A cutting assembly for mixtures for food use which is adapted for functional connection to a dispensing apparatus of at least one continuous element constituted by a mixture for food use, and which is provided with at least one cutter facing toward the exit of the dispensing apparatus.

A cutting assembly includes a fixed frame which is rigidly coupled, and proximate, to the dispensing apparatus, at least one motorized automatic follower mechanism, supporting the at least one cutter and coupled to the frame, and a control and management unit controlled by the dispensing apparatus and designed to control the at least one actuator of the at least one motorized automatic follower mechanism.

A method for preparing a first component of a comestible composition is provided including forming an extrudate of the first component. The extrudate is cooled to a first temperature. The extruder is further cooled to a second temperature. The first temperature is greater than the second temperature.

A method for preparing a first component of a comestible composition is provided including forming an extrudate of the first component. The extrudate is cooled to a first temperature. The extruder is further cooled to a second temperature. The first temperature is greater than the second temperature.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an edible foodstuff from food industry waste stream byproducts. This process involves the steps of: (i) combining, in an extruder, an extrusion formulation comprising a first food byproduct and at least one additional ingredient; (ii) introducing supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO.sub.2) into the extruder to mix with the first food byproduct and the at least one additional ingredient; and (iii) producing an edible foodstuff containing the first food byproduct and the at least one additional ingredient, where the edible foodstuff comprises an extrudate prepared under supercritical fluid extrusion (SCFX) conditions. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing an edible foodstuff from a protein concentrate. The present invention further relates to edible foodstuffs produced by the various processes disclosed herein.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an edible foodstuff from food industry waste stream byproducts. This process involves the steps of: (i) combining, in an extruder, an extrusion formulation comprising a first food byproduct and at least one additional ingredient; (ii) introducing supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO.sub.2) into the extruder to mix with the first food byproduct and the at least one additional ingredient; and (iii) producing an edible foodstuff containing the first food byproduct and the at least one additional ingredient, where the edible foodstuff comprises an extrudate prepared under supercritical fluid extrusion (SCFX) conditions. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing an edible foodstuff from a protein concentrate. The present invention further relates to edible foodstuffs produced by the various processes disclosed herein.

The present invention concerns a process for manufacturing an infant formula product comprising: (a1) providing an aqueous mixture having a protein component and a carbohydrate component, (a2) subjecting the aqueous mixture to a protein hydrolysis step, (a3) subjecting the aqueous mixture to a heat treatment step; (b) mixing the heat-treated aqueous mixture comprising hydrolyzed protein with a lipid component; (c) subjecting the aqueous mixture comprising the lipid component, the carbohydrate component and the heat-treated hydrolyzed protein component to a homogenization and emulsification step to obtain a homogenized oil-in-water emulsion having a total solids content in the range of 45-80 wt %; (d) conveying the homogenized emulsion into an extruder, independently adding digestible carbohydrates and optionally dietary fibres to the extruder and extruding the contents of the extruder to obtain an extruded material; (e) preparing an infant formula product from the extruded material. The invention further concerns Infant formula product obtainable by the process according to the invention and to a modular system suitable for performing the process according to the invention.

The present invention concerns a process for manufacturing an infant formula product comprising: (a1) providing an aqueous mixture having a substantially lactose-free protein component, (a2) subjecting the aqueous mixture to a heat treatment step, and optionally a concentration step; (b) mixing the aqueous mixture with a lipid component; (c) subjecting the aqueous mixture comprising the lipid component and the heat-treated protein component to a homogenization and emulsification step to obtain a homogenized oil-in-water emulsion having a total solids content in the range of 45-80 wt %; (d) conveying the homogenized emulsion into an extruder, independently adding digestible carbohydrates and optionally dietary fibres to the extruder and extruding the contents of the extruder to obtain an extruded material; (e) preparing an infant formula product from the extruded material. The invention further concerns Infant formula product obtainable by the process according to the invention.

The present invention concerns a process for manufacturing an infant formula product comprising: (a1) providing an aqueous mixture having a substantially lactose-free protein component, (a2) subjecting the aqueous mixture to a heat treatment step, and optionally a concentration step; (b) mixing the aqueous mixture with a lipid component; (c) subjecting the aqueous mixture comprising the lipid component and the heat-treated protein component to a homogenization and emulsification step to obtain a homogenized oil-in-water emulsion having a total solids content in the range of 45-80 wt %; (d) conveying the homogenized emulsion into an extruder, independently adding digestible carbohydrates and optionally dietary fibres to the extruder and extruding the contents of the extruder to obtain an extruded material; (e) preparing an infant formula product from the extruded material. The invention further concerns Infant formula product obtainable by the process according to the invention.

Presented herein are systems and methods directed to cutting an extrudate exiting a cooling die. Embodiments of the system comprise a cooling die with an outlet end, the outlet end containing an outlet for excretion of an extrudate, and one or more plates connected to the outlet end, said plates including a cutting portion which may cut, slash, rip or shape the extrudate that flow through the cutting portion, wherein the one or more plates may be placed in series, and able to be placed in different order configurations and positions. In various embodiments an insert connection device is attached to the outlet end, wherein the one or more plates are connected to the insert connection device, allowing the one or more plates to couple with the outlet end via the insert connection device.

The present disclosure relates to a rework process wherein raw material for making plant-based food products is reprocessed at the early stages of food production, thereby minimizing waste and improving food production. The rework process comprises reprocessing output material from an extruder, comprising cutting and kneading the output and pumping it back into the extruder via a pressure generated by sausage filler for another round of processing via a high moisture extrusion process.