Abstract: The present invention provides starchy food products, especially cooked and fully hydrated potato compositions, including fully hydrated mashed potato compositions and fully hydrated cut potato compositions, which are stabilized against the development of toxins from pathogenic bacterial contaminants. The stabilized compositions are attained by the incorporation of nisin-containing dairy composition derived from a nisin-producing culture. The invention also relates to methods of stabilizing starchy food products, especially cooked and fully hydrated potato compositions, including fully hydrated mashed potato compositions and fully hydrated cut potato compositions, against the development of toxins, wherein the method comprises incorporating nisin-containing dairy composition derived from a nisin-producing culture to the starchy food product.

Abstract: The present invention provides starchy food products, especially cooked and fully hydrated potato compositions, including fully hydrated mashed potato compositions and fully hydrated cut potato compositions, which are stabilized against the development of toxins from pathogenic bacterial contaminants. The stabilized compositions are attained by the incorporation of nisin-containing dairy composition derived from a nisin-producing culture. The invention also relates to methods of stabilizing starchy food products, especially cooked and fully hydrated potato compositions, including fully hydrated mashed potato compositions and fully hydrated cut potato compositions, against the development of toxins, wherein the method comprises incorporating nisin-containing dairy composition derived from a nisin-producing culture to the starchy food product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cheese-like dairy gel that includes a gum, a starch, and a dairy liquid, wherein the gel has the texture, consistency, and mouthfeel of a cheese. In particular embodiments of the dairy gel, it is essentially fat-free, and is chosen from among cottage cheese, ricotta, cream cheese, American cheese, processed cheese, Parmesan cheese, baker's cheese, cheddar, and Feta cheese. The gum may be an ionically neutral gum, such as konjac, or a microbial gum, gellan gum, or it may be an anionic gum, such as a carrageenan, Kappa-carrageenan, furcelleran, agar, alginate, and the like, or mixtures thereof. The starch, in certain embodiments of the invention, may be potato starch, tapioca starch, corn starch, rice starch, wheat starch, and the like, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An underwater sampler has a tubular body having closures biased to move from open to closed positions. The closures releasably may be latched in their open position by a latch mechanism having retainers separably coupled to anchor cables attached to the respective closures. The latch mechanism may be actuated by a weighted messenger or by a sharp tug on a hoist line by which the tubular body is suspended at a predetermined level in a body of water from which a sample is to be taken.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a low-fat processed cheese manufactured from skim milk cheese. In the method of the invention, a mixture of skim milk cheese, a low viscosity bulking agent and an emulsifying salt is provided. The mixture is heated to an elevated temperature of from about 175.degree. F. to about 240.degree. F. The mixture is held at the elevated temperature for a period of from about 0.5 minutes to about 8 minutes to provide a homogeneous molten cheese mass. The cheese mass is then packaged to provide a low fat processed cheese. The low-fat processed cheese of the invention is particularly suitable for the manufacture of processed cheese slices.

Abstract: Substantially fat-free cheese slice products and methods for manufacturing such products, comprising less than about 1.67 weight percent fat.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preparing a low fat or substantially fat-free food product such as pourable dressings and viscous dressings. The method includes the steps of heating and repeatedly shearing at least two times an aqueous dispersion consisting of from about 3 to about 10 weight percent of microcrystalline cellulose and from about 90 to about 97 weight percent water. The shearing occurs in a high shear zone having a pressure drop of at least 12,000 psi and the shearing is sufficient to fragment the microcrystalline cellulose to submicron sized microcrystalline cellulose fragments.

Abstract: An apparatus including an elongate cylindrical cellular handle formed with a forwardly directed and coaxially aligned extension rod mounting a magnetic head which is provided with a forwardly positioned and diametrically aligned groove which is orthogonally aligned with the extension rod. Modifications of the instant invention include the handle formed with a coaxial bearing to enable rotative repositioning of an individuals hand relative to the handle without removal of the individuals hand from the handle. Furthermore, resilient spring construction of the extension rod may be utilized to minimize shock transmission to the individuals hand during use and simultaneously minimize damage to the tool. Further, a multiple of spring wound extension rods may be utilized to secure a like plurality of nails to enable nailing at predetermined intervals without resort to measuring.