Abstract: An improved coating apparatus and an improved method of coating a mass of centers are disclosed. The improved coating apparatus comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the surface of the coated centers and/or a moisture sensor for measuring the moisture content of the surface of the coated centers. The improved method comprises drying coated centers by measuring the temperature of the surface of the coated centers in the mass using the temperature sensor and adjusting the temperature of the drying gas to maintain the surface temperature of the coated centers at a predetermined temperature and drying the coated centers until the moisture content of the surface of the coated centers is about 0 to about 30 percent water, by weight. Advantageously, the surface temperature and/or surface moisture measurements are conducted during the coating processing of the centers, while the centers are in the coating apparatus.

Abstract: Improved and outgrowth protection against Clostridium perfringens in meat products is obtained by incorporating into the meat product 0.05 to about 2% of sodium acetate or sodium diacetate in addition to about 0.2% to about 4% of citric acid buffered sodium citrate.

Abstract: A crunchy chewing gum product having a crunch similar to that provided by incorporating granulated sugar into a sugar-based gum product is prepared by introducing, into the interior of a gum formulation, a granulated isomalt additive.

Abstract: A method of treating a proteinaceous material having a first concentration of ?-conglycinin, the method including combining the proteinaceous material with an enzyme to form a reaction mixture, the reaction mixture initially having a pH of at least about 7.0 standard pH units, allowing the enzyme to hydrolyze ?-conglycinin present in the reaction mixture to form a proteinaceous intermediate, and inactivating the enzyme present in the reaction mixture after a reaction period to form a proteinaceous product, the proteinaceous product having a second concentration of ?-conglycinin, the second concentration of ?-conglycinin being at least 99 percent less than the first concentration of ?-conglycinin.

Abstract: A food thickener is provided in the form of agglomerated instant starch, which contains a combination of one or more pregelatinized starches and a specific water-soluble food ingredient possessing specific surface active functionality. The pregelatinized starch component can be either modified or native, and the water-soluble coating agent comprises a member selected from the group consisting of gum arabic, 1-octenyl succinic anhydride treated gum arabic, 1-octenyl succinic anhydride treated starches, 1-octenyl succinic anhydride treated maltodextrins, 1-octenyl succinic anhydride treated dextrins, and mixtures of any two or more of these. This novel thickener is comprised of more than about 50% pregelatinized starch and at least about 0.01% of a water-soluble food ingredient possessing surface active functionality.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for washing eviscerated poultry carcasses (12) has a housing (11), a conveyor (15a) for moving the shackled poultry carcasses through the housing. A guide bar (24) tilts the poultry carcasses (12) from a vertical position for spraying by a first set of nozzles (23). The first set of nozzles (23) delivers a cleaning solution (100) at a sufficient flow rate and line pressure, whereby a portion of the cleaning solution (100) is deflected back out the rear opening (12d) of the poultry carcass (12).

Abstract: A method is described for making a frozen French fry-style food product, having from about 50.0% to about 70.0% moisture, from about 4.0% to about 8.0% protein, from about 2.5% to about 5.0% fat, and from about 0.25% to about 0.50% fibers, in addition to calcium and phosphorous sources. This frozen potato-based product is made from a composition comprising steam peeled and cooked whole raw potatoes, soaked or cooked whole beans processed and mixed with the peeled cooked potatoes to create a dough-like consistency to which proteinaceous flours, starchy flours, vegetable oil, and other additives are added and blended into a homogeneous potato-based dough. The homogeneous potato-based dough is extruded into a rope-like extrudate, which is partially steam-cooked and then immediately cooled. The cold rope-like extrudate is cut into uniform small rods, 2.5 inches long, which are packaged and stored under blast freezing conditions.

Abstract: A composition and process for improving the quality of raw food product such as seafood, meat and fowl including a treatment of a bath, rinse, ice blend, steam or spray for preparing the raw food product, such as fresh fish, meat or poultry or produce. Before the treatment is used, the raw product is cleaned in a conventional manner. The treatment composition is intended to clean, deodorize, and disinfect the raw food product. The present invention removes slime and odor from fresh fish in preparation for cooking, and further, disinfects the fish and other food product to be cooked in the event that harmful bacteria or other microbes reside on the raw fish, such as harmful microorganisms which may be a residue of polluted water from which the fish was taken, or may have originated from filthy food preparation facilities.

Abstract: The present invention creates a process for treating the surface of fresh meat, in which the meat is treated with a hydrocolloid based on collagen, in particular gelatine, animal glues, collagen, caseins, whey proteins and/or their hydrolysates as well as their mixtures with one another. In particular a weight loss of the meat during storage due to escaping drip is thereby prevented. In the process according to the invention the meat is preferably treated with 0.2 to 1.5 wt % of hydrocolloid, referred to the weight of the meat. It is possible with said process to treat all kinds of meat suitable for human consumption, in particular mammal meat, poultry and fish.

Abstract: In fabricated, thermally processed snack foods, the addition of one of a select group of amino acids to the recipe for the food inhibits the formation of acrylamide during the thermal processing. The amino acid can come from the group of cysteine, lysine, glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, and arginine and can be a commercially available amino acid or in a free form in an ingredient added to the food. Amino acids can be added to fabricated foods at the admix stage or by exposing raw food stock to a solution containing a concentration of the amino acid additive.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sweetener which has mild sweetness like sugar while maintaining a high sweetness intensity of a Stevia sweetener and also has a sharp head-taste of sweetness, a sharp after-taste of sweetness, as well as reduction of the bitterness and astringency of after-taste peculiar to the Stevia sweetener, and a process for producing the same. The sweetener contains steviol glucosides comprising ?-1,4-galactosyl rebaudioside A having one to three ?-1,4-bonded galactosyl groups in a molecule and rebaudioside A, wherein the following expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied: [(GRA+RA)/(X)]?0.4??(1) [(GRA)/(RA)]?1.0??(2) wherein GRA represents the weight percentage of the ?-1,4-galactosyl rebaudioside A having one to three ?-1,4-bonded galactosyl groups in a molecule, RA represents the weight percentage of the rebaudioside A, and X represents the weight percentage of the steviol glucosides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel treatment composition for use in treating food products and food intermediates. The treatment composition may be used in single, home use settings as well as commercial applications for larger scale treatment of food products in the course of manufacture. The treatment composition of the present invention uses a primary amine, such as the amino acid lysine or combinations of amino acids and modified derivatives thereof in order to limit the formation of acrylamide in food products and food intermediates without sacrificing taste or other organoleptic properties of the food product.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for the production of light stable hops, useful for the brewing of beer or ale to be stored in clear or green glass containers, which beer or ale will not develop objectionable flavor as a result of exposure to light. Light stable hops are prepared by double extraction of liquid/supercritical CO2 extracted hop solids with ethanol to remove alpha/iso-alpha-acids. Such alpha/iso-alpha-acids may be further removed from the ethanol extraction liquor obtained in the double extraction process by subjecting such liquor to an ion exchange medium, or precipitation by a metal ion, heavy metal ion, or alkali metal ion, to provide an alpha/iso-alpha-acid is free extraction liquor which may be added to the light stable hops residue obtained in the initial double extraction process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flavoring composition having a better milk-like flavor and a process for producing the composition. The composition comprises a 5-alkenoic acid and/or a 6-alkenoic acid both represented by general formula (1) and a lower aliphatic aldehyde having not greater than 8 carbon atoms: wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 4, and the dashed line represents the presence of a carbon-carbon double bond at either side. The composition may further comprise a ?-lactone represented by general formula (2) and/or a ?-lactone represented by general formula (3): wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 4; and wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 4.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a chewing gum, including a gum base and at least one other conventional chewing gum component, said chewing gum including as gum base at least one branched polymer mainly based on biodegradable and/or hydrolyzable ester groups.

Abstract: A hermetic package for a food product having a first wall, a second wall and a receiving cavity. The first wall defines a first portion of the receiving cavity and a first flange surrounding the first portion of the receiving cavity. The second wall defines a second portion of the receiving cavity and a second flange surrounding the second portion of the receiving cavity. The second flange is preferably configured so that it is generally consistent with the configuration of the first flange. The first portion of the receiving cavity and the second portion of the receiving cavity are combined to form the receiving cavity by joining the first flange of the first wall to the second flange of the second wall to form an inner seal that is disposed outside of and surrounds the receiving cavity.

Abstract: A draught beverage 170 which may be alcoholic or non-alcoholic, for example a lager or cider in an open-topped drinking vessel or glass 172. The beverage comprises a water content and dissolved gas content. The draught beverage is dispensed from a font at a cooled temperature below the freezing point of water at ambient atmospheric pressure. The dispense temperature may be in the range of ?1° C. to ?12° C. The beverage in the glass may or may not be subjected to external excitement energy, for example ultra-sound, to encourage formation of nucleation sites in the beverage. Either way dissolved gas bubbles out of the beverage causing occurrence of nucleation sites at which ice 188A, 188B from the water content forms. At least in part the ice has a slushy character. A head 174 also forms on the dispensed draught beverage and below the head the ice 188A, 188B locates and develops downwards into the beverage.

Abstract: A centerfill chewing gum composition having a shell portion and a centerfill portion, the centerfill portion containing an effective amount of a calcium-containing compound suspended therein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to sago fluidity starch and the use thereof. Such fluidity starches exhibit exceptionally fast gelling properties, high gel strengths, and exceptional elasticity. These properties allow for significantly reduced processing times, including reduced hold times. Further, the higher gel strength allows for reduced starch levels without loss of final product gel strength integrity or texture.

Abstract: Chewing gum formulations including sodium bicabornate and encapsulated aspartame are disclosed. Methods of manufacturing chewing gum are also disclosed.