Abstract: A premix for hog feed and a method of feeding a hog that produces DHA and EPA enriched pork while avoiding or reducing negative effects to the taste, color, texture, aroma, pH and shelf life which are significant enough to make the pork unacceptable to consumers. One embodiment of the method of feeding a hog involves feeding a hog over several days with a hog feed supplemented with the premix. The premix includes marine-sourced docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and plant-sourced alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The hogs are fed until their total DHA, EPA and ALA intakes are in a certain range per kilogram of the hog's weight. The hogs are then slaughtered and processed into pork products. This results in pork with an enrichment of omega-3 EFAs in the range of about 2.5% to about 4.5% of fat.

Abstract: A system and method for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product is disclosed. The system comprises at least one disposable capsule; an apparatus comprising a fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of fluid, such as water, to the at least one disposable capsule, a receptacle for accommodating the at least one disposable capsule, and an outlet arrangement for supplying the beverage to a container, such as a cup. The at least one disposable capsule comprises a chamber for enclosing an inner space comprising the extractable product. The capsule further comprises a displaceable body conceived to interact with an entrance area and an exit area of the capsule for discontinuing the entrance area and the exit area thereby enabling the chamber to pass fluidum there through.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a stable calcium composition, a process for its preparation and its use for enriching food and beverages. The calcium composition comprises a calcium source, a citrate and a metal source selected from alkali and/or alkaline source.

Abstract: Improved shelf stable microwave dessert packaged food products for individual servings comprise a cup; a shelf-stable ready-to-heat uncooked microwave bakeable foam product disposed within the cup, and a peelably removable, low gas permeability sealing membrane. The improvements reside in important part in selecting shelf stable food products embodiments having a pH of ?6 and additionally comprising dried or gelled blue or purple inclusions such as natural or artificial blueberries dispersed within the foam. These inclusions can be colored with natural anthocyanin or artificial Lake pigments. Surprisingly, when the foam has a pH of about 6 or lower, the dried or gelled blue or purple inclusions exhibit color stability for extended times even though the foams are stored at room temperatures. The articles provide high quality finished expanded blue or purple inclusion containing baked dessert goods by microwave cooking and expansion of the foam.

Abstract: A method and system for producing a flavored beverage wherein the flavor is added in a separate step to a combination of the base ingredients after the base liquid has been pasteurized by, for example, thermal heating. The flavor can be added to a continuous stream of the base liquid after a thermally processed hot-fill beverage base liquid is made up. A return loop conduit of the hot-fill beverage base liquid portion of the system is capable of diverting the heated hot-fill beverage base liquid in a stable state, that is, at the desired temperatures ready for continued beverage production, while the flavor may be switched over in a downstream flavor dosing portion of the system. The system may be used to produce a desired batch of flavored beverage by producing a first flavor, cleaning only that portion of the system to remove the first flavor and then changing over the flavor additive component to a desired second flavor.

Abstract: An apparatus for easily removing excess moisture from blocks of tofu. The apparatus is constructed of a sturdy plastic material and is substantially box or rectangular shaped. It is designed to be approximately the size of a block of commercially available tofu. The container which holds the tofu has perforations on the bottom which permits the extracted moisture to drain out and away from the unit. The container with the tofu features four feet on the corners with a drain tray to capture the extracted moisture. There is a flat member that sits on the top of the tofu and an inner top lid that has a spring attached to it. The inner top lid engages a pair of arm like projections and the spring engages another tray that sits on the top of the tofu so that as the spring exerts pressure on the flat member on the tofu water is removed from the tofu.

Abstract: A method for preparing a beverage through a capsule inserted in a beverage machine; the capsule comprising an enclosure containing one or more beverage ingredients, wherein a brewing fluid is introduced in the enclosure to brew the said one or more beverage ingredients, wherein a brewed liquid is filtered by a filtering wall and delivered from the capsule, wherein the filtering wall extends from substantially the bottom of the enclosure and said filtering wall is associated to an overflow wall that forces the brewed liquid to traverse at least one overflow aperture. The method is particularly suitable for brewing a tea containing capsule.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the fat firmness and meat quality of a meat animal and/or altering the ratio of saturated fatty acids to unsaturated fatty acids in meat by administering to a meat animal (e.g., pig) a composition comprising an amount of dehydrated castor oil that is effective to improve the quality indices of the animal's meat.

Abstract: A system and method of packaging a food product which provides a long shelf life, wherein the food product is cooked on rollers heated to 500° to 550° F. degrees in an oven heated to 750° to 800° F. for less than ten minutes and then enters a blast chiller at about 5° F. After cooling the product to 40° F. the product is placed in a cook-in bag, seasonings are added and the bag is vacuum-sealed and stored in a cooler at about 40° F. or lower. The seasonings are irradiated prior to being added to the food product to further control pathogen growth.

Abstract: An emulsifier having a primary emulsifying component of gum Arabic or modified starch and a secondary emulsifying component of pectin in a low amount is added to a beverage. The emulsifier has similar physical characteristics as conventional emulsifiers, with increased emulsifying capacity. Emulsifiers, such as gum Arabic or modified starch, conventionally used in food products can be easily replaced with the emulsifier to lower the cost of production.

Abstract: The invention concerns an assembly for preparing and presenting an edible composition designed to be puffed including a first portion defining a chamber for enabling the puffed composition to be presented, and a second portion defining a storage chamber designed to include at least one non-puffed composition, the second portion being arranged in the first portion. The invention also concerns a method for preparing a composition to be puffed using the assembly.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an assembly comprising a food product (15) to be heated or cooked in a microwave device, a packaging (13) surrounding said food product, wherein said packaging has at least one surface to come into contact with said food product and is made at least partly of a susceptor, and a heat shrinking film (16).

Abstract: A single serve capsule (1) for the preparation of hot beverages such as coffee, cappuccino, tea or the like from soluble or ground preparations, having an outlet lid portion (1 b) located on a dispensing wall (F) in order to form a dispensing opening (11) after a liquid has been introduced into the capsule, as well as means for changing the area of said dispensing opening during the dispensing step of the beverage.

Abstract: Methods of coating the interior surface of a hollow tubular structure, in particular a drinking device, and more particularly a drinking straw, with an edible composition to impart a desirable modification to a beverage that is drunk through the straw. The edible composition comprises an adhering agent and a powdered ingredient coated to the interior surface. Suitable adhering agents include lipids (e.g., soybean oil, corn oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, peanut oil, and mixtures thereof), medium chain triglycerides oils, emulsifiers, and mixtures thereof. Suitable powdered ingredients include edible acids, edible bases, sweeteners, flavorings, vitamins, minerals, colorants, sensate agents, carotenoids, antioxidants, polyphenols, phytonutrients, and mixtures thereof. The adhering agent is applied to the interior surface of the straw by any one of a number of methods followed by incorporating the powdered ingredient into the adhering agent layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to containers that include at least one sub-container and to methods and/or systems for mixing first and second substances responsive to opening of the containers and the at least one sub-container that is included therein. The invention advantageously provides methods, systems, containers, sub-containers, seals and/or tethers that may be used in storing first and second substances in an unmixed state, until it is desired to mix the first and second substances just before utilization thereof.

Abstract: Provided is a disintegrable or non-disintegrable oral flavor delivery product. The product includes a disintegrable or non-disintegrable chewable pouch with a plurality of perforations. The pouch encloses a non-tobacco flavor product that can be in a gel, semi-liquid, and/or liquid form. A user chews, sucks, and/or manipulates the pouch to cause the enclosed flavor product to leach out of the perforations into the user's mouth.

Abstract: An apparatus for easily removing excess moisture from blocks of tofu. The apparatus comprises a container which holds the tofu. A first substantially flat plate member is disposed within such container and placed on top of the tofu. A second substantially flat plate member which has a spring attached thereon engages a pair of arm like projections disposed on upper surfaces and on opposite sides of the container member. The other end of the spring engages the upper surface of the first flat plate member that sits on the top of the tofu so that as the spring exerts pressure on the first flat plate member water is removed from the tofu.

Abstract: A recombined whole grain flour for use in preparing whole grain products such that whole grain particulates provide minimal visual impact to the whole grain product. By selectively controlling the particle size of the milled bran and germ constituents used in the recombined whole grain flour, the visual and color impact associated with bran and germ particulates can be substantially eliminated from the whole grain product. In particular, whole grain products such as whole grain breads, dough products, mixes and biscuits can be made with recombined whole grain flour. Whole grain products made with recombined whole grain flour are advantageous in that they incorporate the health advantages associated with whole grains while eliminating the characteristic, visual color differences noticeable within a whole grain crumb due to visually identifiable bran and germ particulates found in traditional whole grain products.

Abstract: A cheese product, suitable for use as a cheese snack and/or food topping includes packaging in which moist cheese components of the snack or topping are separately sealed within a secondary package, prior to both the moist cheese and dry components of the snack or topping being sealed within a common primary container. At the time of use, a consumer opens both the primary container and the secondary package, and mixes the moist and dry components within the primary container. Following mixing, the resultant mixture of moist and dry components may be consumed directly from the primary container, or be poured out of or otherwise removed from the primary container for use as a food topping on foods such as salads, pizza, or baked potatoes. The secondary package is formed from a material and sealed in a manner that effectively precludes moisture migration between the moist and dry products during storage of the unmixed snack or topping, to thereby provide a longer shelf life.

Abstract: A recombined whole grain flour for use in preparing whole grain products such that whole grain particulates provide minimal visual impact to the whole grain product. By selectively controlling the particle size of the milled bran and germ constituents used in the recombined whole grain flour, the visual and color impact associated with bran and germ particulates can be substantially eliminated from the whole grain product. In particular, whole grain products such as whole grain breads, dough products, mixes and biscuits can be made with recombined whole grain flour. Whole grain products made with recombined whole grain flour are advantageous in that they incorporate the health advantages associated with whole grains while eliminating the characteristic, visual color differences noticeable within a whole grain crumb due to visually identifiable bran and germ particulates found in traditional whole grain products.