The invention relates to a method to manufacture meat-based matrices and the matrices obtained thereof useful as bait for ant control. The method of the invention comprises (a) cleaning and mincing or slicing meat; (b) cooking the meat; (c) dewatering the meat; (d) grinding and sifting the meat to obtain meat particles; and (e) adding sugar and a preservative. Additionally, a nitrate source and an active ingredient can be incorporated into the matrices.

An essentially carbohydrate-free, protein-based flour substitute and methods for preparing the same are disclosed herein. The flour substitute may be used to make pizza crusts, chips, taco shells, tortillas, crackers, sandwich thins, and other food products that are traditionally flour-based. The organoleptic properties of the disclosed flour substitute preferably resemble the organoleptic properties of traditional baked goods and are substantially different from the organoleptic properties of traditional meat products. The disclosed flour substitute comprises a meat or nut flour, a flavor-masking spice, salt, and a vegetable, fruit, or plant-based oil or an oil-based spray. The disclosed flour substitute is used to make substitute food products that preferably resemble, in both appearance and taste, the traditional food products that the substitute food products are replacing. The flour substitute is preferably fiber-free and does not contain any other non-digestible carbohydrates. Methods of preparing the disclosed flour substitute are also disclosed herein.

An essentially carbohydrate-free, protein-based flour substitute and methods for preparing the same are disclosed herein. The flour substitute may be used to make pizza crusts, chips, taco shells, tortillas, crackers, sandwich thins, and other food products that are traditionally flour-based. The organoleptic properties of the disclosed flour substitute preferably resemble the organoleptic properties of traditional baked goods and are substantially different from the organoleptic properties of traditional meat products. The disclosed flour substitute comprises a meat or nut flour, a flavor-masking spice, salt, and a vegetable, fruit, or plant-based oil or an oil-based spray. The disclosed flour substitute is used to make substitute food products that preferably resemble, in both appearance and taste, the traditional food products that the substitute food products are replacing. The flour substitute is preferably fiber-free and does not contain any other non-digestible carbohydrates. Methods of preparing the disclosed flour substitute are also disclosed herein.

A method for producing a food product includes preparing a mixture including one or more dried food ingredients and at least one oil or fat, wherein a total fat content in the mixture is 30% by mass or more, wet pulverizing the dried food ingredients in the mixture, and obtaining a food composition including the at least one oil or fat and 20% to 98% by mass of fine particles of the dried food ingredients. The wet pulverization is performed with a maximum pressure of 0.01 to 1 MPa and under a rising temperature condition satisfying T1+1<T2<T1+50. The fine particles subjected to an ultrasonication treatment have a modal diameter of 0.3 to 200 m and a decreased maximum particle size. A 10.sup.th percentile value of a numerical value N for each fine particle complex is 0.40 or less.

A method for producing a food product includes preparing a mixture including one or more dried food ingredients and at least one oil or fat, wherein a total fat content in the mixture is 30% by mass or more, wet pulverizing the dried food ingredients in the mixture, and obtaining a food composition including the at least one oil or fat and 20% to 98% by mass of fine particles of the dried food ingredients. The wet pulverization is performed with a maximum pressure of 0.01 to 1 MPa and under a rising temperature condition satisfying T1+1<T2<T1+50. The fine particles subjected to an ultrasonication treatment have a modal diameter of 0.3 to 200 m and a decreased maximum particle size. A 10.sup.th percentile value of a numerical value N for each fine particle complex is 0.40 or less.

A method of making a porous, crunchy, dehydrated, vegetable, meat or seafood snack product. A piece of vegetable, such as potato, sweet potato, carrot, beet or parsnip, or a piece of meat or seafood, is frozen, forming ice crystals within the piece of food. The frozen piece is exposed to microwave radiation in a microwave-vacuum dehydrator at a vacuum pressure at which the boiling point of water is above 0 C., causing the frozen piece to thaw and water to evaporate from the thawed piece. The evaporation leaves pores that were formed by the ice crystals within the piece of food, resulting in a porous, crunchy, dehydrated snack product.

A method of making a food product can include forming an emulsion containing a meat and a firming agent that is one or more of plasma, whole egg powder, guar gum, pea fiber, pea protein, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) or a modified cereal starch; directing the emulsion through a die to form a meat analog; cooking the meat analog with steam; and cutting the meat analog into thin flakes. The method can include cooling the meat analog before the cutting. The method can include mixing the thin flakes of the meat analog with jelly or gravy to form a blended food composition in which a ratio of the flakes to the jelly or gravy is about 30:70 to about 70:30.

A method of making a food product can include forming an emulsion containing a meat and a firming agent that is one or more of plasma, whole egg powder, guar gum, pea fiber, pea protein, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) or a modified cereal starch; directing the emulsion through a die to form a meat analog; cooking the meat analog with steam; and cutting the meat analog into thin flakes. The method can include cooling the meat analog before the cutting. The method can include mixing the thin flakes of the meat analog with jelly or gravy to form a blended food composition in which a ratio of the flakes to the jelly or gravy is about 30:70 to about 70:30.

The invention relates to a hard bouillon tablet and to a process for the production of a hard bouillon tablet characterized that a beef fat having a total saturated fat content of 54 to 72 wt % (based on weight of total fat); and wherein the beef fat comprises at least 23.5 wt % (based on weight of total fat) of C18:0 and 25.5 to 33 wt % (based on weight of total fat) of C16:0.

The invention relates to a hard bouillon tablet and to a process for the production of a hard bouillon tablet characterized that a beef fat having a total saturated fat content of 54 to 72 wt % (based on weight of total fat); and wherein the beef fat comprises at least 23.5 wt % (based on weight of total fat) of C18:0 and 25.5 to 33 wt % (based on weight of total fat) of C16:0.