A thickening powder promotes safe swallowing of a composition by an individual with dysphagia and can be used in methods of treating dysphagia, promoting safe swallowing of a composition, and mitigating a risk of aspiration during swallowing of a composition. The powder contains beta-glucan and a carrier ingredient that is a carbohydrate that is neutral toward or enhances the extensional properties of the composition. The carrier ingredient is preferably at least one of isomaltulose or a low molecular weight carbohydrate such as sucrose or lactose. The powder can be diluted in a liquid comprising at least one of water or milk to form at least a portion of a composition such as a nutritional product and to improve the cohesiveness of the composition.

A thickening powder promotes safe swallowing of a composition by an individual with dysphagia and can be used in methods of treating dysphagia, promoting safe swallowing of a composition, and mitigating a risk of aspiration during swallowing of a composition. The powder contains beta-glucan and maltodextrin in an amount that is neutral toward or enhances the extensional properties of the composition. Optionally the thickening powder can also include a low molecular weight carbohydrate such as sucrose or lactose. The powder can be diluted in a liquid comprising at least one of water or milk to form at least a portion of a composition such as a nutritional product and to improve the cohesiveness of the composition.

Nutritional products having improved cohesiveness for promoting safer swallowing of food boluses for patients having swallowing conditions are provided as well as methods of making and using such products. The nutritional products may include nutritional compositions and high molecular weight, water-soluble polymers such that the nutritional products have extensional viscosities that provide improved cohesiveness to the nutritional products. Methods of administering such nutritional products to patients having impaired swallowing ability and/or dysphagia are also provided.

Provided are a curdlan-containing composition which is unlikely to aggregate when dispersed or dissolved in water and with which a curdlan dispersion or solution can be easily prepared, and a food product and any other products containing the curdlan-containing composition. The curdlan-containing composition contains curdlan and an alkali salt, and the curdlan and the alkali salt are granulated.

Provided are a method for producing a polysaccharide thickener-containing preparation in which formation of lumps is suppressed when the polysaccharide thickener-containing preparation is added to a liquid, and in which the inherent thickening function or gelling function of the polysaccharide thickener is exhibited satisfactorily; and the like.

The method for producing a polysaccharide thickener-containing preparation comprises granulating a polysaccharide thickener using one or more binder liquids, wherein a starch decomposition product having a DE of 1 or more and 50 or less, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of pullulan, guar gum, guar gum decomposition product, gum arabic, gum ghatti, soybean polysaccharides, pectin, and alginic acid and derivatives thereof are used as components of the one or more binder liquids.

A composition having an egg white substitute function, the composition including a polysaccharide thickener, and a starch, in which the polysaccharide thickener is one kind or two or more kinds selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose, mannan, and curdlan, and the starch is one or two kinds selected from the group consisting of a distarch phosphate and a pea starch.

Provided is a storage and delivery system that includes a container containing a stable liquid composition therein for increasing the viscosity of an aqueous liquid or aqueous liquid solid mixture foodstuff and having a viscosity of less than 2000 cP and a water activity of greater than 95%, wherein the composition comprises one or more thickening agents and one or more polysaccharides, and a pump dispenser sealingly attached to the container and having a valve for inhibiting or preventing drying of the composition in the container. Further provided is a method of delivering a stable liquid composition to an aqueous liquid or aqueous liquid solid mixture foodstuff by use of the storage and delivery system. A method for increasing the viscosity of an aqueous liquid or aqueous liquid solid mixture foodstuff by adding the stable liquid composition thereto is also provided.

A nutraceutical food product includes a solid matrix and a liquid combined into a gel. The nutraceutical food product may include an immune modulator, such as transfer factor and/or a nanofraction immune modulator. A fruit component may be included in the nutraceutical food product. The fruit component may include at least one oligoproanthocyanidin-containing fruit, such as aai.

Nutritional products having improved cohesiveness for promoting safer swallowing of food boluses for patients having swallowing conditions are provided as well as methods of making and using such products. The nutritional products may include nutritional compositions and high molecular weight, water-soluble polymers such that the nutritional products have extensional viscosities that provide improved cohesiveness to the nutritional products. Methods of administering such nutritional products to patients having impaired swallowing ability and/or dysphagia are also provided.

Methods of binding ingredients of a meat alternative product are disclosed. One method comprises mixing a first hydrocolloid and a second hydrocolloid with a protein, thus producing the meat alternative product and forming the meat alternative product to a desired shape. Another method includes mixing a first hydrocolloid, a second hydrocolloid, and a protein, thus producing the meat alternative product and hydrating the meat alternative product. Products produced by the methods are also disclosed.