Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for production of cooked vegetable food materials having reduced levels of acrylamide.

Abstract: A method for the reduction of acrylamide in food products, food products having reduced levels of acrylamide, and an article of commerce. In one aspect, the method comprises reducing the level of asparagine in a food material before final heating (e.g., cooking). In another aspect, the method comprises adding to a food material an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing the amide group of free asparagine. In yet another aspect, an article of commerce communicates to the consumer that a food product has reduced or low levels of acrylamide or asparagine.

Abstract: A method for the reduction of acrylamide in food products, food products having reduced levels of acrylamide, and an article of commerce. In one aspect, the method comprises reducing the level of asparagine in a food material before final heating (e.g., cooking). In another aspect, the method comprises adding to a food material an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing the amide group of free asparagine. In yet another aspect, an article of commerce communicates to the consumer that a food product has reduced or low levels of acrylamide or asparagine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for production of cooked vegetable food materials having reduced levels of acrylamide.

Abstract: Polyol polyesters useful as nondigestible fat substitutes are prepared by improved heterogeneous interesterification processes between fatty acid esters of easily removable alcohol and polyol characterized by having one or more improvements such as using low levels of soap emulsifying agent, catalyst, and/or excess fatty acid ester; reducing the size of the polyol by mechanical means; removing extraneous particulate material during the reaction; using low temperature and/or high pressure and compensating by increasing the mass transfer area; and/or using backmixing in the initial stage(s) and plug-flow conditions in the final stage(s).

Abstract: Reduced calorie fat compositions which contain combinations of substantially non-absorbable, substantially nondigestible polyol polyesters and certain reduced calorie triglycerides that function as anti-anal leakage agents and provide textural/taste benefits are disclosed. These reduced calorie fat compositions are useful in a variety of food applications, including frying oils for salted snacks, chocolate-flavored candy bars and cooking/salad oils.

Abstract: Roasted coffee beans having reduced levels of acrylamide, coffee beans having reduced levels of asparagine, and an article of commerce. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for reducing the level of acrylamide in roasted coffee beans comprising reducing the level of asparagine in coffee beans. In another aspect, the invention provides a method for reducing the level of asparagine in coffee beans comprising adding an asparagine-reducing enzyme to coffee beans. In still another aspect, an article of commerce communicates to the consumer that the roasted coffee beans, coffee beans, product comprising roasted coffee beans or coffee beans, and/or article of commerce has reduced or low levels of asparagine and/or acrylamide.

Abstract: A method for the reduction of acrylamide in food products, food products having reduced levels of acrylamide, and an article of commerce. In one aspect, the method comprises reducing the level of reducing sugar in a food material before final heating (e.g., cooking). In another aspect, the method comprises adding to a food material an enzyme capable of reducing the level of reducing sugar. In yet another aspect, an article of commerce communicates to the consumer that a food product has reduced or low levels of acrylamide or reducing sugar.

Abstract: A method for the reduction of acrylamide in food products, food products having reduced levels of acrylamide, and an article of commerce. In one aspect, the method comprises reducing the level of asparagine in a food material before heating. In one embodiment, the method comprises extracting at least a portion of the asparagine from the food material before heating. In yet another aspect, an article of commerce communicates to the consumer that a food product has reduced or low levels of acrylamide or asparagine.

Abstract: A method for the reduction of acrylamide in food products, food products having reduced levels of acrylamide, and an article of commerce. In one aspect, the method comprises reducing the level of asparagine in a food material before final heating (e.g., cooking). In another aspect, the method comprises adding to a food material an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing the amide group of free asparagine. In yet another aspect, an article of commerce communicates to the consumer that a food product has reduced or low levels of acrylamide or asparagine.

Abstract: Reduced calorie fat compositions which contain combinations of substantially non-absorbable, substantially nondigestible polyol polyesters and certain reduced calorie triglycerides that function as anti-anal leakage agents and provide textural/taste benefits are disclosed. These reduced calorie fat compositions are useful in a variety of food applications, including frying oils for salted snacks, chocolate-flavored candy bars and cooking/salad oils.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to essentially dry compositions that are suitable for use as foods and/or beverages. Preferably, the essentially dry compositions are beverage compositions, wherein the compositions are diluted with a liquid prior to consumption. In a key benefit of the present invention, the compositions exhibit consistently good solubility despite the presence of relatively insoluble ingredients. In the various embodiments of the invention, the essentially dry compositions comprise a high intensity sweetener having properties which surprisingly provide enhanced solubility. Methods of providing sweetened, essentially dry compositions having enhanced solubility are also described.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing polyol fatty acid polyesters comprising the steps of (1) mixing ingredients comprising (a) unesterified first polyol having hydroxyl groups, (b) second polyol esterified with fatty acids, (c) basic catalyst, and (d) emulsifying agent to form a mixture of ingredients; (2) reacting the mixture of ingredients at a temperature sufficient to obtain a transesterification reaction products and by-products; and (3) removing at least a portion of the by-products from the transesterification reaction mixture; and (4) further heating the transesterification reaction products and ingredients from step (3) at a temperature and for a time sufficient to esterify at least about 50% of the hydroxyl groups of the first polyol.

Abstract: An improved, solvent-free, two-stage transesterification process for preparing, from a polyol and fatty acid esters of an easily removable alcohol highly esterified polyol fatty acid polyesters having reduced levels of difatty ketones and &bgr;-ketoesters is disclosed. These reduced levels of difatty ketones/&bgr;-ketoesters are achieved by controlling the level of generated alcohol in the liquid phase of the reaction mixture and heating the reaction mixture to certain temperatures during the second stage of this improved process. Other optional reaction conditions, such as keeping the molar ratio of fatty acid esters to polyol within a specified range and reducing the level of basic catalyst, can also be used during the second stage reaction to further reduce the level of difatty ketones and/or &bgr;-ketoesters.

Abstract: A process for preparing esterified polyol fatty acid polyesters is provided, where the polyol has n hydroxyl groups. The process provides for independent control of the level of fully esterified polyols, on the one hand, and the level of n-3 and lower esters, on the other hand. The process is especially suited for preparing sucrose polyester, wherein the process provides for independent control of the level of octaesters, on the one hand, and penta and lower level esters, on the other hand. The process can be used to reduce the level of undesirable reaction byproducts, such as difatty ketone and beta ketoester.

Abstract: A process for purifying an inert gas stream from a transesterification reaction wherein a lower alkyl alcohol is released during the reaction is claimed. A second use of the process is to make a lower alkyl, e.g., methyl, esters of fatty acids through a transesterification reaction using gaseous alcohols as a source of the lower alkyl alcohols. The alcohol is diluted with nitrogen or other inert gas carrier and reacted with a fatty acid ester, preferably a triglyceride, to form the corresponding methyl or lower alkyl fatty acid ester.

Abstract: Methods for the solventless transesterification of a polyol comprise reacting polyol with fatty acid alkyl ester in the presence of a basic catalyst to produce polyol fatty acid polyester product and lower alkyl alcohol by-product, wherein a majority of the polyol is fully esterified. The reaction is conducted in a reactor at a temperature in the range of from about 60.degree. to about 180.degree. C. and at atmospheric or superatmospheric pressure. An inert gas is sparged through the reactor with sufficient mass transfer surface area contact between the inert gas and reactor liquid to transfer the lower alkyl alcohol by-product from a liquid mixture of reactant and product to the inert gas and promote full esterification of a majority of the polyol without the use of vacuum pressure.

Abstract: Polyol polyesters can be made by a transesterification reaction of a polyol with a lower alkyl fatty acid ester. A by product of that reaction are the alcohols from the lower alkyl esters. These are usually removed from the transesterification reaction by inert gas stripping. The process herein links the transesterification reaction with a lower alkyl ester formation reaction. The transesterification reaction acts as a the source of the lower alkyl alcohols for the formation of the lower alkyl esters used in the polyol fatty acid polyester synthesis. A preferred method for both reactions uses a reactive absorption column.