The invention relates to the field of meat substitute products, also referred to as meat analogues or meat alternatives. In particular the invention relates to a clean-label methylcellulose (or its derivatives) replacement. This replacement composition can be used to prepare a matrix composition, which can then be incorporated into a meat substitute product together with other plant-based, clean-label ingredients.

Compositions for improving gut microbiota, improving behavioural pattern and alpha-synuclein levels, and improving sleep pattern and serum melatonin, especially in children with autism, are provided. Methods are also included for control of gut enterobacteria in children with autism, reconstitution of gut microbiota, and control of enterobacteria in autism and neurodegenerative diseases.

The present invention concerns a natural biocomposite powder prepared from the biomass of yeast Pichia pastoris, comprising chitin-glucan complex (CGC) and mannose-containing polysaccharides. In a second aspect, the invention concerns the method of preparation of the natural biocomposite powder. The invention also concerns the method to obtain Pichia pastoris biomass with increased CGC content, as well as increased chitin to glucan content in the CGC. Finally, the invention concerns the use of the natural biocomposite powder, prepared from the cell wall of yeast Pichia pastoris by the method according to the invention, as excipient in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics or food industries.

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.

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, uses thereof, methods for the manufacture and methods for improving the cohesiveness of the nutritional products are disclosed. The nutritional products have improved cohesiveness for promoting safer swallowing of food boluses for individuals having swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia.

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.

A frozen stuffed fish ball with low soup loss and the method of preparing the same. By combining hydrocolloid and oil pre-emulsification technology, the problems of taste of powder, soup loss of fish balls after freeze-thaw cooking and the taste of frozen stuffed fish balls after freeze-thaw cooking are solved. The use of konjac gum and carrageenan or curdlan respectively, combined with oil pre-emulsification technology, also effectively improves the texture and brightness of the outer skin of fish balls. Compared with a single addition of conventional technology, the hardness, elasticity and brightness are increased, solving loosen structure, brightness and other problems due to freeze-thaw cycle. Further, it may be used in the fish ball processing line for preparing fish ball with fillings and other stuffed surimi products.

A thickening powder promotes safe swallowing of a nutritional product by an individual with dysphagia and can be used in methods of treating dysphagia, promoting safe swallowing of a nutritional product, and mitigating a risk of aspiration during swallowing of a nutritional product. The powder contains beta-glucan and at least one carrier ingredient in an amount that is neutral toward or enhances the extensional properties of the nutritional product. The at least one carrier ingredient can be one or more of maltodextrin, isomaltulose, sucrose or lactose. The powder can be diluted in a diluent to form an aqueous solution that is at least a portion of a nutritional product and to improve the cohesiveness of the nutritional product. Preferably, the resultant nutritional product has a shear viscosity greater than 200 mPas and up to about 2,000 mPas, preferably greater than 200 mPas and up to about 500 mPas, more preferably 250 mPas to about 450 mPas, most preferably 250 mPas to about 400 mPas, when measured at a shear rate of 50 s.sup.1 at a temperature of 20 C.

A thickener is disclosed, as well as a nutritional product including the thickener, uses thereof, methods for the manufacture thereof, methods for improving the cohesiveness of a nutritional product, and related systems. The nutritional products have improved cohesiveness for promoting safer and more efficient swallowing of food boluses for individuals having swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia. In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional product includes a thickener comprising a beta-glucan and an additive. Preferably, the nutritional product has a relaxation time, determined by a Capillary Breakup Extensional Rheometry (CaBER) experiment, of from 10 ms to 2000 ms at a temperature of 20 C.