Abstract: A peelable sealing structure includes a sealing layer and one or more optional additional layers. The peelable sealing structure includes a sealing surface that is formable into a peelable seal upon contact with a sealing substrate at all temperatures in a peelable seal temperature range. Moreover, the peelable sealing structure comprises a thermoplastic polymer and an additive dispersed within at least a portion of the thermoplastic polymer with the peelable sealing structure defining the sealing surface.

Abstract: A dough sheet for producing thin, baked chips is obtained continuously by compressing a dough sheet to a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.035 inch between counter-rotating gauge rolls while maintaining the surface of each gauge roll at a temperature of about 85° F. to about 95° F. Maintaining the gauge roll surface temperature at about 85° F. to about 95° F. avoids sticking, tearing, and shredding of the thin dough sheet as it is compressed and transferred by the gauge rolls, even at high production rates or line speeds. A rotary cutter is employed to obtain thin, irregularly shaped, scallop-edged snacks in a variety of shapes from a single dough sheet without producing dough scraps between the pieces.

Abstract: A rigid container for a particulate product with enhanced top load support includes an interior volume formed by a base, a surrounding wall member upstanding from the base, and an opening formed in a top. A particulate product, such as coffee, is provided in the interior volume, and is provided in sufficient quantity to fill the interior volume up to a predetermined minimum headspace. The predetermined minimum headspace is that headspace which produces a top load ratio of at least 3:1; where the top load ratio is defined as a ratio of the top load force sufficient to cause a 0.30? deflection in the container when filled to the top load force sufficient to cause a 0.30? deflection in the container when empty. In a preferred embodiment, the container is made of plastic and includes a flexible closure attached to the top and spanning the top opening.

Abstract: A process for preparing an instant beverage is provided which includes heating a dried soluble coffee under sufficient pressure thereby forcing gas into internal voids of the dried coffee. The heated dried soluble coffee is cooled and depressurized to produce a dried soluble coffee having internal voids filled with pressurized gas. An instant dry beverage comprising soluble coffee having internal voids filled with pressurized gas is also provided, and this product is advantageous in that it produces a beverage with foam on its surface when reconstituted.

Abstract: A method for the continuous production of cookies having a high content of large inclusions, such as chocolate chips, nuts, and fruit pieces includes extruding a cookie dough containing the inclusions through a die orifice to obtain an extrudate dough rope, and cutting the extrudate dough rope with an ultrasonic cutting blade. The ultrasonic cutting severs the extrudate dough rope into dough pieces which fall onto a moving conveyer into a substantially uniform or regular array for uniform baking. The ultrasonic cutter is controlled to provide a roughened top surface on a dough piece to provide a home baked appearance upon baking, while cutting through the inclusions without substantial displacement of the inclusions which would cause pock marks on the surface of the dough piece, and without substantial dough piece weight variation.

Abstract: The processes described herein are directed to cream cheese products containing galacto-oligosaccharides and having significantly reduced lactose levels. More specifically, lactose-containing dairy substrates are contacted with lactase enzyme(s) having hydrolytic and trans-galactosylation activities effective for converting at least 20 percent of the lactose in the dairy substrate to galacto-oligosaccharides. The enzyme-treated dairy substrate is then processed into galacto-oligosaccharide containing cream cheese products having reduced lactose levels. The cream cheese products provided herein have excellent nutritional and organoleptic properties.

Abstract: A cookie cup sandwich cookie having dissimilarly-sized base cakes is continuously produced by applying a layer of filler cream to a lower base cake and applying an upper base cake to the lower base cake so that the outer periphery of the upper base cake surrounds the layer of filler cream. The apparatus for the production of the sandwich cookies includes at least one rotary molder for producing lower base cakes and upper base cakes having different sizes, a filler cream depositor that deposits a layer of filler cream on each of the lower base cakes, and a conveyer system for transporting and at least substantially concentrically aligning the dissimilarly sized lower and upper base cakes.

Abstract: One provides (101) a plurality of one-way degassing valves (202) that are to be installed on corresponding containers and places (102) a viscous liquid (such as silicon oil) (205) in each of the plurality of one-way degassing valves to provide a corresponding plurality of installable one-way degassing valves (208). These teachings then provide for automatically and non-destructively determining (103), prior to installation of these valves on the corresponding containers, whether the viscous liquid has been properly placed. By one approach, this can comprise using a captured image (210) of at least a portion of each such one-way degassing valve to make this determination.

Abstract: Deboned meat is subjected to processing in a surimi-type procedure in order to substantially reduce the heme content and thus the color intensity of the deboned meat, with bone marrow components and fat also being removed. When desired, the washed meat is subjected to dewatering, such as by pressing, in order to provide a color and fat reduced deboned meat. Multiple-stage separation is practiced, and the protein yield of the washed meat is advantageously elevated.

Abstract: Treated egg products are provided for imparting the flavor of egg to foods that include egg yolk treated simultaneously with protease and phospholipase. Food flavoring composition are also provided for imparting the flavor egg that can be used in lower amounts than whole egg or egg yolk. Additionally, methods are provided for preparing the egg flavored food compositions. Such egg yolk compositions are prepared by the simultaneous application of phospholipase enzyme and protease enzyme. The method further includes egg flavored food products, such as mayonnaise and salad dressings, which are prepared with the food flavoring composition. The egg flavor compositions can be used in a variety of food products to provide egg flavor and enhanced functionality.

Abstract: A shelf-stable, filled, baked crispy snack which possesses a crispy textured casing and a moist, soft textured filling over a prolonged period of time is obtained by formulating a casing which when baked has a high glass temperature (Tg) at a high moisture content. Increasing the degree of starch gelatinization to increase the Tg may be achieved during baking and by the addition of a pregelatinized starch. The high Tg baked casing permits the use of a high moisture content filler in high amounts to provide a shelf-stable substantial textural dichotomy in the filled, baked, crispy snack. The filled, baked snack exhibits an unexpectedly high resistance to deformation or peak force at high baked casing moisture contents. The baked snack is ready-to-eat out of the packaging and does not have to be toasted, microwaved or further baked, cooked, or heated for consumption, or to achieve a crisp textured casing.

Abstract: A cookie cup sandwich cookie having dissimilarly-sized base cakes is continuously produced by applying a layer of filler cream to a lower base cake and applying an upper base cake to the lower base cake so that the outer periphery of the upper base cake surrounds the layer of filler cream. The apparatus for the production of the sandwich cookies includes at least one rotary molder for producing lower base cakes and upper base cakes having different sizes, a filler cream depositor that deposits a layer of filler cream on each of the lower base cakes, and a conveyer system for transporting and at least substantially concentrically aligning the dissimilarly sized lower and upper base cakes.

Abstract: An enzyme resistant starch type III having a melting point or endothermic peak of at least about 140° C. as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is produced in yields of at least about 25% by weight, based upon the weight of the original starch ingredient. A gelatinization stage, nucleation/propagation stage, and preferably a heat-treatment stage are used to produce reduced calorie starch-based compositions which contain the enzyme resistant starch type III. The high melting point of the enzyme resistant starch permits its use in baked good formulations without substantial loss of enzyme resistance upon baking. A gelatinized, starch-based bulking agent having at least 30% by weight of the enzyme-resistant starch may be used in bar-type, extruded, sheeted, or rotary molded food products. The melting enthalpy of the bulking agent may be from about 0.5 to about 4 Joules/g and its water-holding capacity may be less than 3 grams.

Abstract: A method of preparing a natural sweetener from a heat-processed powdered fruit extract of the cucurbitaceae family, such as luo han guo is provided. In one embodiment, the method provides a cleaner tasting and concentrated natural sweetener in which objectionable flavors, odors, colors, and insoluble components are removed to form the natural sweetener.

Abstract: Deboned meat is subjected to processing in a surimi-type procedure in order to substantially reduce the heme content and thus the color intensity of the deboned meat, with bone marrow components and fat also being removed. When desired, the washed meat is subjected to dewatering, such as by pressing, in order to provide a color and fat reduced deboned meat. Multiple-stage separation is practiced, and the protein yield of the washed meat is advantageously elevated.

Abstract: A protein-free soluble foaming composition is provided which contains carbohydrate particles having a plurality of voids containing entrapped pressurized gas. The composition may include a surfactant and may be contained in a food product such as a beverage mix or an instant food. In addition, a method is provided for manufacturing the foaming composition in which the protein-free soluble foaming particles are heated and an external pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure is applied to the protein-free soluble foaming particles. The soluble foaming particles are cooled and the external gas pressure is released resulting in pressurized gas remaining in internal voids of the foaming composition.

Abstract: An enzyme resistant starch type III having a melting point or endothermic peak of at least about 140° C. as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is produced in yields of at least about 25% by weight, based upon the weight of the original starch ingredient. A gelatinization stage, nucleation/propagation stage, and preferably a heat-treatment stage are used to produce reduced calorie starch-based compositions which contain the enzyme resistant starch type III. The high melting point of the enzyme resistant starch permits its use in baked good formulations without substantial loss of enzyme resistance upon baking. A gelatinized, starch-based bulking agent having at least 30% by weight of the enzyme-resistant starch may be used in bar-type, extruded, sheeted, or rotary molded food products. The melting enthalpy of the bulking agent may be from about 0.5 to about 4 Joules/g and its water-holding capacity may be less than 3 grams.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a particulate composition comprising enteric-coated glucosinolate and beta-thioglucosidase particles. The present invention further provides a method of converting glucosinolate to isothiocyanate in the small intestine comprising orally administering to a subject an enteric-coated chemoprotectant precursor composition comprising enteric-coated glucosinolate and beta-thioglucosinodase particles. In another aspect, uncoated glucosinolate and beta-thioglucosinodase particles may be provided in an enteric-coated capsule. Preferably, the glucosinolate is glucoraphanin and the beta-thioglucosidase is myrosinase. The enteric coating targets the compound for release in the small intestine where beta-thioglucosinodase enzyme converts glucosinolate to chemoprotectant isothiocyanate.