Abstract: The present invention discloses a cup support and a dispensing device that uses a cup support. The cup support is adapted to hold at least cups of two different diameters and sizes. The cup support and the dispensing device are adapted to detect the diameter and size of the cup, and enable that when a diluent jet is injected into the cup, the jet is oriented to impact onto a predetermined position on a sidewall of the cup. The orientation of the jet achieves an effective dissolution of food ingredient in the cup by the injected diluent. The dispensing device is designed to move the cup support in a horizontal and vertical direction, to rotate the cup support. The cup support is not directly actuated, but is fitted into movable and rotatable holding means, from which it can be easily dismantled to be cleaned. The cup support comprises a plug element comprising one protusion. The dispensing device comprises a motor for vertically moving the cup support or the injection means.

Abstract: A device (1) for extracting an ingredient in a cartridge (9) by supplying an extraction liquid such as heated water into such cartridge, comprises: upstream and downstream cartridge enclosing parts (7, 8) relatively movable between an open position for inserting and/or removing such cartridge and a closed position for forming an extraction chamber (11) enclosing such cartridge during extraction; and a cartridge removal arrangement (36, 37) for assisting removal of such cartridge when the enclosing parts (7, 8) are brought from the closed to the open position. The upstream part (7) bears an upstream piercing arrangement (34) for opening an upstream portion of such cartridge. The downstream part (8) bears a downstream piercing arrangement (30), such as a piercing member, for opening a downstream portion of such cartridge.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a base characterized in that it is prepared by the following steps: (a) partial bio-hydrolysis of raw materials rich in precursors, and (b) thermal reaction steps of the resulting product from (a). Said base can be prepared with a further step, which is a subsequent or simultaneous fermentation of the resulting product from step (a).

Abstract: A method for the manufacture an infant formula or an infant nutritional product comprising mixture of human milk oligosaccharides is disclosed. The method involves the catalytic hydrogenolysis of compounds of the general formula 1 and 2 with particular oligosaccharide profiles.

Abstract: A device for the preparation of a liquid food or beverage, such as tea, coffee or soup from a preferably portioned ingredient, in particular in the form of capsules, housed within a beverage preparation chamber. The device includes a housing, a pump comprising a pump chamber, in particular a pump chamber containing a piston moveably mounted therein, the pump further comprising a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a liquid supply which is in fluid connection with the liquid inlet of the pump, a pump support connected to the housing of the device at which the pump is mounted, and a pre-suction chamber connected to the liquid inlet of the pump and being designed to intermittently provide liquid to the liquid inlet of the pump.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions, methods, and kits for discriminating sequence variation between different alleles. More specifically, in some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions, methods, and kits for determining the presence and/or level (e.g., quantitating) of rare (e.g., mutant) allelic variants, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or nucleotide insertions or deletions, in samples comprising abundant (e.g., wild-type) allelic variants with high sensitivity and/or specificity. As such, in certain embodiments, the present invention provides a highly selective method for the detection of somatic mutations, e.g., in samples containing abundant levels of a wild-type allele compared to very low levels of a mutant allele.

Abstract: The present invention relates to whey protein micelles for use in the treatment and/or prevention of a condition linked to a reduced concentration of plasma amino acids in a patient. A further aspect of the invention is a meal replacement comprising whey protein micelles.

Abstract: A machine for preparing a liquid food or beverage, including at least one outermost machine face selected from a front face, a top face and a lateral face; a component for emitting light and a control unit connected to the light emitting component. The light emitting component has states of light emission or non-emission, and an illuminatable outer face on the outermost machine face. The control unit is arranged to detect at least one condition of such machine involving a non immediate readiness of such machine to prepare a liquid food or beverage, and to communicate this condition to a user via the illuminatable outer face by changing the state of the light emitting component. The illuminatable outer face extends in at least one direction across a substantial part of the outermost machine face and is arranged to be substantially entirely illuminated when in this state of light emission.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of sintering at least two powdered compounds with different water activities and glass transition temperatures keeping the total water content constant. The method allows sintering of two materials in a closed environment wherein the structure of one material is kept intact.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a device (50) for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a capsule (24) by injection of a liquid into the capsule (24) provided to the device (50). Said liquid is provided by a pump of the device, said device comprising an extraction head (20) having an aperture (2.2) for inserting a capsule (24) into a brewing chamber (25) of the device. The brewing chamber (25) is defined by an upper and a lower enclosing member (10a, 10b), a closing mechanism (1) to selectively enclose said capsule by a relative displacement of said enclosing members.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a packaging comprising a container with a container body (1), and a container opening (2) having an upper edge (3), and a closure element (4) for closing said container, characterized in that the closure element (4) is rigid and is ultrasonically sealed onto the upper edge (3) of the container opening (2), so that said closure element (4) and said container (1, 2) form one single unitary part.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a liquid is connectable to a container containing the liquid and detachably connectable to a base station having a drive member, the device including a liquid duct and a pump actuated by the drive member for effecting passage of liquid through the duct, characterized in that the device includes a cutter for piercing a tamper resistant foil positioned across the outlet of the container and that a push pin for actuating the cutter is operable from outside the device.

Abstract: The invention proposes a system comprising a beverage preparation device (10) and a capsule (1) for preparing a beverage from a food substance contained in a compartment (2) of the capsule by injection of a liquid into the capsule, the beverage preparation device (10) having opening means (3) which are designed to interact with a wall member (4) provided at an outlet face (6b) of the capsule (1), wherein the opening means (3) comprise an opening member (7) having a hook-like shape designed to shear and move away at least a portion of a cover (11) sealed to the outlet face (6b) of the capsule.

Abstract: The present invention provides an innovative packaging for microwave preparation of expandable food, such as cookies, an innovative food product prepared from the packaging and the method of preparation thereof. The innovative packaging includes first and second susceptor sheet portions each having an accordion-like shape; one or more members for spacing the susceptor sheet portions at a predetermined distance; and an expandable uncooked food placed between the two susceptor sheets, wherein the food is in intimate contact with sheet portions and becomes efficiently browned and crisped during microwave cooking. The food is preferably a cookie dough.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of a probiotic bacterial strain in the manufacture of a medicament or therapeutic nutritional composition for improving the maturation of sleep patterns in infants, young children or young animals and/or for reducing sleep disturbances and/or improving sleep patterns in humans or animals at any age.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for determining the film forming potential of food products. In a general embodiment, a method for determining the film forming potential of a food product is provided and includes providing a temperature-control device having a processor and a computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to cycle an interior temperature of the temperature-control device between different temperatures in a predetermined amount of time. The methods further include placing a packaged food product in the temperature-control device, and causing the processor to execute the stored instructions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and composition for nutritional compositions containing glucosidase inhibitors, and more specifically Touchi Extract and its uses in the treatment of many disorders. These disorders include diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, Metabolic syndrome/Syndrome X, COPD, malabsorption, Crohn's disease, diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, human immunodeficiency virus, cystic fibrosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, polycystic ovarian syndrome including associate infertility, and erectile dysfunction. Further, glucosidase inhibitors, and more specifically Touchi Extract can be used to aid healing in critical care patients and for general wound healing. Additionally, glucosidase inhibitors, including Touchi Extract can be used to enhance athletic performance.

Abstract: A capsule for preparing a beverage or liquid food from a substance in a centrifugal brewing unit by passing water through the substance contained in the capsule by using brewing centrifugal forces. The capsule has an enclosure containing a predetermined dose of the substance and a construction which opens under the effect of the centrifugal forces to allow the brewed liquid to leave the capsule. The capsule may also include a mechanism for engaging the capsule to an external rotational drive of the centrifugal brewing unit wherein the engaging mechanism is configured to offer resistance to torque during rotation of the capsule for maintaining the capsule in a reference rotational position.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a base characterized in that it is prepared by the following steps: (a) partial bio-hydrolysis of raw materials rich in precursors, and (b) thermal reaction steps of the resulting product from (a). Said base can be prepared with a further step, which is a subsequent or simultaneous fermentation of the resulting product from step (a).

Abstract: The invention concerns An instant solid beverage in form of granules, each granule (1) comprising: ?0.1 to 30% by weight of a beverage concentrate (2), and ?60 to 95% by weight of a carbohydrate (3), wherein particles of the carbohydrate (3) construct a meshwork structure of the granule (1), and wherein debris or drops of the beverage concentrate (2) inset dispersedly among the carbohydrate particles meshwork structure (3) or debris or drops of the beverage concentrate (2) act as linkage bridges between particles of the carbohydrate (3), and wherein pores (4) are dispersed within the meshwork structure.