The present invention relates among other things to a method for making enzymatically produced purple corn nectar having a composition comprising saccharides and. anthocyanins. The anthocyanin composition is present in concentrations of at least 40 mg/100 g of nectar and is a direct result of the process of making the corn nectar from the purple corn kernels and does not constitute an exogenous addition to the purple corn nectar.

Provided is a technique which enables highly efficient, low-cost production of a sufficiently disinfected high-quality rice gel using a rice gel production system and a rice gel production method for producing a rice gel. The present invention is provided with: a heating/stirring unit for heating a rice material with water added thereto in a sealed container under stirring, thereby providing a gelatinized product; and a pulverizing unit for pulverizing the gelatinized product obtained in the heating/stirring unit thereby providing a rice gel.

A comprehensively nutritious instant food includes the following raw ingredients: rice powder 39.593849% to 44.930798%, soybean meal 29.695386% to 33.698099%, protein 8.908616% to 10.109430%, edible fiber 4.949231% to 5.616350%, carotene 0.000099% to 0.000112%, calcium 0.197969% to 0.224654%, iron 0.000356% to 0.000404%, zinc 0.000297% to 0.000337%, copper 0.000040% to 0.000045%, sodium 0.395938% to 0.449308%, potassium 0.395938% to 0.449308%, manganese 0.000040% to 0.000045%, selenium 0.000014% to 0.000016%, iodine 0.000030% to 0.000034%, phosphorus 0.013858% to 0.015726%, magnesium 0.007919% to 0.008986%, fluorine 0.000554% to 0.000629%, vitamin B1 0.000297% to 0.000337%, vitamin B2 0.000040% to 0.000045%, vitamin B6 0.000040% to 0.000045%, vitamin B12 0.000001% to 0.000001%, vitamin B3 0.000396% to 0.000449%, vitamin D 0.000013% to 0.000015%, vitamin K 0.000016% to 0.000018%, vitamin H 0.000059% to 0.000067%, vitamin B 0.000079% to 0.000090%, vitamin E 0.000178% to 0.000202%, vitamin C 0.001188% to 0.001348%, vitamin A 0.000020% to 0.000022%, edible fat 0 to 10.523458%, and refined sugar 0-5.939077%.

The present invention is directed to plants that display an improved oil quantity phenotype or an improved meal quality phenotype due to altered expression of an IMQ nucleic acid. The invention is further directed to methods of generating plants with an improved oil quantity phenotype or improved meal quality phenotype.

The application relates to a process comprising retorting a food product comprising thermally inhibited flour for a time from about 15 minutes to about 80 minutes to achieve a F.sub.0 value of at least 10.

A composition of matter comprises a shelf stable, partially defatted supercritical CO.sup.2 fluid solvent extracted whole grain flour derived from a cracked biomass of perilla frutescens, the flour comprising minerals and 2 to 8 percent of native seed oil, 35 to 45 percent protein, and 35 to 45 percent fiber.

Method of manufacturing puffed rice for an instant food product. The method includes subjecting rice that is boiled or steamed to first drying by blowing air, at a temperature of 100 degrees C. or lower, onto the rice until the rice is dried to a moisture content of between 20 mass percent and 30 mass percent. After the first drying, the rice is pressed and flattened. After the pressing and flattening, subjecting the rice to second drying performed by ventilation at a temperature of 100 degrees C. or lower until the rice has a specific gravity of between 0.55 g/mL and 0.7 g/mL. After the second drying, subjecting the rice to puffing and drying at a temperature of between 130 degrees C. and 160 degrees C. by directing an air stream onto the rice, said air stream having an air velocity of between 40 m/s and 92 m/s.

Method of manufacturing puffed rice for an instant food product. The method includes subjecting rice that is boiled or steamed to first drying by blowing air, at a temperature of 100 degrees C. or lower, onto the rice until the rice is dried to a moisture content of between 20 mass percent and 30 mass percent. After the first drying, the rice is pressed and flattened. After the pressing and flattening, subjecting the rice to second drying performed by ventilation at a temperature of 100 degrees C. or lower until the rice has a specific gravity of between 0.55 g/mL and 0.7 g/mL. After the second drying, subjecting the rice to puffing and drying at a temperature of between 130 degrees C. and 160 degrees C. by directing an air stream onto the rice, said air stream having an air velocity of between 40 m/s and 92 m/s.

The present invention relates to a microorganism belonging to the group of lactic acid bacteria characterized in that it is capable of specifically binding to Streptococcus mutans, wherein the specific binding is (i) resistant to heat treatment; and/or (ii) resistant to protease treatment; and/or (iii) calcium-dependent; and/or (iv) formed within a pH range between 4.5 and 8.5; and/or (v) formed in the presence of saliva. Preferably, the specific binding can be assayed as follows: (a) growing said microorganism to stationary phase; (b) mixing said microorganism with Streptococcus mutans which has been grown to stationary phase; (c) incubating the mixture obtained in step (b) under conditions allowing the formation of aggregates of said microorganism and Streptococcus mutans and (d) detecting aggregates by the occurrence of a pellet.

Another aspect of the present invention is an analog or fragment of said microorganism which is thermally inactivated or lyophilized, wherein said analog or fragment retains the capability of specifically binding to Streptococcus mutans. In addition, the present invention encompasses compositions and additives for food, feed or drinks comprising the microorganism belonging to the group of lactic acid bacteria which specifically bind to Streptococcus mutans or an analog or fragment thereof. Moreover, uses of said microorganism or said analog or fragment thereof for the preparation of an anticariogenic or pharmaceutical composition or anticariogenic food or feedstuff as well as methods for producing said compositions or food or feedstuff are provided by the present invention.

The present invention relates to a microorganism belonging to the group of lactic acid bacteria characterized in that it is capable of specifically binding to Streptococcus mutans, wherein the specific binding is (i) resistant to heat treatment; and/or (ii) resistant to protease treatment; and/or (iii) calcium-dependent; and/or (iv) formed within a pH range between 4.5 and 8.5; and/or (v) formed in the presence of saliva. Preferably, the specific binding can be assayed as follows: (a) growing said microorganism to stationary phase; (b) mixing said microorganism with Streptococcus mutans which has been grown to stationary phase; (c) incubating the mixture obtained in step (b) under conditions allowing the formation of aggregates of said microorganism and Streptococcus mutans and (d) detecting aggregates by the occurrence of a pellet.

Another aspect of the present invention is an analog or fragment of said microorganism which is thermally inactivated or lyophilized, wherein said analog or fragment retains the capability of specifically binding to Streptococcus mutans. In addition, the present invention encompasses compositions and additives for food, feed or drinks comprising the microorganism belonging to the group of lactic acid bacteria which specifically bind to Streptococcus mutans or an analog or fragment thereof. Moreover, uses of said microorganism or said analog or fragment thereof for the preparation of an anticariogenic or pharmaceutical composition or anticariogenic food or feedstuff as well as methods for producing said compositions or food or feedstuff are provided by the present invention.