Abstract: This invention involves a process for preparing a pregelatinized modified starch suitable for use in instant puddings which comprise forming an aqueous slurry containing an ungelatinized starch and an effective amount of sodium or calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate, heating the slurry to a temperature and for a period of time sufficient rupture the starch granules and to gelatinize the starch, and recovering the starch. The resultant pregelatinized modified starch possesses a smoother, creamier mouthfeel and has a high sheen.

Abstract: An improved dry instant pudding mix which upon hydration yields a pudding with an improved texture and appearance is prepared by incorporating a fine grind starch and a powdered sugar of a controlled particle size.

Abstract: This application relates to methods of infusing fruits with fructose sugar solids and food products which remain now-crystalline at freezer temperatures containing such infused fruit products.The fruit is infused by immersing it in two or more sugar containing solutes baths of gradually increasing sugar concentration so that the solids content of the fruit is increased in a step-wise and gradual manner to the level of about 32-55 percent by weight.

Abstract: Described are methyl substituted norbornane derivatives having the generic structure: ##STR1## wherein R represents the nitrile moiety having the structure:--C.tbd.N]or the dimethoxymethyl moiety having the structure: ##STR2## and wherein one of R.sub.1, or R.sub.2 is methyl and the other of R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is hydrogen.Also described are processes and compositions for augmenting or enhancing the flavor and/or aroma of consumable materials including foodstuffs, chewing gums, medicinal products, toothpastes, chewing tobaccos, perfumes, colognes and perfumed articles such as solid or liquid anionic, cationic, nonionic or zwitterionic detergents or fabric softeners or fabric softener articles using as the essential ingredient at least one of methyl substituted norbornane derivatives of our invention.

Abstract: A dessert preparation which comprises a dessert base powder and a food material such as pieces of a starch-based material, which food material has a texture different to that of the dessert base powder and has thereon a coating which renders the food material substantially nonabsorptive of moisture. The preferred coating is chocolate, particularly couverture chocolate.The dessert preparation is suitable for making, using milk and/or water, a dessert product having contrasting textures which remain stable to the taste for a period of several hours.

Abstract: A food product containing microfibrillated cellulose is prepared by mixing together an edible liquid which swells cellulose, a food additive and fibrous cellulose to form a liquid suspension. The suspension is repeatedly passed through a small diameter orifice in which the mixture is subjected to a pressure drop of at least 3000 psig and a high velocity shearing action followed by a high velocity decelerating impact. The process converts the cellulose into microfibrillated cellulose and forms a stable homogeneous suspension of the microfibrillated cellulose, liquid and food additive.

Abstract: A stabilized starch composition is prepared which is resistant to degradation under dry acidic storage conditions by adding a buffer to a slurry of starch in an amount effective to protect and stabilize the starch from acid degradation, then drying the starch-buffer slurry.

Abstract: A crystallized sugar product containing a food ingredient is prepared by concentrating a sugar syrup at a temperature in the range of about 250.degree. F. to about 300.degree. F. to a solids content of about 90 to 98% by weight, the sugar syrup containing no more than about 20% by weight non-sucrose solids, admixing the concentrated sugar syrup with a predetermined amount of the food ingredient, subjecting the admixture to impact bearing within a crystallization zone until a crystallized sugar product made up of aggregates of fondant-size sucrose crystals and the food ingredient is formed, the crystallized sugar product having a moisture content of less than 2.5% by weight, and recovering the crystallized sugar product from the crystallization zone. The resulting sugar product is dry, granular, free-flowing, non-caking, and readily dispersible in water.

Abstract: Containers are filled with a topping and a base food product that supports the topping by introducing through the opening of an inverted container a layer of food product that is supported by the inside surface of a removable lid of the container, then filling the interior of the inverted container with a base food product that is solidifiable and is different from the food product layer, sealing the opening of the container, maintaining the container in the inverted position until the base food product is sufficiently solidified to self-support the food product layer and positioning the sealed container in the upright position for the base food product to self-support the food product layer above it is a topping beneath the removable lid.

Abstract: Microbiologically stable now-crystalline foods which are usually kept at freezer temperature, but which can be maintained at room temperature and refrigerator temperature for an extended period of time, are of intermediate-moisture content and have sufficient solutes, generally sugars, to provide an AW of from about 0.08 to about 0.93. A substantial amount of fructose, dextrose or a combination thereof is preferred for its resistance to crystallization which would cause apparent hardness at low temperatures. The foods are mixed with fruit which has been infused with solutes to replace a portion of the water content of the fruit.

Abstract: The present invention stabilizes curcumin against color changes by maintaining the curcumin itself at low, stable pH values, while not upsetting the pH balance of a dry food mix which may be placed in contact therewith. Preferably, the pH of the curcumin is maintained at a value within the range of from about 3.5 to about 4.5, and comprises a spray-dried intimate mixture of curcumin, an organic acid, a buffer, a dispersant for the curcumin, and a film-forming encapsulant. A preferred use of the colorant is in dry mixes for instant puddings which are alkaline due to the salts employed to cause setting.

Abstract: The flavor of waxy maize starch intended for use in thickened food compositions are modified by heat treating the starch to a temperature between about 120.degree. and about 200.degree. C. for a time period of less than 1 hour up to about 24 hours. The heat-treated waxy maize is then pregelatinized and remains flavor-free with a suitable texture for incorporation by mixing in thickened food compositions such as instant puddings.

Abstract: A novel form a starch (e.g., root, root-like, cereal, or blend thereof) modified by xanthan gum is disclosed. The xanthan gum-modified starches exhibit properties similar to those of chemically-modified pregelatinized starches. Xanthan gum-modified starches are characterized by increased acid stability, by heat and shear stability, and by increased resistance to dissolution in aqueous media. The novel process by which this novel starch is made comprises: heating to gelatinize an aqueous starch-xanthan gum blend below 100.degree. C., continuing heating to reduce the moisture content to about between 5 and 10%, then further drying the mixture (typically to below 7% moisture) above 100.degree. C. long enough to cause interaction between the starch and xanthan gum. Drum drying is the preferred heating method that combines the heating and drying steps.

Abstract: Described are methyl-substituted norbornane carboxaldehyde having the generic structure: ##STR1## wherein the dashed line is a carbon-carbon single bond, or a carbon-carbon double bond, and R.sub.1 R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represent methyl or hydrogen with the proviso that (i) R.sub.1 is hydrogen when R.sub.3 is methyl and (ii) R.sub.1 is methyl when R.sub.3 is hydrogen.Also described are processes and compositions for augmenting or enhancing the flavor and/or aroma of consumable materials including foodstuffs, chewing gums, medicinal products, toothpastes, chewing tobaccos, perfumes, colognes and perfumed articles such as solid or liquid anionic, cationic, nonionic or zwitterionic detergents or fabric softeners or fabric softener articles using as the essential ingredient at least one of the methyl substituted norbornane carboxaldehydes of our invention.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided for cooking or gelatinizng a material in an atomized state, so that there is obtained an easily dryable, uniform and finely-sized product. The material which is to be cooked is injected through an atomization aperture in a nozzle assembly to form a relatively finely-sized spray. A heating medium is also injected through an aperture in the nozzle assembly into the spray of atomized material so as to heat the material to a temperature effective to cook or gelatinize the material. An enclosed chamber surrounds the atomization and heating medium injection apertures, and defines a vent aperture positioned to enable the heated spray of material to exit the chamber. The arrangement is such that the elapsed time between passage of the spray of material through the chamber, i.e., from the atomization aperture and through the vent aperture, defines the cooking or gelatinization time of the material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing cold water hydrating starch which, when hydrated in water, produces a short creamy textured paste, especially useful in instant pudding formulations. These properties are attained without the use of the classical types of polyfunctional crosslinking reagents such as epichlorohydrin, phosphorus oxychloride, acrolein, etc. This process comprises treating starch with from 0.1% to 1% chlorine (preferably 0.4-0.6%) as sodium hypochlorite to inhibit the starch, but not to degrade or depolymerize it, and then reacting the inhibited starch with an alkylene oxide to produce a hydroxypropyl starch having a degree of substitution of about 15.5% to about 18.5%.

Abstract: A cooked pudding composition containing highly-dutched cocoa and which maintains a sharp pie cut and a firm texture is prepared by incorporating an amount of an acidulant effective to impart a desired texture and viscosity to the resultant cooked pudding from about 6.3 and adjust the pH of the cooked pudding up to about 6.7.

Abstract: This invention involves a process for preparing a pregelatinized modified starch suitable for use in instant puddings which comprise forming an aqueous slurry containing an ungelatinized starch and an effective amount of sodium or calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate, heating the slurry to a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to gelatinize the starch, and recovering the starch. The resultant pregelatinized modified starch possesses a smoother, creamier mouthfeel and has a high sheen.

Abstract: Microbiologically stable foods which are usually kept at freezer temperature, but which can be maintained at room temperature and refrigerator temperature for an extended period of time, are prepared by controlling their sugar/fat content.An example of a composition of this invention is a pudding containing: 30% water, 50% sugar, 18% fat and minor but effective amounts of alginate, stabilizer, emulsifier and flavoring. This product is semi-soft at freezer temperature and possesses the microbiological stability requisite for storage at room temperature for an extended period of time without spoilage. Further, this product may contain from about 10 to about 30 p.p.m. of a quinine salt.

Abstract: A cold-water dispersible, modified starch characterized by forming a gel having a Bloom strength of at least 60 grams is prepared by reacting a potato starch with a crosslinking agent to within defined Brabender viscosity limits sufficient to provide the modified starch with gelling properties and drum-drying the crosslinked starch to obtain the modified starch product. The starch may be optionally converted to a fluidity starch either before or after the crosslinking step and prior to drum drying. The gelling instant starch thus prepared is particularly useful in food systems of the type which gel upon standing, such as pie fillings, jellies, and puddings.

Abstract: A pregelatinized starch product suitable for use in instant puddings is prepared by a process which comprises drum drying a slurry containing an ungelatinized starch in water with a protein and an emulsifier. Preferably the protein is sodium caseinate and the emulsifier is polysorbate 60. The resultant starch is especially suited for instant pudding in that it possesses an excellent texture, creaminess, and mouth release effect, but without the necessity of any chemical modification of the starch molecule.

Abstract: A cold-water dispersible, modified starch characterized by forming a gel having a Bloom strength of at least 45 grams is prepared by converting a tapioca starch to a water fluidity of about 10 to 63, preferably 20 to 40; reacting the starch with a crosslinking agent to within defined Brabender viscosity limits sufficient to provide the modified starch with gelling properties; and drum-drying the converted, crosslinked starch to obtain the modified starch product. The gelling instant starch thus prepared is particularly useful in food systems of the type which gel upon standing, such as pie fillings, jellies, and puddings.

Abstract: Uniform starch particles prepared from one or more starches selected from tapioca, corn, waxy maize, potato, sago, arrowroot and cereal; and one or more gelling hydrocolloids selected from sodium alginate, sodium pectate, hydroxypropylcellulose, methylcellulose, methylhydroxypropylcellulose, methylethylcellulose, carrageenan, furcellaran, agar, gelatin, a mixture of xanthan gum and locust bean gum, and curdlan; by adding water, extruding, cutting and drying; useful in preparing retorted or aseptically packaged, tapioca-style pudding and other improved, edible texturized starch products.

Abstract: Glycyrrhizin-free fractions from licorice root are obtained by selective extraction and fractionation. The glycyrrhizin-free fractions are described, as in the manner for obtaining them and uses of the fractions as natural flavorants, flavor potentiators and adjuvants, as surface active agents, including wetting, foaming, emulsifying, dispersing and settling agents. Products containing the glycyrrhizin-free fractions are also described.

Abstract: The Maillard-type browning reaction between (1) nitrogen containing compounds, such as amino acids, other nitrogen containing proteinaceous materials and nitrogen containing vitamins, and other non-proteinaceous nitrogen containing compounds and (2) such carbonyl compounds (aldehyde or ketone group containing compounds) as reducing sugars is prevented or substantially retarded, so as to improve the storage life, without otherwise altering the properties, of a solid composition containing both the nitrogen compounds and the carbonyl compounds, by separating the nitrogen compounds from the carbonyl compounds with a starch (which may be partially hydrolyzed) having a D.E. number between 0 and 24.

Abstract: Microcrystalline chitin is prepared by subjecting chitin to controlled acid hydrolysis and high shear while suspended in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: An ingredient for enhancing the texture and organoleptic properties of tapioca-style pudding. Granular starch is pre-extruded under controlled conditions to obtain partially gelatinized spheroidal starch particles for use in tapioca-style puddings. The spheroidal starch particles (or "pearls") retain their spheroidal shape in the finished pudding, thereby providing excellent texture, appearance and mouthfeel to the pudding. The starch pearls, after cooking, consistently provide the highly desired translucent appearance expected in home cooked, tapioca-style puddings.The extrusion process is cooled by water at a temperature below 100.degree. F. at an extrusion rate which only partially gelatinizes the starch. The granular starch is supplied to the extruder at 25-50% moisture, and the extrudates are cut into particles suitable for a particular use by a cutting means as the extrudates emerge from the extruder die orifices.

Abstract: An instant pudding composition containing alkali pyrophosphate, alkali orthophosphate, thickener and sugar. The composition is rendered suitable for fork mixing with milk by controlling the particle size of the orthophosphate and sugar within critical limits.

Abstract: Method for the preparation of starch hydrolysis products containing mixtures having a dextrose equivalent of 5 to 10 which mixtures have the property of forming together with water, white glossy thermoreversible gels having a neutral taste, which gels are stable to freezing and defrosting and the consistency of which gels may be varied from pasty to cutting hard depending upon the proportion of water contained in the gel, comprising mixing two starch products which in the admixture have an average dextrose equivalent of 5 to 10, the starch products being of respective degrees of polymerization differing from the other by at least ten times and each of the starch products being branched and at least one of the starch products being a starch hydrolysis product.

Abstract: Retort starches comprising blends in specified proportions of starch and high amylose starch, said starches being hydroxypropylated and inhibited to a specified degree. These retort starches exhibit good thin-thick properties and high end viscosities and are especially suited for use in foods such as gravies and puddings.

Abstract: A process for producing a novel heteropolysaccharide by a bacterial fermentation in which a new bacteria is incubated in a final fermentation medium containing a suitable carbohydrate source, a source of magnesium ions, a source of phosphorus and nitrogen, and water, the incubation taking place at a temperature of about 25 to 35.degree.C. for about 35 to 60 hours. The heteropolysaccharide produced by the above process are used to thicken aqueous media. Compositions containing the above polysaccharide in combination with certain salts containing di- and trivalent metal ions are useful for example, in drilling fluids, paint compositions, polishes and as additives for foods.

Abstract: A process for preparing edible, fat-containing food products is disclosed wherein the dry ingredients of the food product are intimately mixed with a solid, particulate refrigeration agent until the food product has been chilled and refrigerated to a degree sufficient to recover a dry, granular, free-flowing, fat-containing food product therefrom. Dry ice is used in pellet form as the refrigeration agent, and it chills the fat-containing food products without freezing it. This aids in mixing of the fat of the food.

Abstract: The invention encompasses intermediate, starch-containing products in which the starch thickening capacity is inhibited by an aqueous dispersant system. These intermediate products can be readily converted into a starch thickened end-product by combining the intermediate product with additives which dissipate the inhibitory effect of the aqueous dispersant. The intermediate products may be provided as a concentrate which contains cold-water swelling starch granules suspended in an aqueous media adapted to effectively maintain the starch granules in an unswollen form. The intermediate products may be suitably formulated with all the desired recipe ingredients except the amount of water needed to convert it into a starch thickened end-product.

Abstract: An improved gelling agent composition comprising in combination an alkali metal pyrophosphate, an alkaline earth metal orthophosphate, an alkali metal carbonate, and a thickening agent, the combination being useful in preparing cold set milk puddings. Preferably, the improved gelling agent combination comprises tetrasodium pyrophosphate or sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate, sodium carbonate, and pregelatinized starch. The improved gelling agent is added to milk, or water containing redissolved nonfat dry milk, or redissolved casein.

Abstract: Low molecular weight, aliphatic acid esters of polyhydric alcohols when incorporated into instant pudding formulations containing modified starches results in the formation of smooth creamy non-aerated pudding dessert compositions.