Abstract: Producing protein jellies from fishes and crustaceans by separating myofibrillar protein from fishes and crustaceans, and subjecting the resulting protein-water system, comprising from 5 to 50% by weight of said protein, to cooling to crystallize the system after which it is defrosted. Said system may contain animal or vegetable protein, lipids, carbohydrates or salts. The jelly produced retains the shape imparted thereto and is resistant to various kinds of treatment, for example, boiling and roasting.

Abstract: A crab meat substitute is prepared by molding mashed and seasoned meat in the presence of heat utilizing the thermally solidifying properties of the meat proteins which have a jelly strength of 300 to 1,500 g. The molded crab meat substitute is shredded into pieces ranging from 0.25 to 3.0 mm in width and up to 2.25 mm.sup.2 in cross sectional area to obtain a food similar to crab meat in taste and in texture. When suitably colored red or incorporating a small amount of crab meat or eggs, the meat substitute can be made to more closely resemble crab meat in appearance and taste.

Abstract: Simulated food products are provided by incorporating flavoring, coloring, and texturizing agents with a low calorie oleaginous fibrous food base composition. The base composition comprises a mixture of edible gum, edible oil, water and particulate fibrous cellulose. The base composition may be produced by mixing an edible gum with water, mixing an oil and emulsifier therewith to form a binding mixture, and uniformly mixing particulate fibrous cellulose throughout the mass of the binding mixture, with flavoring, coloring, and texturizing agents being added as appropriate to form a desired simulated food product.

Abstract: The invention relates to food products having a gelled or thickened aqueous phase, a pH value of 2.5 up to 5.0 and in the case of milk products up to the neutral range about 7.5. Applicants have found unexpected benefit in using crude pectinaceous material of which the degree of esterification is or has been reduced to less than 20%, and preferably less than 10%, as the thickening or gelling agent in such products. Gel strength measurements show that comparable gels are formed with much lower pectin concentrations when the crude material is used than when purified or extracted pectin is employed. Gel structures are better and there is an outstanding cost advantage. Products contain from 0.1 to 20% crude pectinaceous material such as comminuted citrus peel. They may contain comminuted animal or vegetable protein or fruit puree or other flavoring at a pH of 2.5 to 5.0.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved bacon analog and a process for preparing it. The bacon analog comprises: (1) a fat phase based on a heat coagulable component selected from the group consisting of egg albumen, blood albumin and combinations of these, a water-soluble, film-forming component such as gelatin, and a fat component; and (2) a lean phase based on a loose oil-in-water dispersion of a heat coagulable protein component such as egg albumen and a fat component which comprises a blend of palm oil with a partially hydrogenated soy bean oil. The lean phase, due to the oil blend, the loose dispersion and deaeration, when used with the particular fat phase formulation, has a chewy texture much like natural bacon. Moreover, the product responds to frying by browning and crinkling much like natural bacon. The novel process calls for deaerating the lean phase, and dry blending the gelatin with the other fat phase dry components prior to adding water in preparing the fat phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to food products and provides novel foods for animals, especially pets. In particular the invention relates to coherent elastic semi-moist food products which are stabilized against bacterial growth by the inclusion of humectants at reduced water activity. The products include subdivided protein material bound together with a gel formed by a polysaccharide gelling agent containing monosaccharide units other than (including in addition to) glucose residues and preferably having free or esterified acidic substituent groups. A preferred example of such a gelling agent is a mixture of xanthan and carob gums. Quantities of gelling agent in the range 0.2 to 5% are preferred and the moisture content should be from about 30% to 70%, the humectant concentration of about 5% to about 40% by weight, the pH between about 3.5 and about 7.5, and the water activity (Aw) below 0.95 or below 8.5 depending on the acidity of the product.

Abstract: A process for texturizing proteinaceous materials for use in foods comprises mixing the proteinaceous material with a texturizing agent and a spacing agent and adjusting the water content to provide a workable mass, forming the mixture into a desired shape, drying the shaped mixture, heat treating the dried product to fix the shape and texture, and removing the spacing agent.

Abstract: A juicy, self-basting sausage-like food product is prepared by the following steps: (a) forming a protein binder slurry containing 20 to 32% water, 3 to 8% albumen, 0.5 to 4% caseinate and 0 to 2.5% vegetable protein isolate; (b) adding 3 to 15% vegetable oil to the slurry; (c) vigorously agitating the oil-containing slurry to form a protein-oil emulsion; (d) forming a textured protein mixture containing 30 to 40% cooked gluten, 1 to 14% textured vegetable protein and 0 to 4% water; (e) blending the protein-oil emulsion and the textured protein mixture together; (f) blending 3 to 15% vegetable oil with the combined mixture; (g) shaping the resulting mixture to a desired form; and (h) heating the shaped mixture to set the protein in a stable, physical form, said percents being weight percent based on the total weight of the product.

Abstract: A protein slurry is shaped into a film. The protein film is then shaped into a variety of products. This process permits the use of otherwise unsuitable protein in forming desirable products.

Abstract: Pliable vegetable proteins suitable for use as extenders or textured vegetable proteins in meat analogs are prepared by forming a homogeneous aqueous dispersion of water-soluble vegetable protein and edible plasticizers, drying and heat-denaturing the dispersion so as to form a friable mass and hydrating the mass with an aqueous acid to convert the hydrate to a pliable protein product. Illustrative product formulating ingredients include soy protein concentrates, polyols, triglycerides and lactic acid as an acidulant.

Abstract: Fibres containing casein and at least one heat-settable protein are prepared by dry-spinning an aqueous protein mixture containing calcium- and phosphate ions at a temperature below the gelling point of the protein mixture and drying the fibres obtained.

Abstract: A method for preparing a fish meat powder capable of forming KAMABOKO is disclosed. The method involves forming a slurry of fish meat in a neutral buffer solution containing divalent metal ions and polyvalent weak-acid anions. The anions are present in an amount sufficient to sequester the metal ions. The slurry is converted to a fish meat powder by spray-drying.

Abstract: Simulated solid consistency cohesive food products are provided by incorporating flavoring, coloring, and texturizing agents with a low calorie oleaginous fibrous food base composition. The base composition comprises a mixture of edible oil, water and particulate fibrous cellulose combined with a cohesive gelling agent to provide a product having a cohesive gel structure. Non-gelling edible gums may be mixed therewith to provide desired textural characteristics. The base composition may be produced by mixing an edible gum and a gelling agent with water, mixing an oil and emulsifier therewith, uniformly mixing particulate fibrous cellulose throughout the mass of the binding mixture, with flavoring, coloring, and texturizing agents being added as desired, and subjecting the mixture to conditions under which it sets to form a supporting cohesive gel structure.

Abstract: An aqueous suspension of a proteinaceous mass of fungal mycelial fibers is foamed with a gas such as air under shear conditions adequate to break the gas into bubbles small enough to be retained by the suspension but not so vigorous as to destroy the fungal mycelial fibers. The resulting slurry is filtered to remove most of the water while retaining the air. The resulting filter cake retains its foamed structure and can then be further processed if desired and air dried to produce a texturized meat-like product. In a preferred aspect of the invention the filter cake is sliced into strips, recompacted and dried to produce a product closely resembling meat in physical properties.

Abstract: A concentrated proteinaceous food material which is suitable for the production of various cooking foodstuffs resembling those of livestock meat which has a texture like that of livestock meat and which shows an excellent water-retaining property is obtained by adding to marine animal meat an edible salt to adjust pH value of said meat in the range of from 6.5 to 7.7 and removing fats and water by use of a hydrophilic organic solvent. In one embodiment the pH of the marine animal meat is adjusted to a value in the range of from 7.2 to 7.7 by using, as the edible salt, a bicarbonate and, at the same time, mixing the meat with common salt or a sucrose fatty acid ester to convert the meat into a meat paste and subsequently removing fats and water by use of a hydrophilic organic solvent.

Abstract: A composition containing a fat or oil is obtained by adding with stirring a fat or oil to an aqueous solution containing 0.8% by weight or more in terms of soluble nitrogen content of an aqueous extract from an animal source, which extract contains as main constituent water-soluble and thermally noncoagulable polypeptides, and having a viscosity at 25.degree. C. of 30 centipoises or higher, thus solubilizing said fat or oil without using any artificial emulsifier or surface active agent. The composition is stable and does not separate the fat or oil over a long period of time. A fatty food product of high nutritive value is obtained by use of an edible oil, seasonings, and other additives.

Abstract: A protein food product having a general appearance, taste, nutritional properties similar to those of dried meat and having also a cracked texture similar to the fibrous texture of dried meat is produced by partially dehydrating a homogeneous mass of aqueous vegetable protein gel.

Abstract: Edible protein fibers with improved characteristics are produced by spinning an aqueous solution of proteins which has been subjected to a heat pre-treatment, into a hot coagulating medium in which the extrudate is completely gelled to obtain fibers of satisfactory texture which can be incorporated in foodstuffs.

Abstract: Preparing a dry flowable sugar-fat for use in a multiple self-layering whippable dessert composition by applying molten fat to cold sugar and blending. Gelatin, buffer, acid and coloring are added and the particle size subsequently reduced to produce the dessert composition.

Abstract: A process for the production of crab analogue meats from wheat gluten is disclosed. Meat material of finely fibriform structure typical of crab meats is produced by blending reducing agent and foaming agent with wheat gluten, and thereafter subjecting the resulting blended material to gelation with heat and stirring.

Abstract: A texturized protein is formed by a process wherein a cereal grain protein capable of forming microfibrillar aggregates is first dissolved in water, and the pH of the solution is adjusted to 5.0-6.0. Then, the ionic strength of the solution is adjusted to 0.004-0.010 to aggregate the protein molecules into microfibrils, which are subsequently aligned in a parallel arrangement by application of a unidirectional shear thereto. Finally, an oscillating shear is applied to the aligned microfibrils, causing them to collide and thereby become texturized.

Abstract: Meat-like foods having a perceptible fiber bundle structure resembling that of natural muscle meat are prepared by mechanically interlocking edible protein fibers, such as spun vegetable protein fibers, in groups, which are subsequently assembled into a mass and set to a coherent body with an edible binder, preferably a heat-coagulable protein. The fibers in the bundles may be entwined or enravelled by the turbulence of a fluid jet, such as air or water, or by being passed between rotating parallel rollers that are reciprocated relative to one another in the direction of their axes.

Abstract: Fish meat as raw material suitable for the manufacture of fish meat powder retaining fresh meat activity is obtained by subjecting low fat fish meat to a bleaching using an aqueous solution of a fatty acid ester of sugar alcohol or sucrose or a mixture thereof in the presence of dissolved calcium or magnesium ions. The pH of the bleaching solution is adjusted to approximately the isoelectric point of the particular fish meat protein being processed.

Abstract: Food products comprising solid foodstuffs and more especially meat, meat by-products or other proteinaceous materials are contained in an aqueous phase of near neutral pH value thickened or gelled by pectic substances having a degree of esterification (methoxylation) of less than 20%. Where a rigid gel is required the pectic substance is preferably reacted with a di- or tri-valent metal ion, notably calcium ion and also with a sequestrant. The pectic substance may be a purified or isolated pectate or a natural pectin source, for example citrus peel, in which the pectic substance has the required low level of esterification, for example by enzymatic or chemical treatment of the natural material.

Abstract: Food products comprising solid foodstuffs and more especially meat, meat by-products or other proteinaceous materials are contained in an aqueous phase of near neutral pH value thickened or gelled by pectic substances having a degree of esterification (methoxylation) of less than 10%.

Abstract: A textured protein product is formed from a slurry by solubilizing vegetable or animal protein in alkaline aqueous medium, precipitating the protein by adjusting pH and temperature from the slurry, recovering the precipitated protein mass, shaping the recovered protein mass, and treating the protein mass with a hydrophobic liquid.

Abstract: A textured protein product is obtained by precipitating vegetable or animal protein from a protein slurry, shaping the recovered protein and heating the shaped protein in a liquid hydrophobic medium.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing fish meat powder which, on being blended with suitable amounts of water and table salt, exhibits the same degree of ability to make KAMABOKO as fresh fish meat and which is capable of retaining the ability to make KAMABOKO for a long period of time.

Abstract: A machine is provided for practicing the method of forming a comestible in one of a variety of shapes from a foodstuff slurry. The slurry includes a gel-forming material and is supplied in predetermined amounts to a cavity which has been washed with a combination release and gellation agent. Apparatus is provided for contacting the exposed surface of the slurry in the cavity with a gellation agent to gel the gelforming material at the outer surface of the formed product. Further apparatus is provided for transporting the cavity filled with the foodstuff to a product removal station. Punch apparatus is aligned with the cavity at the product removal station and is actuated to extend into and extrude the product from the cavity onto a conveyor belt to be removed for further processing.

Abstract: A protein food product comprising a mixture of edible protein fibers, and a stabilized fat consisting of 85-95% by weight edible triglyceride and 5-15% by weight ethyl cellulose.