Abstract: Meat that has been treated by a combination of comminution, treatment with alkali and drying exhibits excellent properties for use as a new food ingredient. Dried Functionalized Protein Product is prepared by comminuting meat to a particle size of less than 5 mm; mixing the comminuted meat with water, a food grade acid composition, a food grade alkaline composition, and a food grade salt to form a Functionalized Protein Brine having a pH in the range of from about 4.0 to about 9.5. The mixing is carried out so that the meat is exposed to the acid to cause the pH of the meat to be less than about 5.3 at some time during the process. The resulting Functionalized Protein Brine is dried to form a Dried Functionalized Protein Product. Water can be added to the Dried Functionalized Protein Product to form a Reconstituted Functionalized Protein Formulation.

Abstract: Meat that has been treated by a combination of comminution, treatment with alkali and drying exhibit excellent properties for use as a new food ingredient. Dried Functionalized Protein Product is prepared by comminuting meat to form a comminuted meat having particle size of less than 5 mm; mixing the comminuted meat with water, a food grade alkaline composition, and a food grade salt to form a Functionalized Protein Brine having a pH in the range of from about 6.5 to about 9.5. The mixing is carried out so that the meat is not exposed to acid in a manner that would cause the pH of the meat to be less than about 5.3. The resulting Functionalized Protein Brine is dried to form a Dried Functionalized Protein Product. Water can be added to the Dried Functionalized Protein Product to form a Reconstituted Functionalized Protein Formulation.