The present invention provides a composition for providing thickness to foods and drinks and improving swallowability for foods and drinks. More specifically, the present invention is a composition comprising a first thickener and a second thickener for providing thickness to foods and drinks and improving swallowability for foods and drinks, wherein

the first thickener shows pseudoplasticity at the shear rate from 1 to 100S.sup.−1,

the second thickener shows Newtonian viscosity at the shear rate from 1 to 100S.sup.−1,

and the thickeneing effect when the first and the second thickeners are used in combination in an equal amount is equal to or less than an additive level of the thickening effect when each were used alone.

The present invention provides a composition for providing thickness to foods and drinks and improving swallowability for foods and drinks. More specifically, the present invention is a composition comprising a first thickener and a second thickener for providing thickness to foods and drinks and improving swallowability for foods and drinks, wherein

the first thickener shows pseudoplasticity at the shear rate from 1 to 100S.sup.−1,

the second thickener shows Newtonian viscosity at the shear rate from 1 to 100S.sup.−1,

and the thickeneing effect when the first and the second thickeners are used in combination in an equal amount is equal to or less than an additive level of the thickening effect when each were used alone.

The invention relates to a method for producing a hydrocolloid with an improved water-binding ability in which the hydrocolloid is treated in a mixture with water in a high pressure homogenization process at at least 100 MPa.

The invention relates to a method for producing a hydrocolloid with an improved water-binding ability in which the hydrocolloid is treated in a mixture with water in a high pressure homogenization process at at least 100 MPa.

Systems and methods are provided for microencapsulating oxygen sensitive cargo such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and other oils by spray drying with an in situ internal gelation mechanism achieving cross-linking of polymers during the process, which is well-suited for industrial scale-up. Spray drying formulations of a mixture of an immiscible hydrophobic cargo and an emulsifier of a hydrophobically modified hydrophilic polymer with a suspension of a multivalent ion cross-linkable polymer, at least one acid, at least one volatile base and at least one salt of a multivalent ion can be adapted to provide control over particle size, degree of crosslinking, enteric release of cargo and shelf life. The methods produce microcapsules that enhance the shelf life of lipophilic bioactives while providing a mechanism of gastrointestinal delivery.

Systems and methods are provided for microencapsulating oxygen sensitive cargo such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and other oils by spray drying with an in situ internal gelation mechanism achieving cross-linking of polymers during the process, which is well-suited for industrial scale-up. Spray drying formulations of a mixture of an immiscible hydrophobic cargo and an emulsifier of a hydrophobically modified hydrophilic polymer with a suspension of a multivalent ion cross-linkable polymer, at least one acid, at least one volatile base and at least one salt of a multivalent ion can be adapted to provide control over particle size, degree of crosslinking, enteric release of cargo and shelf life. The methods produce microcapsules that enhance the shelf life of lipophilic bioactives while providing a mechanism of gastrointestinal delivery.

The method includes forming encapsulated caffeine from a caffeine complex that includes caffeine and an organic acid in a 1:1 molar ratio, dispersing the encapsulated caffeine throughout at least a portion of a base composition, the encapsulated caffeine being included in an amount sufficient to release 50 mg to 200 mg of caffeine when consumed, and adding at least one pH adjusting agent to the base composition to maintain a pH of the base composition within a range between 2 and 5.

The method includes forming encapsulated caffeine from a caffeine complex that includes caffeine and an organic acid in a 1:1 molar ratio, dispersing the encapsulated caffeine throughout at least a portion of a base composition, the encapsulated caffeine being included in an amount sufficient to release 50 mg to 200 mg of caffeine when consumed, and adding at least one pH adjusting agent to the base composition to maintain a pH of the base composition within a range between 2 and 5.

Microencapsulated probiotic bacteria protected from degradation by acidic aqueous solutions, high bile salt concentrations, elevated temperatures, and prolonged storage and having an increased anti-bacterial activity as compared to their non-microencapsulated counterparts. The microencapsulated probiotic bacteria comprise probiotic bacteria encapsulated in microcapsules. The probiotic bacteria comprise live Lactobacillus plantarum cells. Each of the microcapsules comprises a matrix of a gelled alginate. The matrix wholly envelops the probiotic bacteria within the matrix. An outer surface of the matrix has a coating consisting essentially of one vegetable oil selected from the group consisting of olive oil and canola oil, or an outer surface of the matrix is treated with sodium chloride. The microencapsulated probiotic bacteria have an average particle size of less than 1000 microns (μm) in diameter.

Microencapsulated probiotic bacteria protected from degradation by acidic aqueous solutions, high bile salt concentrations, elevated temperatures, and prolonged storage and having an increased anti-bacterial activity as compared to their non-microencapsulated counterparts. The microencapsulated probiotic bacteria comprise probiotic bacteria encapsulated in microcapsules. The probiotic bacteria comprise live Lactobacillus plantarum cells. Each of the microcapsules comprises a matrix of a gelled alginate. The matrix wholly envelops the probiotic bacteria within the matrix. An outer surface of the matrix has a coating consisting essentially of one vegetable oil selected from the group consisting of olive oil and canola oil, or an outer surface of the matrix is treated with sodium chloride. The microencapsulated probiotic bacteria have an average particle size of less than 1000 microns (μm) in diameter.