alkalinity. These noncarbonated beverage products can be stored at ambient temperatures for at least about 10 days, without substantial microbial proliferation therein after exposure to beverage spoilage organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Co.
    Inventors: Jonathan Javier Calderas, Thomas Ray Graumlich, Leonard Jenkins, Robert Phillip Sabin
  • Patent number: 6255337
    Abstract: First-pass effective substances derived from citrus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Bioavailability Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: James W. Harris
  • Patent number: 6232373
    Abstract: The preparation and the use of pulverulent compositions consisting of (a) from 10 to 90% by weight of cellulose, (b) from 5 to 60% by weight of an alkali metal caseinate, and (c) from 5 to 85% by weight of a polymer c1) an N-vinyllactam polymer obtained by copolymerization of from 90 to 99.5% by weight of one or more N-vinyllactam monomers and from 0.5 to 10% by weight of a crosslinking monomer, or c2) a polymer obtained by copolymerization of from 50 to 99.5% by weight of at least one vinyl heterocyclyl monomer having a PKa of at least 3.8, from 0 to 49.5% by weight of another copolymerizable monomer and from 0.5 to 10% by weight of a crosslinking monomer, or c3) a mixture of the polymers c1) and c2). The compositions are used in the treatment of biological liquids of plant origin in an unfermented or partially or completely fermented state for sensory stabilization of the liquids with a view to preserving taste and color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Lappas, Bernhard Fussnegger, Gabriele Müller, Knuth Horst Jung, Georg Tasser
  • Patent number: 6169044
    Abstract: A laminate structure for use as a container for liquids including a structural substrate such as a paperboard which facilitates a gable top container having incorporated on its inner surface a layer of a fibrous matrix which has encapsulated or incorporated therein a finely ground divinylbenzene ethyl vinylbenzene copolymer, polystyrene divinylbenzene copolymer resin or a cyclodextrin placed on its inner surface. Additionally, the fibrous matrix may be produced as an insert and attached to the inner surface of the gable top container through the use of various items such as hot melt adhesives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Michael Olshavsky, Gene Bartholomew, Elizabeth Cornelius, Henry Mei