Patents Assigned to Unilever Bestfoods, North America, a division of Conopco, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6716473
    Abstract: An edible water-in-oil microemulsion that is transparent or translucent in appearance and comprises oil, a surfactant, a cosurfactant or cosolvent and a water phase comprising water and optional water-soluble components; the oil comprises from 25 to 97 wt % diglycerides relative to the total weight of glycerides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Bestfoods North America, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Bodnar, Eckhard Fl{overscore (o)}ter, Wim Hogervorst, Cornelis Willem Van Oosten
  • Publication number: 20040060450
    Abstract: Infused liquid beverages are made from infusion bags (for example tea bags) having a string and tag attached in a container comprising a receptacle for holding the infusing liquid, a lid for the receptacle provided with an opening having a first portion which is capable of gripping the string of the infusion bag and a second portion through which the string of the infusion bag can move into and out of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Gividen, Rebecca Julia Lewis, Laurence John Smith
  • Publication number: 20040037937
    Abstract: Pasta products having novel shape and methods for preparing the same. In particular, networks of pasta can be prepared (e.g. by extrusion), which may be used for filled pasta. The technique allows for macropores to be formed, which can improve rehydration, heating up, and thawing of pasta particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Latza, Winfried Sailer
  • Publication number: 20040009279
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of frozen convenience meals. More particularly the invention relates to frozen layered pasta products that are conveniently reheated from frozen from consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandro Panaioli, Valerio Simeone
  • Publication number: 20040009283
    Abstract: A method for preparing a fabricated leaf tea product comprises mixing leaf tea with tea solids derived from tea powders, the method being characterised in that the mixture of tea leaves and tea powder is simultaneously wetted with water and dried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Joanne Mary Holmes, Ian Noble
  • Publication number: 20030235645
    Abstract: The present invention provides an oil-in-water emulsion food products comprising live desirable micro-organisms which have good longevity in the products. In particular, it provides an edible oil-in-water emulsion comprising from 30 to 75% wt oil, water, live micro-organisms, and a preservation system, and having an edible acid content in the aqueous continuous phase of the emulsion in the range of from 0.1 to 3% by weight and having a pH at 20° C. of not less than 4.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Corinne Aguilar, Laurence Beck nee Trescol, Christian Riffet
  • Publication number: 20030224100
    Abstract: Tomato-based products having a thick consistency and a process for preparing the same. The process comprises the steps of hot- or cold breaking tomatoes, separating the resulting product into a product (a) rich in soluble tomato solids and water, and a product (b) rich in the insoluble tomato solids and water, optionally subjecting product (a) to a concentration step such that it is at least 10° Brix, and recombine product (a) and product (b) to a product (c) in such ratios that the resulting product has a ratio soluble tomato solids:insoluble tomato solids of between 1.0:0.5 and 1.0:20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodrigo de la Cuadra, Colin Patrick Haine, Gijsbert Kuil, Gerard Liebrechts, Angela Gaye Merrick
  • Publication number: 20030215546
    Abstract: The present invention provides a simple and effective method for the preparation of emulsion food products comprising live desirable micro-organisms which have good longevity in the products. In particular, it provides a process for the preparation of an edible oil-in-water emulsion comprising live micro-organisms, by emulsifying an edible mixture comprising oil, water, live micro-organisms, emulsifier and a preservation system and wherein the process is carried out at a temperature of 35° C. or less or without a heat treatment step. The emulsions are stored at a temperature of 8° C. or less after preparation. Products produced according to the process are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Corinne Aguilar, Laurence Beck nee Trescol, Christian Riffet
  • Publication number: 20030192909
    Abstract: A device for holding sachet and emptying its content comprising two hingedly connected members through which the sachet is placed wherein at least one member comprises an aperture through which the outlet of the sachet is passed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: William John Maskell
  • Publication number: 20030170353
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a food product comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture comprising protein and water; (b) adjusting the pH of the mixture to a value within the range of 2.0-11.0; (c) pre-incubating the mixture; (d) subjecting the mixture to a sonication treatment or a high shear mixing treatment; (e) optionally, separating the product of step (d) in a fraction rich in gas microbubbles and a fraction poor in gas microbubbles; (f) drying the mixture and/or fraction comprising protein coated gas microbubbles until dried protein coated gas microbubbles are obtained; (g) using the dried protein coated gas microbubbles in part or in whole as a food ingredient and (h) finishing the preparation of the food product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Cornelis Van Vliet
  • Publication number: 20030161934
    Abstract: Triglyceride fat which comprises HUU triglycerides and at least 18 wt. % of HOH and HLH triglycerides, while the ratio HOH:HLH is in the range 30/70 to 85/15, which fat is characterized in that the fat contains at least 20 wt. % of HUU and 8-30 wt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Eckhard Floter
  • Publication number: 20030148009
    Abstract: A method for preserving vegetables comprising the steps:
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Janos Bodor, Hubertus Cornelis Van Gastel
  • Publication number: 20030134029
    Abstract: Liquid margarines and other pourable dispersions which contain a hardstock fat derived from plant waxes. The fat consists of a mixture of triglycerides, which fat is non-hydrogenated and contains less than 10 wt. % of fatty acid residues with a chain length of 6-10 carbon atoms, of which less than 50 wt. % of the triglycerides consist of monoacyl triglycerides and which fat is characterized in that its content of fatty acid residues which are saturated and contain at least 20 carbon atoms is at least 30 wt. %, preferably at least 40 wt. % and more preferably at least 50 wt. % calculated on total fatty acid residues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gude, Johannes Arie Laan, Eckhard Floter
  • Publication number: 20030118695
    Abstract: An edible water-in-oil emulsion having an average water droplet size D3,3 of 30 &mgr;m or lower, comprising a water-insoluble calcium salt, wherein the emulsion comprises calcium sulphate, the amount of calcium in the emulsion is 0.20 weight % or more and the molar ratio [Ca]/[SO4] in the emulsion is in the range 0.2 to 6.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus Adrianus Castenmiller
  • Publication number: 20030113427
    Abstract: Pourable food product consisting of a lipid matrix containing stably dispersed particles having a size of at least one micron and a density which is 0-25% higher or lower than the density of the lipid, which lipid comprises 95-99.9 wt. % of a liquid lipid, at least 0.1 wt. % but less than 1 wt. % of a crystallized lipid and 0-4.9 wt. % of non-lipid material, percentages calculated on the matrix weight, where the matrix is characterized by a translucency of at least 55%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Eckhard Floter, Wim Hogervorst, Jan Eric Iburg
  • Publication number: 20030113406
    Abstract: A process to make tea with higher yields of a desired size comprising the steps of:
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Unilever Bestfoods North America, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Tanuja Venugopal Rao, Prakash Dattatraya Virkar, Pratyaya Chakrabarti, Ravi Mohan, Suri Krishna Mohan, Jayati Pal
  • Patent number: D476894
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Bestfoods, North America, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Michael Masotta, James Lindsay Clark
  • Patent number: D478278
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Bestfoods, North America, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Michael Masotta, James Lindsay Clark
  • Patent number: D481632
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Bestfoods, North America, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Michael Masotta, Craig Elliott Pirie, James Edward McCay, Peter Brian Clarke
  • Patent number: D484060
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Bestfoods, North America, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Perry, Rachel Welsh, Belal Habib