The invention relates to the manufacture of foods, in particular to aerated confectionery products, like marshmallow-type products, to foam structuring compositions, and methods for preparing them. Provided is an aerated confectionery product having a density up to 0.5 g/cm.sup.3, the product comprising as foam structuring composition a combination of (i) a native potato protein; (ii) a gelling starch; and (iii) a highly branched starch (HBS) obtained by treatment of starch or a starch derivative with glycogen branching enzyme (EC 2.4.1.18), and wherein said HBS has a molecular branching degree of at least 6%, wherein the molecular branching degree is defined as the percentage of -1,6 glycosidic linkages of the total of -1,6 and -1,4 glycosidic linkages ((-1,6/(-1,6+-1,4)*100%).

The invention relates to the manufacture of foods, in particular to aerated confectionery products, like marshmallow-type products, to foam structuring compositions, and methods for preparing them. Provided is an aerated confectionery product having a density up to 0.5 g/cm.sup.3, the product comprising as foam structuring composition a combination of (i) a native potato protein; (ii) a gelling starch; and (iii) a highly branched starch (HBS) obtained by treatment of starch or a starch derivative with glycogen branching enzyme (EC 2.4.1.18), and wherein said HBS has a molecular branching degree of at least 6%, wherein the molecular branching degree is defined as the percentage of -1,6 glycosidic linkages of the total of -1,6 and -1,4 glycosidic linkages ((-1,6/(-1,6+-1,4)*100%).

A method for preparing a caramelized product, a kit for a caramelizable composition, a food product comprising a caramelized composition, and a caramelized sauce are disclosed. The caramelized product may be a caramel, a brittle, or a syrup. The method includes mixing a sugar alcohol and/or a non-metabolizable sugar and a dietary fiber to form a mixture, and heating the mixture at a temperature and for a length of time sufficient to caramelize the mixture. The kit includes a container and a sugar alcohol/non-metabolizable sugar and a dietary fiber in the container. The sugar alcohol/non-metabolizable sugar and the dietary fiber are present in a ratio by weight or by volume such that a mixture thereof, when heated to a temperature of from 270 F. to 350 F. for a sufficient length of time, is caramelized.

Disclosed is a process in which a viscous initial product having both a temperature of between 5 C. and 70 C. and a viscosity greater than 100 mPa.Math.s is provided, by way of a pump provided upstream of at least one aerator, the viscous initial product is transferred as it is to the at least one aerator in which the viscous initial product is mixed with a gas, injected into the aerator, so as to obtain a liquid foam continuously exiting the aerator, andthe liquid foam continuously exiting the at least one aerator is continuously pushed into the inlet of a treatment device which continuously divides and then dries this liquid foam so as to obtain a powdered porous product which has a solids content greater than 90%.

In one embodiment, a confectionary comprises at least one sweetener, at least one stabilizer, at least one emulsifier, water, a first active ingredient, and an enrobing layer. The water may comprise 2 to 20 wt. % of the confectionary. The confectionary may have a water activity of from 0.45 to 0.65. The confectionary may be aerated such that the density of the confectionary is 0.7 to 1.25 grams per cubic centimeter. The confectionary may have a pH of 5.0 to 8.0.

In one embodiment, a confectionary comprises at least one sweetener, at least one stabilizer, at least one emulsifier, water, a first active ingredient, and an enrobing layer. The water may comprise 2 to 20 wt. % of the confectionary. The confectionary may have a water activity of from 0.45 to 0.65. The confectionary may be aerated such that the density of the confectionary is 0.7 to 1.25 grams per cubic centimeter. The confectionary may have a pH of 5.0 to 8.0.

A food product is prepared by drying a marshmallow to provide a marbit having a water activity in the range of 0.1-0.4 in the center of the marbit. The marbit is then heated to provide a toasted marbit, with at least one outer surface portion of the marbit being toasted to result in a flavor change. The toasted marbit can be used in a wide variety of snack products, such as combining toasted marbits with a graham cracker-flavored cereal ingredient and a chocolate-flavored cereal ingredient to form a ready-to-eat cereal.

A food product is prepared by drying a marshmallow to provide a marbit having a water activity in the range of 0.1-0.4 in the center of the marbit. The marbit is then heated to provide a toasted marbit, with at least one outer surface portion of the marbit being toasted to result in a flavor change. The toasted marbit can be used in a wide variety of snack products, such as combining toasted marbits with a graham cracker-flavored cereal ingredient and a chocolate-flavored cereal ingredient to form a ready-to-eat cereal.

A method for identifying and removing tissue from a food product that includes generating a three-dimensional model of a food product using a scanner and mapping the three-dimensional model onto the food product. The method also includes scanning the food product such that cross-sectional scanning images are generated based on the model, and, for each cross-sectional scanning image, determining a maximum thickness of the model and identifying a corresponding estimated tissue point, by using an identification method based on suitable characteristics of the food product model. The method includes fitting a curve to the estimated tissue points and generating a cut path based on the fitted curve, wherein the cut path defines an area of unwanted tissue that includes the estimated tissue points. The method further includes cutting the food product along the cut path, thereby, removing the area of unwanted tissue.

A method for identifying and removing tissue from a food product that includes generating a three-dimensional model of a food product using a scanner and mapping the three-dimensional model onto the food product. The method also includes scanning the food product such that cross-sectional scanning images are generated based on the model, and, for each cross-sectional scanning image, determining a maximum thickness of the model and identifying a corresponding estimated tissue point, by using an identification method based on suitable characteristics of the food product model. The method includes fitting a curve to the estimated tissue points and generating a cut path based on the fitted curve, wherein the cut path defines an area of unwanted tissue that includes the estimated tissue points. The method further includes cutting the food product along the cut path, thereby, removing the area of unwanted tissue.