Abstract: The present invention is directed to a container (1) comprising a deformable container body (2) with at least one compartment, for containing a flowable liquid, semi-liquid, 5 or jellified product having a viscosity lower than 1 Pa·s at 20 C, and at least one dispensing opening (4) for dispensing said product, which is located in a spout element (3), said container having a capacity of at least 10 ml, preferably at least 50 ml, characterized in that the functional cross-section of said at least one opening is fixed and comprised between 0.002 mm2 and 7 mm2., preferably between 0.008 mm2 and 0.8 mm2, more preferably between 0.03 mm2 and 0.4 mm2, and most preferably between 0.07 mm2 and 0.2 mm2, such that said product flows through said opening only after an external force of at least 0.5 kg, preferably at least 1 kg, more preferably at least 3 kg, is exerted onto the container body walls which is directed towards the inside of said body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of, and a device for delivering a predetermined (1) volume of beverage into a thermoplastic container formed from a heated preform, the preform being positioned in a mould, characterized in that the method includes a step of injecting at least some beverage into a recess in the preform so as to promote expansion of the preform inside the mould, the mould defining the shape of the container, a longitudinal displacement of a stretch rod (10) carried out during a given period ensuring longitudinal elongation of the heated preform, the stretch rod being immobile at the end of the given period, and a volume of beverage greater than a predefined fraction of the predetermined volume, preferably equal to 50%, being present in the recess at said end of the given period.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of preventing and/or treating inflammatory and infectious disorders, in particular by boosting the endogenous antimicrobial defenses. One embodiment of the present invention is the use of B. longum NCC2705 (deposit number CNCM 1-2618) for use in the treatment or prevention of disorders related to the immune system including infections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an extract of green coffee wherein green coffee beans are subjected to a heat treatment and extracted without being roasted.

Abstract: The invention proposes a system for dosing a food product onto an object comprising a dosing device (1) for co-extrusion of at least 2 food materials at the same time to form a multi-component food product (30), said dosing device (1) comprising a core element (2) housing at least a first and a second supply (5a, 5b), said first supply (5a) having at least one orifice (6) connected to an extrusion channel (7) which is positioned coaxially to an extrusion channel (8) of the second supply (5b), and a cylindrical tube element (3) relatively rotatable to and enclosing the core element (2), having at least one aperture (3a), wherein said aperture (3a) is designed to be selectively brought into a coaxial position to the extrusion channels (8,7) of the first and second supplies (5a, 5b) by rotating the cylindrical tube element (3), allowing a co-extrusion of the food materials introduced into the supplies (5a, 5b) of the core element.

Abstract: The invention provides an ELISA assay for the determination of serum mast cell ?-tryptase levels using rabbit anti-tryptase as the capture antibody and alkaline phosphatase conjugated G3 as the detecting antibody. Luminescent substrate CPSD was used to enhance the assay sensitivity. Also provided are methods for aiding in the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome by detecting the serum level of ?-tryptase, histamine and/or prostaglandin E2.

Abstract: A device (100) for dispensing a substance comprising a chamber (400) with walls having a combination of at least a strong seal (102) and at least a weak seal (101a, 101, 103, 103a) wherein the weak seal (101a, 101, 103, 103a) bridges the walls (105) of a spout (200). The spout (200) guides the substance to the at least a weak seal (101a, 101, 103, 103a). The spout (200) is defined by having at least a wall (105) formed by the at least a strong seal (102) extending inwardly from the at least a weak seal (101a, 101, 103, 103a). When the spout (200) has a plurality of weak seals (101a, 101, 103, 103a), at least a buffer chamber (300) is formed between the weak seals (101a, 101, 103, 103a). The discharging end of the spout (201) has an outermost weak seal (101a). The device (100) dispenses the substance when an external pressure is applied to the chamber (400).

Abstract: The present invention describes an aqueous foam that includes water, at least one polysaccharide and food-grade, interfacially active particles. The present invention also describes an indulgent shelf-stable foamed food product that contains this aqueous foam. The indulgent shelf-stable foamed food products of the invention have an improved foamed and modular product texture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to epicatechin for use in the prevention or reduction of symptoms of an allergic disorder and/or an allergic reaction. The invention further relates to epicatechin for said use in the form of food, food product, food supplement or pharmaceutical products.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a beverage preparation capsule (11) defining a closed chamber for enclosing a mass of soluble and/or extractable food material, for use in a beverage preparation machine, comprising: (i) a capsule body with side walls (12), a bottom wall (13) open with a dispensing opening (14), said capsule body walls comprising an injection-moulded oil-based or biomass-based thermoplastic material, which is not a gas-barrier material, (ii) a gas and moisture impermeable top membrane (15), pierceable by injection means (N) of the machine which are adapted to inject an extraction liquid under pressure inside said chamber, and (iii) a gas and moisture impermeable bottom membrane (16) sealed inside the capsule body near the bottom wall (13), (iv) means (18) adapted to open said chamber by relative engagement with the bottom membrane under the effect of the liquid pressure increase in the chamber during injection of said liquid, characterized in that the inside or outside surface of the capsule bod

Abstract: The present invention concerns a flexible or semi-flexible stackable package (1) for flowable products, comprising a package body (2) with side (3), top (4) and bottom (5) walls, and a neck (6) adapted to receive closing and/or dispensing means (15) that extends outwardly from one of said walls (3, 4, 5) characterized in that: (i) said neck (6) is off-centered and tilted relative to the vertical axis (V) of said package (1) with an angle (?) comprised between 1° and 179°, preferably comprised between 20° and 60°, more preferably an angle of 45°, and (ii) the package body walls (3, 4, 5) comprise at least one flattened, rounded, or recessed portion (7), such that when stacked in a package assembly (10), the neck (6) of said package (1) fits in between a space (8) defined by similar packages disposed adjacent to said neck (6).

Abstract: An oligosaccharide ingredient comprising glycosylated amino acids and peptides of the general formula RnSacm where R is an amino acid residue, Sac is a monosaccharide selected from the group comprising N-acetyl-neuraminic acid, N-acetyl galactosamine and galactose, n has a value between 1 and 10 with the proviso that if n has the value 1 R is a threonine residue or a serine residue and if n has a value between 2 and 10 the peptide contains at least one threonine or serine residue, m has a value between 2 and 4 and at least 20 mol % of the ingredient is N-acetyl-neuraminic acid.

Abstract: A beverage machine comprising a drip tray device that can accommodate recipients of different heights. The drip tray device is formed of a collect tank and has a first drip support grid removably mounted on the tank for holding short recipients and has a second drip support for longer recipients such as a glass. The whole device is removable for ease of emptying and rinsing. In a possible mode, the first removable grid is provided with a gutter to evacuate liquid in a main collect reservoir.

Abstract: The invention discloses a composition comprising at least one N-acetyl-lactosamine, at least one sialylated oligosaccharide and at least one fucosylated oligosaccharide, for use in the prevention and/or treatment of skin conditions and skin diseases. Preferably said composition is a starter infant formula. Said skin disease is in particular atopic dermatitis.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine (1) has a fluid circuit (3-10c) that comprises a liquid flavoring arrangement (9a, 3, 4, 5) for circulating a liquid, such as water, through a flavoring ingredient (2, 2?) to flavor this liquid and for dispensing this flavored liquid to a user-receptacle (100). The fluid circuit further comprises a dilution arrangement (9b, 9?, 9?) for mixing the liquid unflavored with the flavored liquid upon flavoring.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel strains of probiotics for use in the gastrointestinal tract of a pet. The probiotics of the present invention are capable of fermenting starch to produce lactic acid and/or hydrogen peroxide anti-pathogenic metabolites. The present invention also provides a novel method for identifying the effectiveness of a pet probiotic in vitro. The method simulates the introduction of a probiotic candidate in the gastrointestinal tract of a pet and measures the anti-pathogenic effectiveness of the probiotic.

Abstract: The present invention provides assays for detecting and measuring the presence or level of neutralizing and non-neutralizing autoantibodies to biologics such as anti-TNF? drug therapeutics in a sample. The present invention is useful for monitoring the formation of neutralizing and/or non-neutralizing anti-drug antibodies over time while a subject is on biologic therapy. The present invention is also useful for predicting and/or determining the cross-reactivity of neutralizing anti-drug antibodies in a subject's sample with alternative biologic therapies. As such, the present invention provides information for guiding treatment decisions for those subjects receiving therapy with a biologic agent and improves the accuracy of optimizing therapy, reducing toxicity, and/or monitoring the efficacy of therapeutic treatment to biologic therapy.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a capsule (1) defining a closed chamber for enclosing a mass of soluble and/or extractable food material, for use in a beverage preparation machine, comprising: (i) capsule side walls (2), (ii) a top membrane (3) pierceable by injection means (4) of the machine which are adapted to inject an extraction liquid under pressure inside said chamber, and (iii) a bottom wall (5) (iv) means (6, 7) adapted to open said chamber by relative engagement with the bottom wall (5) under the effect of the liquid pressure increase in the chamber during injection of said liquid characterized in that at least the portion of the top membrane surface which is to be pierced by the fluid injection means (4), comprises an elastic material having a tensile strength higher than 1 Mpa, preferably higher than 5 MPa, more preferably higher than 10 MPa and an elongation at break superior to 100%, preferably superior to 500%, such that said top membrane (3) recloses in a leaktight manner, after said fluid inje

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of probiotic bacteria. In particular, the present invention relates to natural derivatives of the Lactobacillus johnsonii strain CNCM I-1225 with improved properties. For example, the present invention relates to a natural derivative of the Lactobacillus johnsonii strain CNCM I-1225 that is deficient in D-lactic acid production and exhibits an improved viability during product storage.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the prevention or treatment of disorders related to oxidative stress. For example, the present invention provides a composition for use in the prevention or treatment of oxidative stress related disorders under post-operative conditions. One embodiment of the present invention is a composition comprising DHA and EPA as active ingredients for use in the treatment or prevention of oxidative stress and/or related disorders.