Providing an oat bran composition that contains water, optionally an acid, and oat bran delivering at least about 0.75 g of beta glucan per serving to provide a heart-healthy and consumer-acceptable product through application of shear to reduce viscosity.

Providing an oat bran composition that contains water, optionally an acid, and oat bran delivering at least about 0.75 g of beta glucan per serving to provide a heart-healthy and consumer-acceptable product through application of shear to reduce viscosity.

Microparticles include a matrix of an encapsulating material, in which are dispersed particles of a low melting point fat and a bioactive material, such as one or more probiotic bacteria. The microparticles are formed by preparing an emulsion of melted low melting point fat in an aqueous mixture of the encapsulating material, cooling the emulsion below the melting point of the low melting point fat, dispersing the bioactive material in the emulsion and spray drying the emulsion. The particles of solid low melting point fat are believed to protect the bioactive material from heat damage during the spray drying process.

Microparticles include a matrix of an encapsulating material, in which are dispersed particles of a low melting point fat and a bioactive material, such as one or more probiotic bacteria. The microparticles are formed by preparing an emulsion of melted low melting point fat in an aqueous mixture of the encapsulating material, cooling the emulsion below the melting point of the low melting point fat, dispersing the bioactive material in the emulsion and spray drying the emulsion. The particles of solid low melting point fat are believed to protect the bioactive material from heat damage during the spray drying process.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique of suppressing precipitation of an anthocyanin pigment in a range other than the highly acidic range. The present invention provides an anthocyanin pigment preparation, comprising: an anthocyanin pigment; and an emulsifier, wherein the pH when the anthocyanin pigment preparation is diluted with water or dissolved in water so that a color value becomes 10 is more than 3.

The subject matter of the invention is a sugar-free hard dragee consisting of a compressed core and a hard coating completely surrounding the compressed core, wherein the hard dragee is sugar-free. The compressed core contains a mixture of erythritol. D-sorbitol and steviol whereas the hard coating contains a mixture of D-maltitol, erythritol and stevia/steviol. The hard dragees according to the invention surprisingly have a good compatibility in spite off the combination of sugar replacement substances and non-sugar sweeteners. Moreover, the compressed cores of the hard dragees according to the invention have a very good compressibility.

Providing an oat bran composition that contains water, optionally an acid, and oat bran delivering at least about 0.75 g of beta glucan per serving to provide a heart-healthy and consumer-acceptable product through application of shear to reduce viscosity.

Providing an oat bran composition that contains water, optionally an acid, and oat bran delivering at least about 0.75 g of beta glucan per serving to provide a heart-healthy and consumer-acceptable product through application of shear to reduce viscosity.

The invention relates to a microencapsulated amino acid composition and methods of manufacturing this composition. Amino acids, such as branched-chain amino acids, have low water solubility, poor hydrophilicity, and poor stability. Amino acids are thus difficult to be digested and absorbed. Consequently amino acids can hardly meet human needs of consuming. This microencapsulated amino acid composition that can quickly disperse and dissolve in cold water, resulting clear solution. The method includes (1) adding coating agents, wetting agents, or other excipients to the amino acid mixture, (2) modifying the surface of microencapsulated particles to considerably accelerate the wetting speed. In this composition, the weight ratio of amino acids and excipients is from 100/0.1 to 100/10.0.

The invention relates to a microencapsulated amino acid composition and methods of manufacturing this composition. Amino acids, such as branched-chain amino acids, have low water solubility, poor hydrophilicity, and poor stability. Amino acids are thus difficult to be digested and absorbed. Consequently amino acids can hardly meet human needs of consuming. This microencapsulated amino acid composition that can quickly disperse and dissolve in cold water, resulting clear solution. The method includes (1) adding coating agents, wetting agents, or other excipients to the amino acid mixture, (2) modifying the surface of microencapsulated particles to considerably accelerate the wetting speed. In this composition, the weight ratio of amino acids and excipients is from 100/0.1 to 100/10.0.