Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the extraction of a substance for preparing a beverage from a capsule, comprising a chassis (11) with a horizontal flat part (22) and a vertical part (14) at the rear of the chassis; a drawer (5) which can be moved in horizontal translation over the flat part of the chassis between an open position and a closed position and which comprises, in the drawer, a capsules (10) housing unit (6) with at least one housing (21) for the capsule which is to be extracted and a pin (18) for holding on each side of the housing unit and secured thereto; a fixed capsule-extraction head (4) mounted on the chassis with at least one capsule cage (20), the cage facing the housing for the capsule when the drawer is in the closed position; and holding member ABCD making it possible, when the drawer is in the closed position, to raise the capsule housing unit using the holding pin so as to bring the capsule that is to be extracted into the capsule cage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a soluble coffee beverage powder, which, upon the addition of water, forms a coffee beverage having a foamed upper surface such that substantially all of the foam is made up of bubbles having a diameter in the range of 0.05 to 0.5 mm and wherein said beverage closely assimilates the texture characteristics of an Italian espresso, namely a beverage with a fine crema, but which has a reduced bitterness compared with freshly brewed espresso but which nevertheless is strong in aroma. The soluble coffee beverage powder includes a soluble gas containing matrix that has between 10% and 35% soluble coffee solids by weight of the total dry matter of the matrix, from about 10% to about 35% pre-flocculated creamer by weight, and from about 12% to about 30% oligosaccharrides effective to dilute protein in the creamer by weight.

Abstract: A method of providing a pet with a benefit relating to effective assimilation of a lipid is described wherein the pet is administered, as a part of, or in addition to its regular diet, an edible composition that contains an ingredient that maintains, promotes or enhances the capacity of the pet to digest lipid efficiently. The invention extends to compositions for use in promoting lipid assimilation in pets, particularly senior or elderly pets. The compositions include pancreatic, liver and intestinal mucosa function-promoters. In embodiments, the liver function-promoter may be selected from taurine, emulsifiers, vitamins, minerals, glutathione and glutathione promoters.

Abstract: Stabilized aroma-providing components such as chocolate, tea or coffee aromas that are stabilized against loss or degradation of desirable flavor or sensory characteristics of its aroma during storage. The stabilizing agent is present with the aroma-providing component in an amount effective to chemically interact with compounds in the aroma-providing component to (a) provide increased amounts of desirable compounds that impart desirable flavor or sensory characteristics to the aroma or (b) reduce the amount of undesirable compounds that suppress desirable flavor characteristics or that contribute to or generate undesirable flavor or sensory characteristics in the aroma. The stabilizing agent preferably is a nucleophile that contains sulfur or nitrogen, such as sulfur dioxide, sulfites, compounds or substances that contain or generate sulfites, thiols, amines or amino acids, cysteine, gluathione or an enzyme.

Abstract: A thin puff dough biscuit for a refrigerated or frozen food product. The biscuit has a laminar structure containing 6 to 10 sheets of puff dough and a maximum thickness of at most 2 mm. The biscuit is baked between two heated surfaces so as to prevent the development of the puff dough, and it is coated with a composition, in particular a fatty composition, which serves as a moisture barrier. This biscuit serves as an inclusion or an annex in a composite frozen cake that has at least one layer of the preceding biscuit included in a mass of cream and in which the layers of biscuit are separated from each other by layers of cream.

Abstract: The invention relates to water soluble or water dispersible powders, tablets, or precursors therefor based on a carbohydrate matrix with improved dissolution properties in water. These components are subjected to treatment with a gas so that gas is entrapped therein, and sufficient closed porosity is provided so that gas entrapped therein promotes dissolution or dispersion upon contact with water. The powders or tablets may be pharmaceuticals or foods that optionally contain an active ingredient therein.

Abstract: Compositions useful for weight management in an animal are disclosed. The compositions comprise one or more isoflavones or isoflavone metabolites, and in some embodiments include conjugated linoleic acid, and/or L-carnitine. Also disclosed are methods useful for weight management in an animal utilizing compositions comprising one or more isoflavones, conjugated linoleic acid, and/or L-carnitine. Preferably, the compositions and methods employ a combination of one or more isoflavones, or a combination of one or more isoflavones in conjunction with conjugated linoleic acid, and L-carnitine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved continuous (immortalized) cell lines, in particular keratinocytes and melanocytes derived from normal human skin tissue. The present invention also relates to novel serum-free media for isolating, producing and maintaining said improved continuous keratinocyte and melanocyte cell lines. The present invention also relates to methods for producing primary melanocytes and keratinocytes under serum-free conditions without any feeder cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-based beverage containing soluble fibres. The water composition is substantially demineralized and has a neutral or acidic pH. The soluble fibres contained in the present water composition are selected from a group comprising oligosaccharides with a chain length of from about 2 to 20 units and digestion-resistant malto-oligosaccharides with a Molecular Weight of about 2000. The present water composition may be store without adverse effect such as hydrolysis of oligosaccharides nor precipitation of the soluble fibres contained in it.

Abstract: A ready-for-use refrigerated or frozen dough that is prepared from flour, a leavening agent, fat; has no greater than 0.5 weight percent sugar or sugar substitute; and preferably includes one or more toppings, fillings, or both. The dough has a surface that includes grooves, score lines, or combinations thereof which define pieces of the dough to be separated into individual bakery products. The grooves, score lines, or combinations thereof each have a depth of about 3% to about 95% of the thickness of the dough. The dough is in the form of a sheet or a parallelepipedal, cylinder, prismatic block or polygon having a thickness of from about 0.5 to 5 cm.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions for the prophylaxis or treatment of dental caries, dental plaque, and periodontal infection that include lactic bacteria that are not part of the resident micriflora of the mouth, that are low acidifying, and that are capable of adhering directly to the pellicle of the teeth. Preferably, the lactic bacteria of the include one or more of Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, or Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetylactis. The compositions are used in methods of treating or preventing dental caries, dental plaque, and periodontal infection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for feeding capsules containing a substance to be extracted in an extraction system under pressure for the preparation of a drink. The device includes a supply of capsules arranged in several series, and a mechanism for individually unloading one capsule into a reception part of the extraction system. The extraction system injects water into the capsule to form the drink as a liquid extract of the substance. The reception part is arranged beneath the unloading mechanism in such a way as to allow the direct descent of the released capsule into the reception part and includes structure for opening the capsule for releasing the liquid extract therefrom.

Abstract: A bacterial cell having protection against conditions which are lethal to an unprotected bacterial cell wherein, the protected cell is obtained by subjecting a bacterial cell to treatment with a sublethal level of stress.

Abstract: A flowable food dispenser for dispensing a flowable food product. The dispenser includes a housing with first and second bays, and a plurality of cassettes that are removably receivable within the bays. Each cassette is configured for receiving a pouch containing the flowable food. First and second thermal exchange units are associated with the first and second bays, respectively, in heat-exchanging association with the cassettes received therein. A temperature-controlled system is connected with the thermal exchange units for controlling them independently to independently heat or cool the cassettes in the bays and the food product that is disposed therein. A least one dispensing mechanism is associated with the first and second bays to selectively dispense the food from the pouches that are in the cassettes.

Abstract: A merchandiser for displaying and warming previously baked dough products, such as a filled pastry shell or other baked dough product, under controlled drying conditions, including an enclosure having one or more wall members that define an interior space, with at least a portion of one of the wall members being transparent, an opening for access into the interior space, a removable support member within the enclosure that includes at least one support surface for previously baked dough products and a spacing arrangement configured and adapted to reproducibly position the support member within the interior space of the enclosure member to facilitate substantially uniform airflow around each support surface and throughout the enclosure, and a heating system for providing heated air in the enclosure, wherein the substantially uniform airflow provides controlled drying of the previously baked dough products in the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated and purified strain of the species Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis which produces levan. The present invention further relates to a method of producing the levan, and to a method of preparing various human or pet food products or cosmetic products which utilizes the levan and/or a strain producing the same.

Abstract: A dispensing canister and method for reducing dose fluctuation and improving evacuation in the dispensing of a pulverulent material such as beverage-forming or food-forming powder. The dispensing canister has a reservoir having an inlet and an outlet and defining a volume for retaining the pulverulent material therein, a dosing member operatively associated with the reservoir outlet for receiving and dispensing the pulverulent material; and an agitator wheel located in the reservoir and arranged to periodically rotate to assist in dislodging pulverulent material in the reservoir so that it can move to the dosing member. The agitator wheel preferably includes agitating members for transversing a significant portion of the volume of the reservoir to contact and dislodge pulverulent material therein.

Abstract: A nutritional composition is described for prevention or treatment of an immune condition. The composition includes at least vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, copper, zinc, selenium, fructo-oligosaccharides and/or gum acacia, a probiotic lactic acid bacterium. For example, in an embodiment it comprises per 300 g: 150 IU Vitamin E, 120 mg Vitamin C, 2 mg Vitamin B6, 400 ug Folic acid, 3.8 ug Vitamin B12, 1.5 mg Copper, 15 mg Zinc, 100 ug Selenium, 3 g Fructo-oligosaccharides and/or gum acacia, 10E10 cfu ST11 lactobacillus. Also disclosed are a method for making the nutritional composition, a method for manufacturing a functional food or medicament; and a method of prevention or treatment of an immune condition by administering an effective amount of the composition, functional food or medicament.

Abstract: A DNA sequence suitable for the controlled transcription and/or expression of a variety of different genes in bacteria, preferably gram positive bacteria is provided. In particular, the DNA sequence includes the promoter and the gene coding for the lac repressor of the lac operon of Lactobacillus delbrueckii with a DNA sequence coding for a gene product of interest being arranged inbetween.