Abstract: The present invention relates to butter-derived spreads, i.e. mixtures containing a first butter, a milk fat source and vegetable oil, as well as a method of producing such butter-derived spreads.

Abstract: A method of forming a butter product comprises forming a primary oil-in-water emulsion by dispersing liquefied stearine butterfat in a butter serum, the liquefied stearine butterfat forming stearine globules within the butter serum. The primary oil-in-water emulsion is dispersed into an olein butterfat component forming an oil-in-water-in-oil emulsion, and the oil-in-water-in-oil emulsion being cooled to form the butter product which is spreadable at a temperature of less than about 45° F.

Abstract: A method of forming a butter product comprises forming a primary oil-in-water emulsion by dispersing liquified stearine butterfat in a butter serum, the liquified stearine butterfat forming stearine globules within the butter serum. The primary oil-in-water emulsion is dispersed into an olein butterfat component forming an oil-in-water-in-oil emulsion, and the oil-in-water-in-oil emulsion being cooled to form the butter product which is spreadable at a temperature of less than about 45° F.

Abstract: A method of forming a fat product, the method entailing heating a first material to a first temperature to form a first intermediate, the first material comprising fat and the first temperature adequate to remove any memory of crystallization from the fat; rapidly cooling the first intermediate to a second temperature to form a second intermediate, the second temperature adequate to provide nascent seed crystals in the second intermediate; and quiescently cooling the second intermediate to form the fat product, the quiescent cooling adequate to support growth of macro-crystals about the nascent seed crystals.

Abstract: A food selected from the group comprising milk and dairy products derived from milk, comprising a carnitine in an effective amount to stimulate, through the natural fatty acid metabolic processes that take place in a consumer of said food, the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids from the saturated fatty acids originally contained in the food.

Abstract: A food selected from the group comprising milk and dairy products derived from milk, comprising a carnitine in an effective amount to stimulate, through the natural fatty acid metabolic processes that take place in a consumer of said food, the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids from the saturated fatty acids originally contained in the food, the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acid from the saturated fatty acids originally contained in the food.

Abstract: A recombined cream formulation for use in the commercial manufacture of frozen cream-based sweet confections, contains from 45% to 55% by weight of butter which has from 78% to 85% by weight thereof of milk fat content; and from 45% to 55% by weight of a milk constituent which has from 0.0% to 0.5% by weight thereof of milk fat content, from 4.0% to 8.0% by weight thereof of MSNF content, and from 0.02% to 0.2% by weight of phospholipid content, which is primarily lecithin. Typically, the milk constituent is real buttermilk derived from a butter churn, but it may also be made from dried buttermilk powder; skim milk to which lecithin has been added; or rehydrated skim milk or rehydrated condensed skim milk, to which lecithin has been added.

Abstract: Disclosed are microwave shelf stable popcorn articles that contain real butter. The articles comprise any conventional microwave popcorn bag and an improved popcorn/fat charge. In addition to kernel popcorn and fat, the charge further essentially includes about 1% to 8% of a high fat butter constituent. By virtue of selecting a particularly defined high fat butter ingredient, microwave popcorn articles can be prepared that are shelf stable.

Abstract: A hard butter composition comprising 50 to 80% by weight of SUS type triglycerides, less than 2% by weight of SSS type triglycerides and at least 1% by weight of a polyglycerol fatty acid ester (wherein S's are saturated fatty acid residues which are substantially palmitic acid and/or stearic acid residues and U's are unsaturated fatty acid residues which are substantially C16 and/or C18 unsaturated fatty acids). The composition further comprises SSU type triglycerides in an amount of at least 15% by weight based on the total amount of SUS type triglycerides and SSU type triglycerides. The hard butter composition is a non-tempering type hard butter composition having good meltability in the mouth, which is free from trans acids and lauric acid. A process for producing the hard butter composition is also discloses.

Abstract: A calcium amino acid malic acid chelate complex for fortification of oleagnious foods which is stable, bioavailable, and palatable is disclosed. Further, oleaginous foods fortified with the calcium amino acid malic acid chelate complexes of the present invention are also disclosed. The calcium amino acid malic acid chelate complex is prepared by reacting a calcium source, an amino acid ligand, and malic acid in an aqueous environment.

Abstract: Disclosed are microwave shelf stable popcorn articles that contain real butter. The articles comprise any conventional microwave popcorn bag and an improved popcorn/fat charge. In addition to kernel popcorn and fat, the charge further essentially includes about 1% to 8% of a high fat butter constituent. By virtue of selecting a particularly defined high fat butter ingredient, microwave popcorn articles can be prepared that are shelf stable.

Abstract: A method of preparing purified ester compositions is provided. The process can be utilized to isolate and purify monoglycerides and propylene glycol monoesters, to advantage. It can also be used to isolate preferred diester products. The invention also concerns equipment for conduct of the processes, provision of preferred food additives, and provision of preferred food industry compositions. The process generally involves use of liquid-liquid extractions, to advantage.

Abstract: Disclosed are microwave shelf stable popcorn articles that contain real butter. The articles comprise any conventional microwave popcorn bag and an improved popcorn/fat charge. In addition to kernel popcorn and fat, the charge further essentially includes about 1% to 8% of a high fat butter constituent. By virtue of selecting a particularly defined high fat butter ingredient, microwave popcorn articles can be prepared that are shelf stable.

Abstract: Substantially fat free, reduced fat and low fat margarine-like spreads, dairy spreads and cream cheeses that have the taste, mouthfeel and textural properties of equivalent full fat spreads are described. The spreads contain a starch based texturizing agent that is derived from pregelatinized, high amylose starch. The presence of the texturizing agent functions to viscosify the spread in the absence of traditional viscosifying or thickening agents, such as gelatin and emulsifiers.

Abstract: Reduced fat content butter products prepared from dairy cream. Lecithin and/or a stabilizer can be added to the dairy cream to optimize the product. Dairy products--milk, skim milk, and dairy fats--are employed as required to adjust the fat content of the product; and optional ingredients may be added to, inter alia: adjust the texture of the product, inhibit oxidation and otherwise extend shelf life, alter color, and enhance flavor. The product may have a fat content low enough to qualify it as a reduced fat or even a light (or lite) butter. The product may have the firmness of conventional firm butter or be spreadable at refrigeration temperatures.

Abstract: Honey butters prepared from a honey and dairy cream. Lecithin and/or a stabilizer can be added to the dairy cream to optimize the product. Dairy products--milk, skim milk, and dairy fats--are employed as required to adjust the fat content of the product; and optional ingredients may be added to, inter alia: adjust the texture of the product, inhibit oxidation and otherwise extend shelf life, alter color, and enhance flavor. The product may have a fat content low enough to qualify it as a reduced fat or even a light (or lite) honey butter.

Abstract: This invention provides a dry butter flake product for incorporation into baked goods and flour confections, and methods of manufacture. The dry butter flake product comprises from substantially 0 to 2% moisture, from about 20% to about 60% dry dairy solids, and the balance is a butterfat. The dry dairy solids are naturally occurring milk solids from which substantially all water has been removed. The method of manufacture provides for mixture of the ingredients so that the solids are suspended in the butterfat. Butterfat or butter oil crystallization is initiated in a tempering unit, and the tempered product is deposited on a moving belt which passes through a cooling tunnel to cool and crystallize the fats to produce a dried butter flake product.

Abstract: The invention provides reduced fat spread products which do not contain either preservatives or emulsifiers have acceptable organoleptic properties and to processes of preparing same. These are edible emulsions comprising a dispersion of a 15-60% wt. of a water phase in 40-85% wt. of a continuous fat phase CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the water phase contains less than 0.05% protein, has a D3,3 not more than 2.0 .mu.m and a sigma value for the water drop size distribution of not more than 2.5. In preferred embodiments the spreads are stable in the absence of an emulsifier system but may contain an emulsifier as an anti-spattering agent.

Abstract: This invention provides a dry butter-based flake product for incorporation into baked goods and flour confections, and methods of manufacture. The dry butter-based flake product comprises from substantially 0 to 2% moisture, from about 20% to about 60% dry dairy solids, and the balance is a butterfat. The dry dairy solids are naturally occurring milk solids from which substantially all water has been removed. The method of manufacture provides for mixture of the ingredients so that the solids are suspended in the butterfat. Butterfat or butter oil crystallization is initiated in a tempering unit, and the tempered product is deposited on a moving belt which passes through a cooling tunnel to cool and crystallize the fats to produce a dried butter-based flake product.

Abstract: A method for producing an emulsion by dispersing a liquid to form a dispersed phase into a liquid to form a continuous phase through a microporous membrane, in which:(a) a W/O type emulsion is produced by dispersing an aqueous phase at low pressure into a fatty phase through a hydrophilic microporous membrane previously treated with the fatty phase;(b) an 01/W/02 type emulsion is produced by dispersing an O/W type emulsion at low pressure into the fatty phase (02) through the same microporous membrane as (a) above;(c) an O/W type emulsion is produced by dispersing a fatty phase containing a hydrophobic emulsifying agent into an aqueous phase through a hydrophilic microporous membrane.

Abstract: Shortening compositions containing a lauric fat component such as coconut oil are provided in a form in which they are pourable and which have a eutectic characteristic wherein the solids content of the shortening composition is lower than the combined respective solids contents of the individual ingredients thereof, including a shortening base liquid edible oil component, the lauric fat component and, when desired, a flake component.

Abstract: A method is described for the preparation of a spread containing lactoprotein and/or vegetable protein and thickener, wherein, using a fat composition and a first aqueous composition as starting materials, the starting emulsion is first formed in a state in which the fat composition is entirely molten and a separately formed warm, thickener-containing, second aqueous composition is then emulsified in the starting emulsion at a temperature between 40.degree. and 70.degree. C. to form a final emulsion.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a plastic bi-continuous emulsion containing 5-21 wt. % fat and comprising a continuous aqueous phase, wherein the stress observed at the F-strain when the stress is registered as a function of the strain applied, is 10%, preferably at least 25% higher than the stress observed for the aqueous phase composition at the same strain.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a process for preparing a dispersion comprising a continuous fat phase and a dispersed gelled aqueous phase, wherein a water-continuous composition, containing, calculated on the water:(i) more than 200 ppm amino acid residues; and(ii) more than the critical concentration of one or more gelling polysaccharides capable of forming a reversible gel,is cooled from above the gel setting temperature of the water-continuous composition to below said gel setting temperature and subjected to such conditions of shear that the water-continuous composition is converted into small gelled aqueous beads, after which a fat-continuous dispersion is formed while maintaining the temperature at below the gel melting temperature.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a process for preparing a dispersion comprising a continuous fat phase and a dispersed gelled aqueous phase, wherein a water-continuous composition, containing at least 1% gelatin by weight of water, is cooled from above the gel setting temperature of the water-continuous composition to below said gel setting temperature and subjected to such conditions of shear that the water-continuous composition is converted into small gelled aqueous beads, after which a fat-continuous dispersion is formed while maintaining the temperature at below the gel melting temperature.

Abstract: Hypoallergenic milk products, and processes for preparing the same, which have the flavor and smell of natural whole mammalian milk products, are disclosed herein. The process for preparing one of the hypoallergenic milk products includes the steps of (a) melting a salt-free anhydrous milk fat in boiling water to produce a mixture of sterilized butter oil and boiling water, and (b) removing the resulting sterilized butter oil from the mixture.

Abstract: Process for preparing an edible spread of fat content lower than butter or margarine including the steps of forming an admixture of plastic dispersion (A) having a continuous fat phase and a discontinuous aqueous phase, which aqueous phase has a pH above 4.7 and contains protein selected from the group consisting of milk protein, soy protein and mixtures thereof, and an aqueous composition (B) having a pH at or below 4.7 and containing hydrocolloid, the aqueous composition (B) being substantially free of milk protein and soy protein, and subjecting the admixture of (A) and (B) to a working treatment at a temperature at which (A) remains plastic. The spread so obtained has a continuous fat phase and two distinct aqueous phases, one having the characteristics of the aqueous phase of (A), the other the characteristics of (B).

Abstract: Margarine or other foodstuff with similar physical properties is warmed to room temperature and placed in a mixing bowl (10). The margarine is blended by stirring with paddles (12). Then, the margarine is mixed until it has a substantially uniform viscosity by a recirculating pump (14), extrusion of the margarine from the recirculating pump through a screen (16), and continued stirring with the paddles. A 15 to 30 second burst of steam is applied into jacket (20) liquifying but not clarifying the margarine contiguous with the edge of the vessel. The recirculating pump draws the liquified margarine from the edge of the mixing bowl and pumps it into the top center of the margarine where it is blended into substantially unheated margarine. The process is repeated until the margarine attains a viscosity in the range of 16,000 to 18,000 centipoise. Once this viscosity range is reached, the margarine is pumped into a holding tank (26).

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a stable food product from milk components, comprising the steps of mixing from about 20-40% by weight skim milk powder, from about 0-45% by weight butter fat, and from about 30-80% by weight water with from about 2-6% by weight of a mixture of salts comprising monosodium phosphate, sodium polyphosphate having about 70% P.sub.2 O.sub.5 and a cross-linked polyphosphate having a pH value of 2.9, in a proportion of approximately 3:4:2; heating the resulting mixture to a temperature of from about 50.degree.-120.degree. C., within about 2-20 minutes under agitation; and recovering the product. Also disclosed is a stable food product in accordance with this process.

Abstract: A method and a device to form a layer of certain thickness of an emulsion-like substance, for example, butter or margarine from a feedstock of any shape, wherein an amount of substance is repeatedly scraped from the feedstock and subsequently a portion of the desired thickness is separated from the scraped-off amount, the resultant portions being then joined one behind the other to form the desired layer, whereby owing to the scraping treatment of the emulsion-like substance the structure thereof is broken up and further treatment of the substance is facilitated even at lower temperatures without a change of the desired properties of the substance.