Abstract: Dried soft aerated confections and methods of their preparation are provided having a water activity of about 0.1 to 0.4 and a glass transition temperature of less than 20° C. The confections comprise sugars, a foaming and a structuring ingredient, preferably each gelatin, and about 5 to 15% softening agent. Preferred softening agents include glycerin, polyglycerols and mixtures thereof. The confections are aerated to densities of about 0.1 to 0.5 g/cc. The soft dried aerated confections are particularly suited for addition to children's Ready-To-Eat cereals in the form of pieces weighing about 0.1 to 2 g each. The dried confection pieces maintain their soft texture over time without causing moisture migration to the cereal.

Abstract: Dried soft aerated confections and methods of their preparation are provided having a water activity of about 0.1 to 0.4 and a glass transition temperature of less than 20° C. The confections comprise sugars, a foaming and a structuring ingredient, preferably each gelatin, and about 5 to 15% softening agent. Preferred softening agents include glycerin, polyglycerols and mixtures thereof. The confections are aerated to densities of about 0.1 to 0.5 g/cc. The soft dried aerated confections are particularly suited for addition to children's Ready-To-Eat cereals in the form of pieces weighing about 0.1 to 2 g each. The dried confection pieces maintain their soft texture over time without causing moisture migration to the cereal.

Abstract: Dried soft aerated confections and methods of their preparation are provided having a water activity of about 0.1 to 0.4 and a glass transition temperature of less than 20° C. The confections comprise sugars, a foaming and a structuring ingredient, preferably each gelatin, and about 5 to 15% softening agent. Preferred softening agents include glycerin, polyglycerols and mixtures thereof. The confections are aerated to densities of about 0.1 to 0.5 g/cc. The soft dried aerated confections are particularly suited for addition to children's Ready-To-Eat cereals in the form of pieces weighing about 0.1 to 2 g each. The dried confection pieces maintain their soft texture over time without causing moisture migration to the cereal.

Abstract: Chocolate flavored compound coating and nut butter based coated snack products are provided whose coatings are resistant to rub-off or oiling out of the nut oil constituent as well as methods for preparing such coated snack products. The present methods include a first step of providing a hot (˜32 to 44° C.), chocolate and creamy nut butter coating slurry. The methods include a second step of applying the hot coating to a food base to provide a liquid coating coated food base in a weight ratio of coating to food base ranging from ˜1:10 to ˜1:1. The methods include a third step of applying sufficient amounts of a dry particulate setting sugar to a quantity of liquid hot slurry coated food base pieces to provide a finished dry stabilized non-sticky powdered coated food base.

Abstract: Cooked cereal dough products are provided that are fortified with calcium from multiple sources, at least a major portion of which is supplied by calcium phosphate salts having an median particle size of 2 to 15 ?m. Dried cereal finished products such as Ready-To-Eat breakfast cereals are fabricated from cooked cereal doughs that can comprise even lightly colored cereal materials. Methods for preparing such calcium fortified cooked cereal compositions and dried cereal finished food products essentially comprise: A. providing a calcium fortified cooked cereal dough or mass containing multiple calcium sources, at least a portion of which is supplied by calcium phosphate; B. forming the lightly colored calcium fortified cereal dough into pieces; and, C. drying the pieces to form the finished food products fortified with high levels of calcium, preferably puffed RTE cereal pieces.

Abstract: Cooked cereal dough products are provided that are fortified with at least a 0.65% calcium (dry weight basis) at least a major portion of which is supplied by calcium phosphate salts having a median particle size of 2 to 15 ?m. Dried cereal finished products such as Ready-to-Eat breakfast cereals are fabricated from cooked cereal doughs that can comprise even lightly colored cereal materials such as rice and/or corn (maize) and minor levels of other conventional cereal ingredients and calcium phosphate. Methods for preparing such calcium fortified cooked cereal compositions and dried cereal finished food products essentially comprise: (a) providing a calcium fortified cooked cereal dough or mass containing at least 0.65% calcium (dry weight basis) at least a portion of which is supplied by calcium phosphate; (b) forming the lightly colored calcium fortified cereal dough into pieces; and (c) drying the pieces to form the present rice based finished food products fortified with high levels of calcium.

Abstract: Aerated confections that dissolve quickly in water or in cold milk are disclosed. The aerated food products preferably include 50 to 98% of a saccharide component; about 0.5 to 30% of a structuring agent; about 1 to 6% moisture; and about 1% to 5% of a non-proteinaceous whipping agent. The aerated food products have a density of about 0.1 to 1.0 g/cc. The compositions can be formed into pieces ranging from about 0.1 to 5 g each. Preparation methods for the pieces are also disclosed. The confectionery food products find particular suitability for use as ingredients for children's RTE cereals.

Abstract: Cooked cereal dough products are provided that are fortified with at least a 0.65% calcium (dry weight basis) at least a major portion of which is supplied by calcium phosphate salts having a median particle size of 2 to 15 &mgr;m. Dried cereal finished products such as Ready-to-Eat breakfast cereals are fabricated from cooked cereal doughs that can comprise even lightly colored cereal materials such as rice and/or corn (maize) and minor levels of other conventional cereal ingredients and calcium phosphate. Methods for preparing such calcium fortified cooked cereal compositions and dried cereal finished food products essentially comprise: (a) providing a calcium fortified cooked cereal dough or mass containing at least 0.65% calcium (dry weight basis) at least a portion of which is supplied by calcium phosphate; (b) forming the lightly colored calcium fortified cereal dough into pieces; and (c) drying the pieces to form the present rice based finished food products fortified with high levels of calcium.

Abstract: Disclosed are annatto-caramel food colorant blends having a pH of about 9.1 to 10 that exhibit improved stability against precipitation and provide a rich brown color. The colorant blends are particularly useful for use in RTE cereals. The blends are characterized by low ammonia contents (<0.05%). Also disclosed are methods for preparing low ammonia content caramel color solutions. The methods involve adding KOH to a caramel solution to a pH of >10, off gassing ammonia to reduce the ammonia content to <0.05%, and acidifying the caramel colorant to a pH of 6.5 to 7 to provide a treated low ammonia neutral aqueous caramel colorant. An aqueous annatto colorant having a pH of about 12.5 to 13.5 is admixed with the treated low ammonia neutral caramel solution in a solids weight ratio of about 1:1 to about 4:1.

Abstract: Annatto-caramel food colorant blends having a pH of about 9.1 to 10 that exhibit improved stability against precipitation and provide a rich brown color are particularly useful for use in RTE cereals. The blends are characterized by low ammonia contents (<0.05%). Methods for preparing low ammonia content caramel color solutions involve adding KOH to a caramel solution to a pH of >10, off gassing ammonia to reduce the ammonia content to <0.05%, and acidifying the caramel colorant to a pH of 6.5 to 7 to provide a treated low ammonia neutral aqueous caramel colorant. An aqueous annatto colorant having a pH of about 12.5 to 13.5 is admixed with the treated low ammonia neutral caramel solution in a solids weight ratio of about 1:1 to about 4:1.

Abstract: A method for coating discrete food pieces with a sweet coating such as in the preparation of a presweetened R-T-E cereal and coated food products prepared by the method is provided. The coating contains a mixture of sugars and calcium. The method of preparation comprises the steps, in sequence of: (A) providing a base of dried food pieces; (B) blending sugar syrup with an aqueous calcium slurry; (C) coating the base of dried food pieces with the sugar syrup and calcium slurry blend; and (D) drying the coated product to a shelf stable moisture content to provide a calcium fortified finished product.

Abstract: Disclosed are annatto-caramel food colorant blends having a pH of about 9.1 to 10 that exhibit improved stability against precipitation and provide a rich brown color. The colorant blends are particularly useful for use in RTE cereals. The blends are characterized by low ammonia contents (<0.05%). Also disclosed are methods for preparing low ammonia content caramel color solutions. The methods involve adding KOH to a caramel solution to a pH of >10, off gassing ammonia to reduce the ammonia content to <0.05%, and acidifying the caramel colorant to a pH of 6.5 to 7 to provide a treated low ammonia neutral aqueous caramel colorant. An aqueous annatto colorant having a pH of about 12.5 to 13.5 is admixed with the treated low ammonia neutral caramel solution in a solids weight ratio of about 1:1 to about 4:1.