Abstract: A pod for preparing a beverage comprising: a rigid or semi-rigid sidewall; a rigid or semi-rigid upper surface containing one more apertures forming an inlet of the pod; a lower surface formed at least partially from filtering material, the filtering material forming an outlet of the pod; the sidewall, upper surface and lower surface together defining a storage volume extending from the inlet to the outlet and containing a water-soluble composition, or a combination or mixture of water-soluble compositions for forming a beverage; wherein the rigid or semi-rigid sidewall maintains a physical separation of the filtering material and the upper surface during use.

Abstract: A container comprises a bottom, a sidewall extending up therefrom, and a top opening opposite the bottom. In one advantageous form, the sidewall of the container has a uniform racetrack dimension from the bottom to proximate the top opening. The top opening has the same racetrack shape as the bottom and the top opening is in the form of a complete racetrack defined by the sidewall of the container body. In another advantageous form, one or more lip portions, in the form of one or more flanges, extends radially outwardly from the sidewall along the opposing parallel sides which form a perimeter around the top opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible pad (10) for preparing a beverage comprising: a flexible bag defining a storage volume (13); the storage volume containing a water-soluble composition or a combination or mixture of water-soluble compositions for forming a beverage; wherein at least a part of the flexible bag is formed from a flexible water-impermeable thin sheet material (11, 12), wherein said flexible water-impermeable thin sheet material comprises one or more apertures (40, 41) defining an inlet or an outlet of the storage volume.

Abstract: A pad for preparing a beverage comprising: an upper part comprising a rigid or semi-rigid upper element containing one or more apertures forming an inlet of the pad; a flexible lower element depending from the upper part and formed at least partially from filtering material, the filtering material forming an outlet of the pad; the upper part and lower element together defining a storage volume containing a water-soluble composition or a combination or mixture of water-soluble compositions for forming a beverage, wherein the upper part comprises a flexible water-impermeable layer joined to the rigid or semi-rigid upper element.

Abstract: Bread crumb-like product particles having properties comparable to those of conventional bread crumbs are produced by continuously mixing the individual components with a leavening agent in a continuous extruder/cooker, extruding the cooked dough, cutting the extruded dough into small lengths, toasting the cut dough and dividing the toasted dough into a first part and a second part, grinding the first part into discrete dough particles, subjecting the second part to a humidifying chamber then grinding same into discrete dough particles, and combining the ground first part and the humidified ground second part and drying the combination to a desired moisture and texture.

Abstract: Farinaceous product particles having properties comparable to those of bread crumbs are produced by continuously mixing the individual components with a leavening agent in a continuous extruder/cooker, extruding the cooked dough, cutting the extruded dough into small lengths, grinding it while still moist and warm into small particles, heating the particles to simultaneously toast and dry same to a desired color, texture and moisture.

Abstract: A method for continuously forming wide, thin chewing gum slabs suitable for forming sheets and bands ready for packaging in an automatic wrapping machine is disclosed. The method involves compounding a chewing gum paste; extruding the formed gum paste as a wide thin slab through a die mounted on the discharge end of the extruder; cooling the extruded gum paste slab; and passing the gum paste slab through no more than two sets of calender rolls.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to improve the palatability of soy-containing dog foods.It is difficult to make foods which are both low in cost and palatable to dogs. Soybeans provide a range of economical proteinaceous materials and are widely used in dog foods. When made under normal processing conditions, these soy-containing dog foods are less palatable than is desired. The present invention improves these foods by selectively treating the soybean proteinaceous material to improve its contribution to the overall palatability of the dog food, thereby improving the overall product palatability. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, soybeans are selectively treated by roasting followed by quenching with a fat, such as soybean oil, added in an amount of about 2 to 15% of the weight of the soybeans.

Abstract: A high polymer material, e.g. polyvinylpyrrolidone, is mixed with an aqueous protein slurry composed of helical protein molecules. The pH of the slurry is then raised to about 8 to 12 to allow ingress of the high polymer material internally in the protein molecules. Thereafter, the slurry pH is reduced to about 5 to less than 8 to entrap a portion of the high polymer material within the protein molecules.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus are provided for economically producing meat analog products. According to the invention, at least one slurry comprising oil, water and coagulable protein is continuously mixed and layered. The layered slurry is heat set under moist heat to provide a cohesive mass without surface product drying. The heat set product is then sliced for marketing as is, or after subjecting it to varying degrees of frying. The preferred product is a partially fried bacon analog product.

Abstract: An improved apparatus is provided for economically producing meat analog products. According to the invention, at least one slurry comprising oil, water and coagulable protein is continuously mixed and layered. The layered slurry is heat set under moist heat to provide a cohesive mass without surface product drying. The heat set product is then sliced for marketing as is, or after subjecting it to varying degrees of frying. The preferred product is a partially fried bacon analog product.