Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a dry, sweetened, extruded, ready to eat flaked or puffed cereal. Cereal flours, sweeteners such as sugars and/or syrups, and other cereal ingredients are formulated with added water and about 4-28%, preferably 5-15% of selected pregelatinized spray-dried starches having an amylose content of at least about 70% or up to 25% of a preextruded fully dispersed high amylose flour having an amylose content of at least about 70%. The pregelatinized high amylose starch may be unmodified or converted and in granular or non-granular form. The cereal is extruded at a temperature of about 120-160° C. and a pressure of about 100 to 500 psi.

Abstract: A method of extruding starch under low moisture conditions of 25% or less by weight to form an expanded product is provided and includes feeding inlet starch to an extruder, the starch having a particle size distribution such that 30% or more by weight have a particle size of at least 180 microns. In one embodiment, the inlet feed starch is dried using a continuous belt dryer.

Abstract: Dietary fiber are derived from the tapioca pulp fiber that is a by-product of tapioca starch milling operations. The tapioca fiber may be refined through an enzymatic destarching step to provide a fiber comprising at least 70% total dietary fiber, of which at least 12% is soluble dietary fiber. The fiber may be further refined by bleaching. Acceptable foods may be prepared comprising unrefined or refined tapioca fiber.

Abstract: A biodegradable shaped product comprising an expanded high amylose starch product having at least 45% by weight amylose content, said expanded product having a low density, closed cell structure with good resilience and compressibility.Another embodiment provides a biodegradable packaging material comprising an expanded, low density, closed cell starch product, the starch having at least 45% by weight amylose content and the expanded product having a bulk density of less than about 2.0 lb/ft.sup.3, a resiliency of at least about 50%, and a compressibility of from about 100 to 800 g/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: A biodegradable shaped product comprising an expanded high amylose starch product having at least 45% by weight amylose content, said expanded product having a low density, closed cell structure with good resilience and compressibility.Another embodiment provides a biodegradable packaging material comprising an expanded, low density, closed cell starch product, the starch having at least 45% by weight amylose content and the expanded product having a bulk density of less than about 2.0 lb/ft.sup.3, a resiliency of at least about 50%, and a compressibility of from about 100 to 800 g/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: A biodegradable packaging material comprising an expanded high amylose starch product having at least 45% by weight amylose content, said expanded product having a low density, closed cell structure with good resilience and compressibility.Another embodiment provides a method of preparing a low density, biodegradable packaging material comprising extruding a starch having at least 45% by weight amylose content, in the presence of a total moisture content of 21% or less by weight, at a temperature of from 150.degree. to 250.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for sizing glass fibers upon formation is provided, employing a migration-resistant glass forming size composition which comprises an effective amount of a starch derivative having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is dimethylene or trimethylene, R' is a C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 alkyl or alkenyl group, and A is hydrogen or a monovalent cation.

Abstract: An acid- or enzyme-converted high amylose starch useful as a quick-setting gelling agent in a jelly gum confection is provided. The converted high amylose starch has an amylose content of 65-80% and has a 8.8% solids calcium chloride viscosity of 16-200 seconds. Jelly gum confections employing the converted starch in a blend with a starch having an amylose content of at least 25% in a concentration ranging from about 5-15% of the confection, based on total dry solids, are provided with desirable low hot flow viscosities for deposition, high gel strengths and improved set times.

Abstract: An imitation cheese product, which is functionally equivalent to a caseinate-based imitation cheese product, contains pregelatinized modified high amylose starches, preferably converted and/or derivatized, as a partial or total replacement for the caseinate present in the cheese. Suitable converted starches include fluidity starches prepared by acid- or enzyme-conversion, oxidized starch prepared by treatment with less than 5% active chlorine, and dextrins having a calcium chloride water fluidity of less than about 50. Suitable derivatives are prepared by treatment with up to 25% propylene oxide, 5% succinic anhydride, and 10% octenylsuccinic anhydride or with a sufficient amount of acetic anhydride or sodium or potassium ortho or tripolyphosphate to provide a maximum of 6% bound acetyl or 0.8% bound phosphate. Mixtures of modified or unmodified high amylose starches with up to 80% by weight of other starches (0-40% amylose) are also suitable.

Abstract: An imitation cheese product which is functionally equivalent to a caseinate-based imitation cheese product, contains pregelatinized modified high amylose starches, preferably converted and/or derivatized, as partial or total replacement for the caseinate present in the cheese. Suitable converted starches include fluidity starches prepared by acid- or enzyme-conversion, oxidized starch prepared by treatment with less than 5% active chlorine, and dextrins having a calcium chloride water fluidity of less than about 50. Suitable derivatives are prepared by treatment with up to 25% propylene oxide, 5% succinic anhydride, and 10% octenylsuccinic anhydride or with a sufficient amount of acetic anhydride or sodium or potassium ortho or tripolyphosphate to provide a maximum of 6% bound acetyl or 0.8% bound phosphate. Mixtures of modified or unmodified high amylose starches with up to 80% by weight of other starches (0-40% amylose) are also suitable.

Abstract: An imitation cheese product, which is functionally equivalent to a caseinate-based imitation cheese product, contains selected edible modified starches as replacements for up to 80% by weight of the caseinate present in the cheese product. Suitable starches include pregelatinized converted starches having a water fluidity (WF) of about 5-90 and an amylose content of at least about 15% to below 40% and selected derivatives and/or crosslinked products thereof. Suitable converted starches include fluidity starches prepared by acid- or enzyme-conversion or oxidized starches prepared by treatment with up to about 2% active chlorine. The starches may be pregelatinized by drum-drying and jet-cooking, or jet-cooking and spray drying.