The subject matter of the invention is dextrans which have between 95% and 99% of -1,6 glucosidic bonds, a weight-average molar mass M.sub.w at least equal to 0.710.sup.9 g.mol.sup.1, and a dispersity index D of between 1.3 and 3. The invention also relates to a dextran saccharase which makes it possible to produce such dextrans, and to a method for producing said dextrans.

The present invention concerns a method for producing unfried breaded nugget-like products, comprising a step of preparing a particular coating paste, in particular from rice flour and modified starches, combined with a step of cooking in a steam oven. This method can be used in order to obtain nugget-like products that have the required crispness, uniformity and colour characteristics and a reduced fat content. The invention also concerns a nugget-like product likely to be obtained using the abovementioned method.

The present invention provides a prophylactic or therapeutic composition for a metabolic disorder, a composition for amplifying the amount of short-chain fatty acid in the intestine, or a composition for decreasing a ratio of bacteria belonging to the Firmicutes to bacteria belonging to the Bacteroidetes in the intestine, each containing an exopolysaccharide produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and further, a food, a pharmaceutical product, a feed and the like containing the composition.

Improved methods for processing pulses are disclosed. Products produced from such improved methods are further disclosed.

Provided are exopolysaccharide produced by novel lactic acid bacteria having an IgA production promoting ability, a production method of the exopolysaccharide, a composition containing the exopolysaccharide, and the like.

The present invention is situated in the field of food technology. The invention more specifically relates to a cream substitute wherein the milk or dairy-derived components. e.g. the milk protein component has been replaced by intact pulse protein. The invention further provides cream substitute products such as whipped cream, culinary cream, ice cream and milk dessert substitute as well as methods for producing these.

The present invention relates to alternan-carboxylic acid esters, to processes for the preparation of alternan-carboxylic acid esters, and to compositions comprising alternan-carboxylic acid esters and to the use of alternan-carboxylic acid esters. The invention relates to alternan-carboxylic acid esters which are emulsifiers.

Compositions comprising oxidized dextran compounds are disclosed herein. Oxidized dextran compounds are produced by contacting dextran under aqueous conditions with at least one N-oxoammonium salt, at least one periodate compound, and/or at least one peroxide compound.

Disclosed in certain embodiments is a delayed release softgel capsules comprise a fill material that is encapsulated in a pH dependent shell composition, the pH dependent shell composition including pectin and gellan gum. Also disclosed are methods of preparing any of the delayed release softgel capsules described herein and methods of use thereof.

An enzymatically produced soluble -glucan fiber composition is provided suitable for use as a digestion resistant fiber in food and feed applications. The soluble -glucan fiber composition can be blended with one or more additional food ingredients to produce fiber-containing compositions. Methods for the production and use of compositions comprising the soluble -glucan fiber are also provided.