Abstract: A flexible, strip-shaped food product is made by comminuting substantially frozen meat and heating the comminuted meat to at least partially denature the meat proteins and cooling the cooked meat. About 4% by weight to about 45% by weight of wheat flour is admixed with the cooked meat, along with other ingredients, to form a dough. Use of the wheat flour unexpectedly increases tensile strength of the dough and products baked from the dough, and maintains flexibility of the strip-shaped food products over an extended period of time. Cooking of the meat in the presence of salt unexpectedly increases water activity of the pieces, resulting in a product that has a skin and a moist middle, while maintaining tensile strength. The dough is rotary-molded into strip-shaped pieces. The rotary mold may have angled die cups. The strip-shaped dough pieces are then baked and dried.

Abstract: Methods are provided to prepare heat stable soy milk concentrates above 3.2× based on the level of protein that are thermally stable upon achieving an Fo of at least 5. One method removes soluble carbohydrates prior to concentration. Another method removes both soluble and insoluble carbohydrates prior to concentration. Yet other methods prepare soy milk concentrates using partially hydrolyzed soy protein isolate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to mold control and extended shelf life methods and compositions for preparing edible dough-based products, such as, for example, breads, by treating the surface of the dough used to prepare the edible product with at least one preservative and at least one pH adjusting agent prior to or during baking. The present invention is also directed to methods and compositions for preparing edible dough-based products, such as, for example, breads, by treating the surface of the dough used to prepare the edible product with a at least one pH adjusting agent prior to or during baking.

Abstract: A non-cooked cereal bar containing inulin and having a total nutrient level equal to or greater than the nutrient level of a single serving of RTE cereal with milk is described. In one embodiment, the cereal layer is comprised of a cereal composition containing RTE cereal, high-protein rice pieces and TVP in a ratio of about 2:1:1. In another embodiment, a method for manufacturing a non-cooked cereal bar containing inulin is described.

Abstract: An improved protein beverage/drink composition, is disclosed and provides a relatively high protein content, ranging from about 0.01% by weight to about 15% by weight, while optionally employing a carbonation concentration between about 0.1 volumes of carbonation (per volume of liquid drink solution or liquid drink suspension) to about 6 volumes of carbonation which is used to provide taste and mouth feel for the drink and which is also used to inactivate pathogenic microbes. Preferably the protein is a protein, such preferably as whey protein, or others. The protein beverage may contain an additive which provides energy generation enhancement. High pressure processing may also be used to inactivate microbes. The high pressure processing may be carried out prior to or after carbonation, and prior to or after packaging.

Abstract: An improved carbonated protein beverage/drink composition which provides a relatively high protein content, ranging from about 2% by weight to about 15% by weight, while simultaneously employing a carbonation concentration between about 0.1 volumes of carbonation (per volume of liquid drink solution or liquid drink suspension) to about 4 volumes of carbonation. Preferably the protein is whey protein. The carbonated protein beverage may contain an additive which provides energy generation enhancement. The carbonated protein beverage is heat treated to inactivate microbes in the presence of the carbonation. Typically, the treatment for microbe inactivation is carried out in the individual package used for storage and handling of the carbonated protein drink.

Abstract: Fiber-water is a composition containing water and soluble fiber that tasted, looks smells and feels like pure water. The RDA of fiber is contained within the recommended 64 ounces of daily water intake. The water composition is supplemented with an acidulate that extends it's shelf life. Optionally, the composition also includes minerals. The RDA of minerals is contained in the recommended 64 ounces of fiber water.

Abstract: A method for making a bean-based oil substitute comprising the steps of making an aqueous liquid dispersion of comminuted beans in a stable flowable form, homogenizing said aqueous dispersion, and mixing an emulsifier with said comminuted beans before, during or after homogenization, said homogenized aqueous dispersion including less than about 2% weight of added oil, and drying the dispersion. Also, the substitute made by the method and a dehydrated refried bean product made using the oil substitute.

Abstract: An improved wet milling process is provided that allows for separation of seed coat particles from the horny endosperm particles of seed. The process uses soaking and grinding to produce seed coat flake particles and horny endosperm particles that may be separated using movement of liquid slurry of the particles, providing hydraulic lift to separate the seed coat particles. Improvements in the process allow for omitting addition of sulfur compounds to the process. By-products of wet milling with improved properties are provided.

Abstract: An improved carbonated protein beverage/drink composition which provides a relatively bill protein content, ranging from about 2% by weight to about 15% by weight, while simultaneously employing a carbonation concentration between about 0.1 volumes of carbonation (per volume of liquid drink solution or liquid drink suspension) to about 4 volumes of carbonation. Preferably the protein is whey protein. The carbonated protein beverage has been heat treated to inactivate microbes in the presence of the carbonation which is used to provide taste and mouth feel for the drink. Typically, the treatment for microbe inactivation is carried out in the individual package used for storage and handling of the carbonated protein drink.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a high quality beverage capable of providing beverage by an extraction after roasting the material thereof and filling beverage of a roast material in a container and sealing the container. The method comprises a step for roasting the material in a sterile atmosphere, and extracting the roast material or preparing a suspension of the roast material with sterilized water, wherein sterilized inert gas atmosphere is used as the sterile atmosphere in at least a part of the step, whereby since both the deterioration of quality due to oxidation and the deterioration of quality by heating can be prevented, the high quality beverage of the roast material can be manufactured.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for concentrating vegetable juice or fruit juice, wherein a permeate stream and a retentate stream are formed by subjecting the juice to an ultrafiltration step and subjecting the permeate stream to evaporative concentration. Further, the invention relates to the use of the thus obtainable concentrated juice for preparing a vegetable or fruit juice by diluting the concentrate with water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a carotenoids color preparation which itself has a high emulsion stability, so that there are no problems such as precipitation of an insoluble matter or neck ring formation even when this preparation is used in water-based products. The preparation is obtained by emulsifying a carotenoids color of natural origin, which has an acid value of 10 or less and an acetone-insoluble content of 5 wt % or less when adjusted so that the color value E10%1cm is 2550.

Abstract: A composition comprising a watermelon juice includes the following colorimeter values, an L value of about 19 or greater, an A value of about 32 or greater, a B value of about 24 or greater. Watermelon juice extract is typically free of any added, artificial colorants or sweeteners. The present invention also generally includes a food composition that utilizes a clarified watermelon juice or a cloudy watermelon juice, where the cloudy watermelon juice has the following colorimeter values, an L value of about 19 or greater, an A value of about 32 or greater, a B value of about 24 or greater, and the clarified watermelon juice is derived from the cloudy watermelon juice. The food compositions incorporating the watermelon juice are usually a beverage, a sorbet, a yogurt, a sauce, a salad dressing, a fruit salad, a dessert, a bakery filling, a candy, or a bar mix.

Abstract: In general terms, this invention provides nut butter compositions and methods for preparing the disclosed nut butter compositions. In preferred embodiments, the nut butter composition or method is a peanut butter. In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method of preparing a gelled peanut butter composition comprising the steps of: blending peanut butter, emulsifier, sugar alcohol and triglyceride-based stabilizer so as to create a first blend; blending starch with the first blend to create a second blend; resting the second blend until a gel is formed, wherein the peanut butter is not more than 85° F. and 65-85%, the emulsifier is 0.15-0.5%, the sugar alcohol is 5-30%, the triglyceride-based stabilizer is 1-5%, and the starch is 1-5%.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, the invention is directed to a process for making a variegated nut spread comprising (a) forming an enclosure from a film, b) pumping a nut spread into the enclosure; and (c) before, during, or after step (b), pumping in a separate stream of an inclusion to form a variegated nut spread; and (d) sealing the enclosure to form a container without homogenizing the nut spread and inclusions. The inclusion is generally another food component which is desirably eaten with peanut butter, such as fruit filling variegate, banana, marshmallow filling, chocolate, bacon bits, etc. The invention is also directed to a nut spread, comprising discrete inclusions selected from the group consisting of chocolate syrup, fruit and mixtures thereof. The inclusions in the nut butter of the inventions are discrete so that consumers can experience simultaneously organoleptic properties both of the inclusions and the nut butter.

Abstract: An improved protein beverage which may provide a relatively high protein content, ranging from about 0.01% by weight to about 15% by weight, while optionally employing a carbonation concentration between about 0.1 volumes of carbonation (per volume of liquid drink) to about 6 volumes of carbonation. Preferably the protein is a protein, such preferably as whey protein, or others. The protein beverage may contain juice and/or an additive which provides energy generation enhancement. The protein beverage may be heat treated to inactivate pathogenic microbes in the presence of the carbonation which may be used to provide taste and mouth feel for the drink. Typically, the treatment for pathogenic microbe inactivation is carried out in the individual package used for storage and handling of the protein drink. The protein beverage may be prepared from a protein beverage concentrate, which may be in the form of a syrup concentrate or a powder concentrate.

Abstract: An improved protein beverage/drink composition which may provide a relatively high protein content, ranging from about 0.01% by weight to about 15% by weight, while optionally employing a carbonation concentration between about 0.1 volumes of carbonation (per volume of liquid drink solution or liquid drink suspension) to about 6 volumes of carbonation. Preferably the protein is a protein, such preferably as whey protein, or others. The protein beverage may contain juice and/or an additive which provides energy generation enhancement. The protein beverage may be heat treated to inactivate pathogenic microbes in the presence of the carbonation which may be used to provide taste and mouth feel for the drink. Typically, the treatment for pathogenic microbe inactivation is carried out in the individual package used for storage and handling of the protein drink.

Abstract: A process for preparing an energy food product comprising the steps of (a) processing at least one base energy food component at a temperature and shear sufficient to form a homogeneous base energy food matrix; and (b) subsequently mixing at least one process sensitive component with said homogeneous base energy food matrix at a temperature and shear that does not deleteriously effect said process sensitive component.

Abstract: A long shelf-life, high moisture content cereal product is provided that can contain an acid-stable milk protein and at least about 45% total water content by total weight of the cereal product.