Abstract: A food tray adapted to be removably located in a predetermined position in a compartment is provided having a tray body and a fixed movable stop member. The tray body includes a first end and a second end, a bottom and a sidewall structure defining a volume. The fixed movable stop member is located at one end of the tray body and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. When the tray is inserted in the compartment in the predetermined position, the fixed movable stop member is in the extended position and restrains further insertion of the tray into the compartment. A method of making a food tray in accordance with the invention is provided. Also provided is a method of storing food within a food tray to be contained in a pass-through compartment.

Abstract: A portable beverage system is provided for allowing consumers to combine one or more portions of beverage or other concentrates with a liquid to form a drink. The system includes an inner storage container for the portions and an outer container for mixing the portions with a liquid. The portions may contain beverage concentrates, soup flavorings and spices, or nutritional additives, such as herbs, vitamins, and minerals. Different portions may be provided with system, allowing consumers to make drinks customizable according to personal preferences. The portions may be provided in capsules, gelatin compositions, or other forms.

Abstract: The present invention discloses formulations for sheeted, baked sweet potato chips that have a light, crispy texture similar to a white potato chip. The ingredients are combined with water and oil to make a dough, which is then sheeted and cut into pieces. The pieces are baked to produce sweet potato snack chips.

Abstract: A process for thickening liquid food and/or medications of people with swallowing problems which involves dilution of a concentrate thickener paste which has been thickened to several times its normally useful and cost-effective levels. The approach is beneficial in formulations intended for radiological evaluations of people with swallowing problems including those persons suffering from dysphagia.

Abstract: A method of preserving food in a supercooled state, wherein food is packed inside a container with no head space, and then converted to a supercooled state by a cooling step in which the food is cooled from a temperature higher than the freezing point to a temperature below the freezing point at a cooling rate exceeding ?0.5° C./h but no more than ?5.0° C./h.

Abstract: A microwave popcorn product is provided. The popcorn product includes a package having a popcorn composition therein, the popcorn composition including popcorn kernels, an oil/fat component that can be trans-fat free or low-trans fat, and optional ingredients such as flavorants. At least a portion of the popcorn composition is retained within an internal containment package within the package. The containment package provides containment of any liquid or non-solid components of the popcorn composition. A burst facilitator can be used with the containment pouch; usually, this burst facilitator is water or other form of moisture.

Abstract: A chocolate confectionery is disclosed having on a surface thereof a chocolate base layer, a non-delaminating integral substantially white or light colored edible image-substrate coating disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the chocolate base layer and a high resolution edible black and/or colored print image disposed on at least a portion of the edible image-substrate coating. A method is also disclosed for preparing the confectionery.

Abstract: An improved meal-substitute food bar, herein called a meal-equivalent food bar because it is divided into segments equivalent to the sequence of courses in a conventional meal, including appetizer with functional appetite stimulants; main-course with major nutrition ingredients; and desert with functional appetite depressants. Further, the food bar is divided frangibly lengthwise into strips, each strip a selectable meal-equivalent with pre-determined calories. As a result, the meal-equivalent food bar provides a meal with improved physiological and psychological values for a consumer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the ingredients for nontoxic bubble liquid that mainly contains pure water, blowing agent, thickener, sweetener, seasoning and enhancer. Besides blowing bubbles with the stick soaked with the edible bubble liquid, users can also blow bubbles from their mouth. Such unique bubble liquid not only draws people's attention, but eliminates harm to human bodies. Moreover, the sweetness and fragrance of the bubble liquid makes it more tasty.

Abstract: This invention concerns an infusion bag, especially for tea, which has a top part with folded down corners and a middle part folded over it, to which a string with two free ends is attached that goes from one side of the top part through a hole in the folded down parts forming a loop on the other side of the top part and comes back, whereby the two free ends are drawn up through the loop laid over the top edge of the infusion bag and pulled to form a knot. The solution in the invention is characterized by the fact that two holes are made in the top part at a lateral distance next to one another, on the left and right of the longitudinal axis of the bag; each hole goes through a folded down corner and the middle of the top part; by the fact that the string forms a loop and one end goes through one hole and the other end through the second hole; by the fact that the loop is laid over the top edge of the infusion bag, and both ends of the string go up through the loop to form a double knot.

Abstract: A cartridge for use with a mounting head for the preparation of fluid comestibles comprising a cartridge inlet, a chamber connected to said cartridge inlet for containing suitable flavor-containing or particle materials, a cartridge outlet connected to said chamber and a handle enabling a user to hold the handle to attach and secure the cartridge inlet to the mounting head to allow the liquid to be delivered under pressure through the flavor-containing or particle materials in the chamber, through the cartridge outlet and directly into a receptacle such as a cup or carafe for consumption, thereby dramatically simplifying the preparation of the fluid comestibles and relieving the user from the tedious cleaning work. The handle comprising at least part of the wall of the chamber, which is sufficiently rigid.

Abstract: Liquid candy is molded into a body of hard candy HC with a tubular portion 24 of a holder 22, 24 anchored therein. The tubular portion 22 extends into close proximity to an outer surface of the hardened candy HC. A cup-shaped portion 22 of the holder is snapped onto a reservoir cap 70. The holder 22, 24 is snapped into a fully engaged position. When a consumer wishes to consume the candy product, the consumer pulls up on the holder 22, 24 to move it upwardly relative to the reservoir cap into a second engaged position. A break-away portion 74 of the cap 70 breaks away to open fluid communication between the reservoir 62 and a passageway 36 through the holder 22, 24.

Abstract: An edible film and method of making and using same for decorating foodstuffs, in particular baked goods, wherein anyone can easily, inexpensively and artistically decorate foodstuffs. The edible film according to the present invention is composed of an edible polymer film which is preferably releasably mounted upon a flexible substrate to provide a reinforced edible film. The edible film is peelably released from the substrate to provide decorations for the foodstuff. The edible film may be decoratively prepared into predetermined decorations prior to distribution, which may include being pre-printed, pre-cut, colored, or being of pre-selected opacity and sheen. Alternatively, the edible film may be distributed in a not yet finalized decoration form, wherein finalization is left up to the user.

Abstract: A novelty candy holding device including a housing to which a candy pop can be secured. The housing includes a bottom end cap which prevents a pliable putty-like material in the housing from drying out. The bottom end cap can be removed to expose the pliable putty material into which one can insert their finger or fingers in order to move the putty material around so that movement of the putty makes a noise as air within the putty is moved. The device can have an end cap with a central opening secured to the housing. A stretchable diaphragm is secured over the central aperture so that one can force the diaphragm into the pliable putty material to move the putty material about so that a noise will be made as the putty material is moved, at which time air in the putty material will make a noise.

Abstract: A confectionary product including a substantially transparent candy mass and a substantially cylindrical housing for supporting and retaining the candy mass and including an interior compartment for storing a small object. The housing includes a cylindrical base having a tubular wall defining an interior compartment and an opening leading to the interior compartment, a cap removably engaging with the base and enclosing the candy mass when in engagement with the base, and a sealing member for closing the opening of the base to thereby seal the interior compartment of the base. The object in the interior compartment is accessible by removing the sealing member from engagement with the base. The candy product or mass may have a plurality of different tastes and/or a plurality of different colors.

Abstract: A powdered substance, which is suitable for preparation of a beverage with an extraction fluid, is extracted for preparation of a beverage. The substance which is compacted in a form of a cake, is contained within a sachet between two sachet sheets which, prior to extraction of the substance, protect the substance against oxygen and water vapor and which extend to sealed edges for containing the substance within the sheets prior to and during extraction. In effecting extraction, one sheet is perforated to provide at least one opening for injection of extraction fluid, and extraction fluid is injected under pressure into the sachet for contacting and deforming the compacted substance cake and for extracting the substance in the sachet, and the other sheet is deformed against a surface having portions forming, upon deformation of the second sheet, local breakages in that sheet for opening that sheet for flow of extracted beverage substance.

Abstract: An apparatus for preserving perishables fresh and long storage of corrosive material by filling the container with an inert gas and sealing the gas therein.

Abstract: A method for the continuous treatment of poultry carcasses. The poultry carcasses are successively singed, cooled, deboned, minced, shaped and packaged. Prior to singeing, the carcasses are injected with carbon dioxide snow to prevent the development of germs during singeing. The mincing, shaping and packaging steps are carried out in an enclosure in which carbon dioxide snow is introduced so that the temperature is maintained at about 0.degree. to -4.degree. C.

Abstract: A highly portable Mexican-type food item is provided and more specifically a burrito-type product on a stick. Burritos consist essentially of a highly pliable, soft tortilla wrapped around a burrito food filler. The new burrito includes a self-sustaining tortilla with an edge portion thereof wrapped around a stick or other suitable elongate member which is grasped by the customer, with food filler being enclosed within the remaining portion of the tortilla and with the ends thereof turned in. The portability of the burrito product thus approaches that of an ice cream bar or a coated hot dog having a stick impaled in one end thereof, for example.

Abstract: A process for improving the organoleptic properties of canned green vegetables wherein vegetables blanched with a highly alkaline solution are suspended in a brine having an alkalinity adjusted to between about 25 to about 75 milliequivalents of hydroxyl ion in a hermetically sealed container internally coated with an organic coating filled with an alkaline earth compound such as MgO, the vegetables being sterilized at 250.degree.-300.degree. F. to an F.sub.o value of at least 6 whereby the original color and flavor of the vegetables are retained.