Patents Examined by Carolyn Paden
  • Patent number: 8039030
    Abstract: Microwaveable popcorn compositions, products and methods of making the same are disclosed. The composition includes unpopped popcorn kernels, an oil comprising at least one omega-3 LC PUFA, and an oil that is solid at about 20° C. The an oil comprising at least one omega-3 LC PUFA can include a microbial oil prepared by extraction with isopropanol and water in the absence of winterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Martek Biosciences Corporation
    Inventors: Jesus Ruben Abril, Thayne Fort
  • Patent number: 8034392
    Abstract: The present invention provides an oil-in-water type emulsion for light-exposing food having photodegradation-resistance, which has good taste and flavor with less deterioration such as off-taste and off-flavor even when irradiating light from a fluorescent lamp, etc. The first embodiment thereof is an oil-in-water type emulsion for light-exposing food containing fat and nonfat milk solids, wherein the fat is non-milk fat, or non-milk fat and milk fat, and the non-milk fat has such a constituent fatty acid composition that the total amount of lauric acid and palmitic acid is not less than 40%, the total amount of oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid is not more than 50% and the total amount of linoleic acid and linolenic acid is not more than 5%; and the ratio of milk fat/total fat is not more than 0.95.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Oil Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ichiyama, Hiroshi Hidaka
  • Patent number: 8034391
    Abstract: The present invention includes a solid fat composition that includes an oil having saturated fat and a microbial oil having a long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid and an emulsifier. In particular, the solid fat composition can have high levels of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid and low amounts of emulsifiers. In preferred embodiments, the polyunsaturated oil is an unwinterized microbial oil. The invention also relates to methods for making such compositions and food, nutritional, and pharmaceutical products comprising said compositions. The present invention also includes a microbial oil product prepared by extracting an oil-containing fraction comprising at least one LC-PUFA from a microbial biomass, and treating the fraction by a process of vacuum evaporation, wherein the oil product has not been subject to one or more of a solvent winterization step, a caustic refining process, a chill filtration process, or a bleaching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Martek Biosciences Corporation
    Inventor: Jesus Ruben Abril
  • Patent number: 8025913
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of an edible dispersion comprising oil and structuring agent and one or more of an aqueous phase and/or a solid phase, in which the dispersion is formed by mixing oil, solid structuring agent particles and the aqueous phase and/or the solid phase, wherein the solid structuring agent particles have a microporous structure of submicron size particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Conopco Inc.
    Inventors: Cornelia Sophia M van den Berg, Eckhard Flöter, Gerrit Jan W Goudappel, Johannes Jozef M Janssen, Xavier Yves Lauteslager, Gautam Satyamurthy Nivarthy, Frank Emile Wubbolts
  • Patent number: 8021708
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel method for increasing the production of acetate, decreasing the production of butyrate, increasing the population and species of beneficial bacteria and slowing the rate of fermentation of prebiotics within the gut of a formula-fed infant. The method comprises administration of a therapeutically effective amount of PDX to the infant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Mead Johnson Nutrition Company
    Inventors: Byron W. Petschow, Robert J. McMahon, Glenn R. Gibson, Robert A. Rastall, Renia Gemmell, Maria Saarela, Anna-Marja Aura
  • Patent number: 8017163
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing heat-resistant chocolate or chocolate-like confectionery products wherein (I) chocolate mass or chocolate-like confectionery mass which has been mixed with a water-in-oil emulsion or (ii) chocolate mass or chocolate-like confectionery mass having an increased water content is moulded and then subjected to a microwave treatment prior to, during, and/or after cooling. The heat resistance is developed essentially instantaneously and the obtained product can be subjected to temperatures of up to about 40 or even 50° C. without losing its form. The invention also relates to the products obtainable by that process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephan Simbürger
  • Patent number: 8017170
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing lipid components is provided in which a protein-lipid emulsification product is formed, and the isoelectric point of the emulsification product is determined. The pH of the emulsion is adjusted below the isoelectric point of the protein component in the emulsion system to form an emulsification product having an overall positive net charge. The lipid oxidation rates of these protein-stabilized emulsions are significantly lower at this pH value than of those above the pI of the protein component used in the emulsion system. As the difference between the pH of the emulsion and the pI of the protein component in the emulsion is increased the inhibition of lipid oxidation is also increased. These stabilized emulsification products are particularly useful in the production of water-based foods requiring the addition of inherently unstable oil or lipid components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Eric Andrew Decker, David Julian McClements
  • Patent number: 8017164
    Abstract: A method for peeling fruits and vegetables, particularly those having thin skins, such as tomatoes includes immersing the fruit or vegetable in a boiling solution comprising carbamide and one of carborane and hydrogen chloride to loosen a peel thereof. In a particular embodiment, the carborane comprises trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. The fruit or vegetable is removed from the solution after a predetermined time period. The fruit or vegetable is cooled, and the loosened peel is removed from the fruit or vegetable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Green Products & Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John MacDonald
  • Patent number: 8007843
    Abstract: A method for preparing a dairy product in a production line, includes a step of continuously injecting at least one sterol and/or stanol ester through the production line at a predetermined temperature T1 no lower than the melting point of the ester, and particularly at a temperature of 35-80° C., and into a dairy composition at a predetermined temperature T2 no lower than the temperature T1, which composition consists of an initial emulsifier-free milk-based composition containing milk proteins, to give a mixture, wherein the step of injecting at least one sterol and/or stanol ester is carried out before a step of homogenizing the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Compagnie Gervais Danone
    Inventors: Stephane Doat, Elena Vela Roca, Agusti Montserrat Carreras, Ricardo Weill, Claude Emmanuelle Gaspard, Bernard Robine
  • Patent number: 8007852
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing frozen and dehydro-frozen vegetables and fruits, wherein the method includes the method of cryogenically freezing the fruits or vegetables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Olam West Coast, Inc.
    Inventors: Wade H. Swanson, Ingrid A. Montgomery, Abizer M. Khairullah
  • Patent number: 8003144
    Abstract: The invention relates to vegetable oil products, including palm oil products, containing one or more constituents from a group which includes monoacylglycerols, diacylglycerols, triacylglycerols, carotenes, tocols, phytosterols, squalene and free fatty acids, from vegetable oil sources and a process for the production thereof by using supercritical fluid extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Malaysian Palm Oil Board
    Inventors: Yuen May Choo, Ah Ngan Ma, Yusof Basiron, Chiew Wei Puah
  • Patent number: 7998521
    Abstract: Non-hydrogenated hardstock fat wherein the combined amount of saturated fatty acids having a length of C12 and C14 is 12 to 24 wt %, the combined amount of saturated fatty acids having a length of C16 and C18 is 28 to 50 wt %, the amount of saturated fatty acids with a length of C18 is 6 to 12 wt %, and the total amount of fully saturated fatty acids is less than 72 wt %, process for obtaining such a hardstock fat, a margarine fat comprising the hardstock fat and a spread comprising the hardstock fat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Hindrik Huizinga, Cornelis Laurentius Sassen
  • Patent number: 7968140
    Abstract: Cocoa components having enhanced levels of cocoa polyphenols, processes for producing the cocoa components while conserving a significant amount of the cocoa polyphenols, compositions containing the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols, and methods of using the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols for improving the health of a mammal are described. The cocoa components include partially and fully defatted cocoa solids, cocoa nibs and fractions derived therefrom, cocoa polyphenol extracts, cocoa butter, chocolate liquors, and mixtures thereof. The invention provides processes for extracting fat from cocoa beans and for otherwise processing cocoa beans to yield a cocoa component having conserved concentrations of polyphenols relative to the starting materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kirk S. Kealey, Rodney M. Snyder, Leo J. Romanczyk, Jr., Hans M. Geyer, Mary E. Myers, Eric J. Whitacre, John F. Hammerstone, Jr., Harold H. Schmitz
  • Patent number: 7959961
    Abstract: Disclosed are cooked dried farinaceous food products such as cooked cereal doughs, ready-to-eat cereals and grain based snacks fabricated from such cooked cereal doughs containing or fortified with rice bran oil supplied at least in part by non-hydrogenated rice bran oil especially high oryzanol rice bran oil. The cereals contain about 0.1 to 10% added rice bran oil. The rice bran oil ingredient can be incorporated into the dough and/or topically applied. The rice bran oil provides the processing advantages of oil addition during processing with low or now transfatty acids but with extended shelf stability. The finished fortified cereal products are not only organoleptically desirable but almost indistinguishable from their counterparts containing hydrogenated fats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: General Mills IP Holdings II, LLC
    Inventors: Xia Liu, Monica Decastro
  • Patent number: 7955633
    Abstract: There is disclosed an edible oil composition, particularly for use in frying and cooking foods, which has a high stability under thermal stress, with less development of degradation products during frying and cooking and less absorption of these degradation products on the surface of the food. The composition consists of a mixture of vegetable oils characterized by a ratio by weight (R) of monounsaturated fatty acids to polyunsaturated fatty acids in the range from 5 to 8, a percentage by weight of saturated fatty acids (S) in the range from 18 to 22%, and a content of antioxidants in the range from 50 to 500 ppm. Advantageously, these antioxidants are produced by molecular distillation from natural lipid starting materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Costa D'Oro S.p.A.
    Inventors: Umberto Bracco, Mauro Leonardi, Giovanni Morchio
  • Patent number: 7947323
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of a fat composition for confectionery or baking applications. According to this process, a starting fat composition containing palm oil or a palm oil fraction and having the following composition: (1) a glyceride composition with—a S2U content between 47 and 75 wt. %, —a SU2+U3 content <40 wt. %, —a S3 content between 1 and 15 wt. %, —a diglyceride content of 3 to 12 wt. %, the glyceride contents being expressed as wt. % with respect to the total amount of di- and triglycerides in which S means a saturated fatty acid with A hydrocarbon chain length of 14-24 carbon atoms and U means unsaturated fatty acid with a hydrocarbon chain length of 14-24 carbon atoms and (2) a total content of unsaturated fatty acids of less than 55 wt. %, preferably less than 50 wt. %, more preferably less than 48 wt. %, is subjected to a catalytic hydrogenation so as to obtain a first fat with a trans fatty acid content <wt. %, preferably <10 wt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Oil Company, Limited
    Inventors: Bernard Cleenewerck, Karen Saey, Marij Van Dyck
  • Patent number: 7947322
    Abstract: An edible emulsion with insoluble fiber is described. The edible emulsion is suitable for use as a base for making reduced oil food products. The reduced oil food products made with the edible emulsion having insoluble fiber have consumer acceptable viscosities and texture and sensorial properties consistent with full fat food products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Unilever Bestfoods, North America division of CONOPCO, Inc.
    Inventors: Jadwiga Malgorzata Bialek, Leonardo Jose Sanchez Aquino, Penelope Eileen Knight
  • Patent number: 7927647
    Abstract: A plastic fat composition to be used mainly as a margarine or shortening having a low content of trans fatty acids, and superior qualities without generating coarse crystals and the like even though a large amount of palm-based fats are blended is provided. A plastic fat composition containing: fat A that is a palm-based fat having an iodine value of no greater than 62; fat B that is a transesterified oil containing 20 to 60% by mass of a saturated fatty acid having 12 to 14 carbon atoms, and 40 to 80% by mass of a saturated fatty acid having 16 to 18 carbon atoms based on the total fatty acids constituting the fat B; and fat C that is a vegetable oil other than the fat A, the fat C having a melting point of no higher than 25° C., wherein the fat A, the fat B and the fat C are in an oil phase, the ratio of the content of the fat A to the content of the fat B (fat A/fat B) ranges from 0.5 to 5.5, and the oil phase contains 4.5 to 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: The Nisshin OilliO Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Andou, Yoshiyuki Hatano, Takuya Ozawa, Masako Shimada, Hirofumi Haruna
  • Patent number: 7923052
    Abstract: A method for processing vegetable oil miscella is provided. The method includes steps of feeding vegetable oil miscella to a conditioned polymeric microfiltration membrane, and recovering a permeate stream having a decreased weight percent of phospholipids compared with the weight percent of phospholipids provided in the miscella. The retentate stream can be further processed for the recovery of lecithin. The polymeric microfiltration membrane can be conditioned for the selective separation of phospholipids in the miscella. A method for conditioning a membrane for selective separation of phospholipids from vegetable oil miscella, and the resulting membrane, are provided. The membrane which can be conditioned can be characterized as having an average pore size of between about 0.1? and about 2?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Cargill, Incorporated
    Inventors: Bassam Jirjis, Harapanahalli S. Muralidhara, Dennis D. Otten
  • Patent number: 7923050
    Abstract: An oil-and-fat composition for coating that simultaneously exhibit both significantly conflicting properties: drying quickly at ambient temperature and hardly peeling off (when eaten), and a food product including the oil-and-fat composition. The oil-and-fat composition for coating of the present invention includes an interesterified oil (A) that is nonselectively interesterified and contains 80 mass % or more of a fatty acid having 16 or more carbon atoms and 35 to 60 mass % of a saturated fatty acid having 16 or more carbon atoms in its constituent fatty acids, and an interesterified oil (B) that is nonselectively interesterified and contains 20 to 60 mass % of a saturated fatty acid having 12 to 14 carbon atoms and 40 to 80 mass % of a saturated fatty acid having 16 to 18 carbon atoms in its constituent fatty acids. The composition also includes a tri-saturated fatty acid acylglycerol in a content of 10 to 15 mass %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: The Nisshin OilliO Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Akahane, Yoshiyuki Hatano, Hirofumi Haruna, Kiyomi Oonishi, Yuka Kikuchi