Patents Examined by Helen Pratt
  • Patent number: 7074448
    Abstract: A system and process for making a low-acid, single strength juice such as a not from concentrate (NFC) citrus juice are provided in which an initial single strength juice flow can be cooled to a temperature of not greater than about 45° F. and maintained at that temperature or below throughout the process (except during pasteurization). From the initial juice flow, a first portion of the juice is diverted from a second portion of the juice. Suspended solids are separated out from the first portion to provide a solids-reduced juice. The solids-reduced juice is subjected to ion-exchange deacidification. Preferably, a portion of the initial single strength juice flow is added to the deacidified juice immediately after deacidification in order to immediately lower the pH of the deacidified juice to a value that discourages microbial activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Scott Lineback, Osvaldo A. Chu, Yongsoo Chung, Mark A. Pepper, Marcelo Perez Alvarez
  • Patent number: 7070825
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a new unit dose packaging for infant formula. The infant formula is manufactured as a tablet. One tablet will typically contain sufficient nutrients to produce a single serving of the formula (i.e. the amount of formula an average infant consumes in a single feeding). Other aspects of the invention are directed to feeding an infant such a reconstituted tablet and packaging containing such infant formula tablets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Louis I. Ndife, Booker T. Lucas, III, Stephene L. Hohman
  • Patent number: 7070826
    Abstract: This invention pertains to the process and formulation for the production of a multipurpose base consisting of mechanically-fractured apple cells and intact single apple cells and optionally gum stabilizers. The multipurpose base possesses desirable functional properties of smoothness, creaminess, viscosity enhancement, changeability and particulate carrier as well as nutraceutical and nutritional values. The multipurpose base is to be used as an ingredient for the preparation of smoothies, fruit salsa, fruit toppings, fruit desserts, soups and salad dressings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Pacific Rim Marketing Limited
    Inventors: Perry David Lidster, William Duncan Powrie, Patrick M. Chung
  • Patent number: 7063866
    Abstract: A coated, uncooked oat product is provided that has no added fat and comprises uncooked oat flakes having a coating adherent to the oat flakes. A coated, oat flake agglomerate is also provided, wherein each agglomerate comprises at least two uncooked oat flakes and has a fat-free coating. A flavored, coated oat product in bulk and a flavored, coated, agglomerated oat product are provided, both of which products have flavors uniformly distributed throughout the bulk. Corn grit products are also provided and include (1) individual pieces of corn grit having a fat-free coating and (2) clusters of corn grit pieces having a fat-free coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventors: James Hansa, Alice Hibbs, Kent Salisbury
  • Patent number: 7052725
    Abstract: Methods for making artificially sweetened calcium fortified beverages and beverage concentrates, and the stable beverage and beverage concentrates formed thereby; calcium-supplemented beverages and beverage concentrates comprising a unique blend of calcium salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Pei K. Chang, Thomas D. Lee, John Olszewski, Brenton G. Edgar, Richard Orr, Helen Curtiss
  • Patent number: 7048960
    Abstract: The present invention includes a high lignan concentrate (3% to 5% or greater) flax seed product, and product by process, which can be produced by 1) supplying a uniformly colored quantity of flax seeds with less than 5 percent visually darker seeds; 2) milling the selected seeds of a visually uniform color; 3) sifting the milled selected seeds into a second portion and a third portion using a preferred screen size from US# 12 up to an including US #18; 4) selecting the coarser fraction of the sifted, milled flax meal and aspirating it into a fourth lighter density portion and a fifth coarser portion, wherein the fourth lighter portion contains the valuable high lignan concentrate. As an added advantage, the high lignan flax seed meal can include approximately 40–50% insoluble dietary fiber and 50–60% soluble dietary fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Inventor: Glenn Roy Pizzey
  • Patent number: 7045161
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing processed foods, which effectively exert the inherent flavor and taste of food materials, provide superior preservative stability, and keep the original form and color of the food materials; and to provide processed foods produced by the process. The object is solved by establishing the process for producing processed foods which is characterized in that it comprises the steps of contacting raw food materials with a saccharide to accrete and/or penitrate the saccharide to and/or into an intact food material without blanching and then heating the resulting mixture by one or more heating methods selected from the group consisting of steaming, baking, frying, and microwaving to effectively exert the inherent flavor and taste of the food material, and to provide superior preservative stability; and processed foods produced by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Hayashibara Seibutsu Kagaku Kenkyujo
    Inventors: Yasuo Takeuchi, Toshiyuki Sugimoto, Toshio Miyake
  • Patent number: 7041329
    Abstract: Fast cooking flours for making breads, cakes, pancakes, biscuits, tortillas, muffins, cookies, patties, pizzas, nans, brioches, etc. by heat treating the grain which is dry heated for a time and duration which is then ground into flour which can be used in flour containing products which provide a faster cooking product than using conventional flour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Inventor: Sajid Ali Khan
  • Patent number: 7041325
    Abstract: A food additive slurry or powder composition is disclosed which comprises 100 parts by weight of at least one selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate and dolomite (A) and 0.5 to 60 parts by weight of arabinogalactan (B). The food additive slurry composition of the present invention is highly concentrated and excellent in dispersion stability in liquid, which can be effectively utilized for the enrichment of calcium and/or magnesium by adding to foods such as yogurt, cow's milk, juice, milk powder, instant noodles and biscuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Maruo Calcium Company Limited
    Inventors: Naoki Kubota, Hisakazu Hojo
  • Patent number: 7041324
    Abstract: A liquid nutritional and/or refreshing preparation is described to which an emulsion is added containing oils with polyunsaturated fatty acids and remedial substances in a water-based drink, in such a manner that the drink does not turn rancid within the storage time of the water-based phase, a method for its production and its application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Pronova Biocare AS
    Inventor: Johan Myhre
  • Patent number: 7033630
    Abstract: Methods of making a calcium fortified, tartaric acid-containing product that is essentially free of tartrate precipitates. The tartaric acid concentration of a precursor is adjusted to form an adjusted precursor. An additive comprising a calcium-based compound is mixed with the adjusted precursor to make the fortified product. The compound may be calcium gluconate, a variety of other compounds or mixtures thereof. The fortified product, when stored at approximately 70° F., may remain essentially free of tartrate precipitate for at least sixteen weeks. The fortified, tartaric acid-containing products processed by the disclosed methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Welch Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Stacy A. Livisay, James P. Lavoie
  • Patent number: 7033629
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for preparing nutritional frozen desserts having palatable characteristics. The invention also includes the nutritious frozen desserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Nutricopia Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Koss, Arnold Koss
  • Patent number: 7022368
    Abstract: A method is described for processing fruit or vegetables, e.g., cranberries, into two different juices. One of the two juices has a relatively high level of phytochemicals and a relatively low level of sugars and acids. The other of the two juices has a relatively low level of phytochemicals and a relatively high level of sugars and acids. The method of the invention entails providing three juice streams. The first juice stream is passed through an ultrafiltration apparatus or some other apparatus that is capable of preferentially separating the relatively lower molecular weight compounds, e.g., sugars and acids, from the relatively higher molecular weight compounds, e.g., phytochemicals. This process creates two juice fractions: a juice fraction that is relatively enriched in sugars and acids and a juice fraction that is relatively enriched in phytochemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold L. Mantius, Lawrence Rose
  • Patent number: 7022355
    Abstract: This invention is directed to an alkaline earth metal fortified vegetable protein composition dispersed in an aqueous medium, comprising an aqueous slurry of a vegetable protein material and a hydrated gel of an alkaline earth metal phosphate salt. The alkaline earth metal content of the alkaline earth metal fortified vegetable protein composition is from about 3–12% by weight, on a dry basis and further, the alkaline earth metal fortified vegetable protein composition forms a stable suspension in said aqueous medium. The invention is also directed to a process for producing a mineral enriched protein composition for use in the production of foodstuffs. This process is carried forth by combining an aqueous slurry of a vegetable protein material and a hydrated gel of an alkaline earth metal phosphate salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Solae, LLC
    Inventor: Myong J. Cho
  • Patent number: 7018665
    Abstract: The present invention relates to new processes useful for separating whey proteins from whey protein-containing solutions using a novel anion exchanger which comprises a water insoluble, hydrophilic, water swellable, hydroxy (C2–C4) alkylated and cross-linked regenerated cellulose, derivatized with quaternary amino (QA) groups where the level of substitution of the QA groups is 1.4 milli-equivalents per dry gram of anion exchanger (meq/g) or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignees: Massey University, New Zealand Dairy Board
    Inventors: John Stephen Ayers, David Francis Elgar, Kay Patricia Palmano, Mark Pritchard, Ganugapati Bijaya Bhaskar
  • Patent number: 7014879
    Abstract: Quick-cooked dehydrated vegetables having a moisture content of about 12% or less which have been compressed, but maintain a substantially intact cellular structure, and which on being placed in water at a temperature of 90° C. to 100° C. are capable of rehydration substantially to their original fresh dimensions, and are of edible tenderness and texture instantly or within five minutes, are described. Also described are processes for the production of a dehydrated, rapidly rehydrating vegetable product by compression of a partially dehydrated vegetable product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Byron Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Victor Marcus Lewis, David Adrian Lewis, Deborah Ann Lewis
  • Patent number: 7011857
    Abstract: Compositions and methods of losing weight are described that are suitable for individuals susceptible to gastric hyperacidity or gastroesophageal reflux. The compositions include in part a snack food having two or more rapidly digestible carbohydrates, in which the foodstuff or an aqueous mixture of the foodstuff and water has a pH equal to or greater than about 6, and in which the snack is substantially protein-free. The method of weight loss suitable for an individual with gastric hyperacidity includes substantially limiting the individual's caloric intake to about 1400 calories or less for women and 1800 calories or less for men in which the caloric intake includes one or more substantially protein-free snack foodstuffs having two or more rapidly digestible carbohydrates, in which an aqueous mixture of the foodstuff with water has a pH equal to or greater than about 6 and in which the individual loses weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Judith J. Wurtman, Richard J. Wurtman
  • Patent number: 7008654
    Abstract: A nutritional supplement in the form of a gelled nutritional composition. The composition contains gelled whey protein; a carbohydrate source; minerals; and vitamins. The composition may have a viscosity of about 5000 cp to about 40000 cp and an energy density of about 800 kcal/l to about 1200 kcal/l. The composition is suitable for dysphagia patients, children and athletes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Eileen C. Fuchs, Helen Gillian Anantharaman, Chandrasekhara Reddy Mallangi
  • Patent number: 7008665
    Abstract: This invention relates to non-brittle dried fruits and vegetables, especially non-brittle freeze-dried fruits and vegetables, and methods for preparing such fruits and vegetables. More specifically, this invention relates to non-brittle dried fruits and vegetables prepared by applying a surface coating of an aqueous solution of a polyhydric alcohol (preferably glycerol) prior to drying. Application of the aqueous solution of the polyhydric alcohol prior to drying appears to allow sufficient migration of polyhydric alcohol into the cellular structures, thereby plasticizing the cellular structures and minimizing damage to the cellular structures of the fruits and vegetables during and after drying and post-drying activities. The resulting plasticized product is rendered non-brittle as indicated by a drastic reduction of fines and/or broken pieces after drying and/or packaging, shipping, and storage as compared to conventionally dried fruits and vegetables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimbay P. Loh, Yeong-Ching Albert Hong
  • Patent number: 7005155
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a cereal product having an improved protein content and improved baking properties, whereby one mills cereals up to between 50 to 70% with regard to the kernel, that one from a part feed of said flour isolates native gluten and the content of water soluble constituents such as pentosans, that one add the native gluten thus isolated and constituents isolated, such as pentosans, to the remaining feed of flour, that the feed of flour being substantially freed from native protein and soluble constituents is used as such, or is further processed such as being subjected to an enzymatic hydrolysis to obtain a glucose syrup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventor: Ingemar Bjurenvall