Abstract: A portion capsule for producing a beverage includes a base element having a cavity in which a beverage raw material is provided and which is closed by a membrane fastened to the base element.

Abstract: A system for providing a single serving of a frozen confection, wherein the system comprises a pod comprising at least one ingredient for providing a single serving of a frozen confection; the system cools the pod; the system introduces water into the pod; the system simultaneously stirs the contents of the pod while scraping at least one wall of the pod to prevent a build-up of the frozen confection on the at least one wall of the pod; and the system ejects the frozen confection out of the pod.

Abstract: The use of a granulated xanthan gum comprising, relative to 100% by mass of the granulated xanthan gum: xanthan gum granules having a degree of hardness of 2 N or higher and lower than 8 N in an amount of 5% by mass or higher; and xanthan gum granules having a degree of hardness of 8 N or higher in an amount of 20% by mass or lower makes it possible to provide a granulated xanthan gum and a thickening composition comprising the granulated xanthan gum which undergo suppressed formation of unmixed lumps in a wide variety of water-containing foods such as water, teas, refreshing beverages, dairy beverages, soups, and thick liquid foods, even when the xanthan gum concentration is 50% by mass or higher.

Abstract: A tableware tea piece (10, 11, 12) intended to be used in conjunction with a drinking cup (60, 6) or teapot (63) vessel (60), includes first and second principal surfaces (1) and a well (8) defined by the second surface (1, 2, 95). It further includes a perimeter recess (40), and is configured and arranged (2) to be placed to act as a lid on a vessel (60) containing hot water (90) with the first surface (1, 2, 95) uppermost without slipping sideways off the vessel (60) and forming an aperture in side (1, 2) the rim (62) of the vessel (60).

Abstract: A free-standing, portable apparatus or appliance adapted for receiving a first container such as a pliable plastic bag containing a supply of a fluid such as breastmilk; the appliance adapted for storing, cooling, and/or heating the first container and the fluid contained in the first container; the appliance adapted for dispensing the supply of fluid from the first container; and the appliance adapted for dispensing warm fluid such as breastmilk from the first container into a second container such as a standard baby bottle for instant feeding of the fluid such as breastmilk to an infant; and a process for dispensing warm fluid such as breastmilk from the first container.

Abstract: Food preservation can include depositing dry ice and food within packaging. The packaging can include a flexible liner defining a wall aperture and an internal chamber. The internal chamber can receive the deposited dry ice and food and have an internal atmosphere. The packaging can include a check valve mounted to the flexible liner and covering the wall aperture. The check valve can be configured to occupy: (i) a closed state blocking fluid communication between the internal chamber and ambient via the wall aperture and (ii) an open state enabling fluid flow from the internal chamber, through the wall aperture, and into ambient.

Abstract: A capsule for preparing a nutritional product in a device adapted to supply liquid into the capsule is disclosed. The capsule includes at least one compartment for providing nutritional ingredients for the preparation of the nutritional product in combination with the supplied liquid, and the compartment includes a liquid impermeable membrane forming a release side of the compartment. The capsule further includes at least one relief element. Also disclosed is a membrane for use in the manufacture of said capsule. Also disclosed are methods of producing and using the membrane and capsule.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a beverage cartridge which includes a filter. The filter, comprising filter material, is arranged to separate the cartridge into first and second compartments. The first compartment stores a first substance and is positioned adjacent the second compartment. A coating is arranged on the filter material and the coating increases the puncture resistance of the filter material.

Abstract: A drip bag including a bag body having an upper end to be opened and two opposing surfaces, and a pair of hook members provided on outer faces of the opposing surfaces and spaced apart from vertical side edges of the bag body. Each of the hook members including an upper stuck part adhered along an opening of the bag body, a center part located below the upper stuck part, and a hook part not adhered to the bag body. For each of the hook members, a pair of oblique folding lines are formed on the upper stuck part, and a vertical folding line is formed downwardly from a lower end of each oblique folding line, whereby, in use, at least the oblique folding lines and the vertical folding lines cause the outer faces of the bag body to protrude outward from a bottom end of the bag body.

Abstract: A system for providing a single serving of a frozen confection, wherein the system comprises a pod comprising at least one ingredient for providing a single serving of a frozen confection; the system cools the pod; the system introduces water into the pod; the system simultaneously stirs the contents of the pod while scraping at least one wall of the pod to prevent a build-up of the frozen confection on the at least one wall of the pod; and the system ejects the frozen confection out of the pod.

Abstract: Food holding apparatuses and methods of use and manufacture are provided herein. An apparatus includes a first portion having a first handle and a first side of a clip, the first side includes an first retaining plate having a front surface and a back surface, the back surface includes a first plurality of protrusions that extend from the back surface, a second portion that has a second handle and a second side of the clip, the first side includes a second retaining plate having a front surface and a back surface, the back surface includes a second plurality of protrusions that extend from the back surface, the first plurality of protrusions and the second plurality of protrusions are aligned such that they are brought together to secure a portion of a food item when the apparatus is in a food gripping position.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying items such as food allowing for an unobstructed view of the food item is disclosed. The system includes a backer card and a transparent film. The food item is stored in the transparent film allowing an unobstructed view of the food item. An upper portion of the transparent film is secured to the backer card leaving a portion of the transparent film below the point of attachment unsecured allowing the food item to move away from the backer card. Information pertaining to the food item is printed on the backer card leaving the view of the food item unobstructed.

Abstract: A method of using a portion capsule for producing a beverage. The method includes providing an apparatus including a barcode reader, the apparatus including a pump adapted to supply heated water; loading the portion capsule into the apparatus; piercing the foil lid; reading a barcode on the portion capsule with the barcode reader; determining whether the read barcode agrees with a stored reference; and activating the pump to push heated water into the portion capsule only upon a determination that the read barcode agrees with the stored reference.

Abstract: High pressure processing of substances such as foodstuffs and products produced therewith. The methods include externally pressurizing a container containing a substance immersed in a liquid, then displacing at least a portion of the liquid from the substance with a gas and sealing the substance and the gas from at least a portion of the displaced liquid. The methods are particularly useful for producing packaged substances, such as packaged fruits or vegetables, that are advantageously processed with high pressure in a liquid but are disadvantageously stored in the liquid after the processing.

Abstract: Capsule for the preparation of a beverage comprising a container and a beverage ingredient contained therein, wherein the container comprises a code (65) adapted for being identified or read by external reading means (62), wherein the code is arranged on the container to be read while the capsule is rotated around an axis of rotation traversing the capsule.

Abstract: A sealed pack (440) contains quantities of ingredients to make an individual smoothie portion. The ingredients comprise a flavour ingredient (410) such as pieces of fruit (strawberries, raspberries, mango), a frozen portion of liquid (420) such as water, fruit juice, milk, coffee or tea; and a consistency ingredient (430) such as ice-cream, sorbet and yoghurt. The pack may be subjected to a temperature sufficiently low to maintain the frozen state of some of the ingredients in the pack (440). Also disclosed is a method of packaging the ingredients into the pack, or into first and second containers, or into a container with compartments for different ingredients in frozen and unfrozen states; and a method of preparing an individual smoothie using the sealed pack wherein the ingredients are blended with additional liquid; and an apparatus that uses sealed pack for automatically vending an individual smoothie portion.

Abstract: A package containing solid raw material for a beverage, wherein the raw material is packed in a water permeable filter bag (1) and the filter bag is packed in an openable protective package (2) enclosing the bag and having a front wall (2d) and a rear wall (2e) which are connected at their both vertical edges. The protective package (2) can be opened by forming an opening between the front wall and the rear wall. Both the front wall (2d) and the rear wall (2e) end at their respective supporting edges (2a, 2b) at the bottom, and said supporting edges can be brought apart to form a bottom structure to keep the bag upright. At least between the supporting edges, the package material forms a bottom that is liquid tight throughout.

Abstract: A capsule comprises a casing (202) that includes: a base wall (203) and a side wall (204) defining a cavity (205) that is suitable for containing a food preparation (P); a flange-shaped edge (206) extending from the side wall (204), the side wall (204) being deformable along preset lines of pliability (219, 220) to enable the casing (202) to be compressed along a direction (A) that is transverse to the base wall (202). The capsule (201) further comprises: a cover element (208) fixed to the flange edge (206) to close the cavity (205) hermetically and a nozzle (210; 310), fixed to the cover element (208), which is housed in the cavity (205).

Abstract: A cartridge (10) containing a dose (12) of at least one substance, such as powdered coffee, for preparing a liquid product by means of liquid and/or steam introduced at a given temperature into the cartridge (10) comprises a casing (14) containing the aforesaid dose (12) with a side wall (140) and a bottom wall (142) through which the liquid product flows out from the cartridge (10). The aforesaid bottom wall (142) has a layered structure with: at least one layer (1420) made of a first compostable material designed to undergo softening and/or melting at a temperature ranging between 70° C. and 120° C.; and—at least one layer (1422) made of a second compostable material that does not undergo appreciable softening and/or melting at said temperature.

Abstract: A bloom-resistant method of freezing and packaging a fresh food product.