Abstract: Described are enzymatic methods of making food products and modifying food flavor using, for example, a lipase and a lactase, and related enzyme compositions and food products.

Abstract: The present application relates to a fermented milk or yoghurt powder which contains very high contents of S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus, and which exhibits exceptional storage capacities. In the powder according to the invention, no substantial loss of live S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus is observed after four months of storage at 20° C. The powder according to the invention has microbiological characteristics such that it itself corresponds to the name yoghurt or fermented milk.

Abstract: The use of a whey predominant protein source and lactose in the manufacture of a nutritional composition for promoting the development of an early bifidogenic intestinal microbiota in infants fed with the nutritional composition wherein the nutritional composition has a protein content of less than 2.1 g protein/100 kcal and a phosphorus content of less than 40 mg/100 kcal.

Abstract: Addition of a polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester or of a polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester to an acidulated carbonated beverage alleviates problems of excessive and/or persistent foaming or rapid loss of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Crispy French fry-style food products are prepared by modification of the water content and the texture of the products' surface layers prior to deep frying. The surface modifications include surface firming, enzyme treatments, starch infusion and/or ultrasound treatment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for obtaining a product in the form of deep-frozen granules, particles of beads having a high dissolved-gas content from a liquid, semi-liquid or paste-like matrix, that comprises two subsequent steps: a matrix gasification step that comprises the incorporation of gas at a pressure higher than 2 bars; and a quick deep-freezing step using a cryogenic fluid.

Abstract: Crispy French fry-style food products are prepared by modification of the water content and the texture of the products' surface layers prior to deep frying. The surface modifications include surface firming, enzyme treatments, starch infusion and/or ultrasound treatment.

Abstract: Acidulated carbonated beverage containing a foam control agent and/or carbon dioxide control agent. The control agent contains a polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester or a polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester.

Abstract: A process for producing 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, comprising initiating the culture of 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid producing bacteria belonging to propionic acid bacteria under anaerobic conditions and culturing the bacteria under aeration into a medium when the concentration of a carbon source in the medium is 3.5% by mass or less.

Abstract: A food composition comprising gas bubbles is provided. It contains based on the food composition at least 10 wt. % of water, optionally fat, wherein the amount of fat and water taken together is at least 60 wt. % and less than 99 wt. %, at least 1 vol. % and less than 70 vol. % of gas, fiber particles and surface active particles. The volume weighted mean diameter of the surface active particles (d2) is smaller than the length of the fiber particles (L). Also a process is provided to prepare the product. The process includes the steps of incorporating surface active particles and fiber particles in a liquid food composition, incorporating gas in said liquid composition and packing the food composition.

Abstract: A process for preparing a maté extract, a maté beverage base formulation and a maté beverage are disclosed. The maté extract is rich in natural caffeine, theobromine, theophylline and antioxidant compounds without the addition of preservatives and synthetic materials and is used to make a maté beverage base formulation. The maté beverage base formulation may be used to make maté beverages, such as carbonated maté beverages.

Abstract: A method for removing furanocoumarins from a liquid includes the steps of incubating the liquid with fungal hyphae for at least about two hours and removing the hyphae from the liquid by a filtration step. The furanocoumarins can be recovered from the hyphae using methods within the ordinary skill in the art. The method is useful for the removal of furanocoumarins from furanocoumarin-containing citrus juice so that the juice can be safely consumed by humans taking drugs that are metabolized by P450 CYP3A, which is the enzyme responsible for the metabolism of many widely-prescribed medications.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of producing aged garlic in which its antioxidation capability is significantly increased as compared to that of raw garlic which is used as a raw material for producing the aged garlic without reducing the essential effectiveness of garlic, S-arylcysteine that does not exist in raw garlic is generated, and the content of polyphenol is increased. The method of producing aged garlic according to the invention is characterized by comprising the steps of aging raw garlic with hot air at 40 to 90° C. for about 300 hours, naturally drying the resultant garlic for approximately 40 hours and then ageing the garlic with hot air at 20 to 30° C. for 30 to 50 hours again. In the step of aging the garlic with hot air at 40 to 90° C. for 280 to 320 hours, a plurality of pieces of the raw garlic is placed in a steel bin and then the steel bins are put into a container for aging.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tea-based fermentation beverage comprising a tea-based fermentation liquid with at least one species of lactic acid bacteria selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus ONRIC b0239 (FERM BP-10064) and Lactobacillus ONRIC b0240 (FERM BP-10065), and a tea beverage comprising at least one species of lactic acid bacteria selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus ONRIC b0239 (FERM BP-10064) and Lactobacillus ONRIC b0240 (FERM BP-10065).

Abstract: A method for processing a fruit, such as a cranberry, includes cutting open a fruit and partially removing a highly concentrated juice fraction from the fruit when pressed while maintained within a sub-freezing temperature range. The skin of the frozen fruit is penetrated by being sliced or punctured facilitating juice extraction and subsequently infusion, such as by vacuum. Before extraction, the sliced fruit is uniformly tempered to a temperature below 32° F., more specifically to between 26° F. and 32° F. To extract juice, the fruit is pressed, removing from about 40% to 65% by weight of the liquid, yielding a concentrated fruit juice, with significantly enhanced brix, acid, and color, and a partially dehydrated fruit piece, with significantly reduced brix, acid, and color, and still within the given sub-freezing temperature range. The fruit piece may then be infused, such as under vacuum while being rotated, with a variety of ingredients.

Abstract: A process and a composition to extend the freshness of fruits and vegetables are disclosed. The method comprises treating fresh fruit or vegetable structures with a solution comprising organic acids including N-acetyl cysteine.

Abstract: An improved tempura batter system comprises an improved primer layer and improved batter matrix layer. The batter matrix is formed from a controlled gelling of batter-forming components which balances control of gelatinization, coagulation and gelation with cellular network expansion while managing water mobility and quantity. A balancing of cereals, proteins, leavening system, fat and emulsifier produces effective gelatinization characteristics and controlled formation of outer shell. A network of well-distributed, uniformly-sized gas cells is provided throughout the matrix by employing an aerated and/or emulsified plastic fat.

Abstract: A ready-to-eat cereal based food product such as flakes desirably exhibiting higher numbers of discernible grain fragments of at least 1 mm2 is provided, as well as processes for preparing said cereal flakes. By having high numbers of discernible grain fragments the flakes exhibit greater consumer appeal as being less highly processed. More specifically, the ready-to-eat cereal flakes are fabricated from cooked cereal dough having at least 20 discernible grain fragments per gram of flakes. Methods for preparing such flakes including a steeping step of cut grain particles having a particle size of 0.5 to 2.5 mm with warm water to have a moisture content of about 20%, short residence time cooking to form a cooked cereal dough such as in a twin screw extruder, long residence time cooking, forming into pellets, drying the pellets, tempering, flaking the pellets and toasting to form the improved speckled R-T-E flake cereal.

Abstract: Green tea extracts having improved clarity and color. These extracts are obtained by treating the green tea extract with an amount of a food grade cation exchange resin effective to remove metal cations present in the extract. The treated extract is then contacted nanofiltration membrane while the treated extract is at a temperature of from about 100° to about 140° F. (from about 37.8° to about 60° C.) to provide a filtered green tea extract as the permeate. These green tea extracts can be included in a variety of beverages and are especially useful in suppressing the characteristic aftertaste of aspartame in diet beverages.

Abstract: A method for non-fry cooking, comprising a step of heating and dehydrating a food material using an aqueous trehalose solution with a relatively-high temperature and concentration; a non-fried food product having a satisfactory mouth feel, flavor, taste and being substantially free of an excessive intake of lipids; and an agent for non-fry cooking comprising trehalose as an effective ingredient.