The invention provides a food and water thickener and a method for preparing the food and water thickener. The food thickener comprises pretreated mineral water, xanthan, food preservative, a first antimicrobial and chelating agent, and a sequestering agent, wherein the food thickener has a density of between 750 and 1250 grams per liter. The method for producing the thickener incorporates pretreatment of mineral water and xanthan, and specific heating steps. Also provided is method for producing thickened alcoholic beverages. The invention further provides a method for invoking a swallow response in dysphagic patients, the method comprising increasing the mass of food to between 750 mg per liter and 1500 mg per liter; and orally administering the food to dysphagic patients.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising citrus fruit fiber having a water binding capacity of from 8 to 25 (w/w) and native starch selected from the group consisting of corn starch, rice flour, sorghum starch, tapioca starch and mixture thereof.

A spherical ingredient-containing topping condiment includes on a wet basis: (A) 1 to 50% by weight of a 4-mesh-pass to 16-mesh-on ingredient comprising a spherical ingredient; and (B) 0.1 to 50% by weight of a 16-mesh-pass to 100-mesh-on ingredient. An amount of the spherical ingredient is 10 to 100% by weight in the ingredient (A) and 3.0% by weight or more in the condiment. The spherical ingredient has a repose angle of 20<<45 determined with tan =H/r. The condiment has a viscosity of 600 to 8,500 mPa.Math.s as determined by a B-type viscometer and a viscosity of 6 to 25 cm at a measurement temperature of 20 C. for a measurement time of 30 seconds as determined by a Bostwick viscometer.

A method for preparing at least a first component of a comestible composition includes providing particles of an encapsulating ingredient having an average longest dimension of less than 1000 microns to a mixer. Particles of an active ingredient having an average longest dimension of less than 1000 microns are also provided to said mixer. A composition of said encapsulating ingredient and said active ingredient is formed.

A metastable, translucent flavor nanoemulsion is provided. The nanoemulsion contains a flavor oil phase, an aqueous phase, and a surfactant system containing a first lecithin and a second lecithin. The nanoemulsion is free of any non-natural surfactant. The surfactant system contains free fatty acid 15% or less. The first lecithin has an HLB of 1 to 8, and the second lecithin has an HLB of 8 to 16 and contains phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine 20% or greater. Also disclosed are a method for preparing the nanoemulsion and use of the nanoemulsion in liquid beverages and liquid beverage concentrates.

A pastry filling formulation and pastry food products including the pastry filling formulation are described having a freeze thaw stable thermoreversible gel with other ingredients including, but are not limited to, water, a sweetening agent, and one or more fruit additives (e.g., fruit flavor, fruit coloring, fruit puree, etc.). The freeze thaw stable thermoreversible gel permits the pastry filling to retain water during the thawing process from a frozen state.

Embodiments of the invention provide a fat free food product and method of making. In some embodiments, the food product is bouillon. The fat free food product is anhydrous, and contains a protein and a zero-fat binder. The binder includes a starch, an edible polyhydric alcohol, and a gum. The fat free food product has a protein content of 1.15% to 4.5% w/w. The food product contains no added fat.

The present disclosure relates to a composition comprising two or more hydrocolloid gums, such a pectin and gellan gum; a coconut-based fatty component, such as coconut cream; and water; in which the composition has a pH less than 7 and is an oil-in-water emulsion. The composition provides a ready-to-drink beverage that is a homogenous emulsion. The present disclosure is further related to a method of preparing the composition, including combining the two or more hydrocolloid gums, the coconut-based fatty component, and water to form a first mixture, blending the first mixture to provide a homogenous first mixture, adding additional water to the homogenous first mixture to provide a second mixture; and blending the second mixture to provide a homogenous second mixture.

A beverage drinking straw having a pre-salted tip/end for use with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages provides a plastic beverage drinking straw having a tip/end and a solid substance attached to the tip/end by a food grade adhesive. A method for producing the beverage straw with precoated tip/end is also provided.

A method for making an alcohol-containing food product comprises combining: (a) a first aqueous solution that includes a multivalent salt, one or more liquid alcohol additives and a thickening agent; with (b) a second aqueous solution that includes an alginate bath. The combination uses extrusion machinery to mass produce spherical beads, less than about 20 mm in typical diameter, with a liquid alcohol center encapsulated in a gelled outer shell. The resulting end product should be collected and stored in a third aqueous solution that maintains similar properties to the first aqueous solution and one or more liquid alcohol additives.