A taco shell is produced by applying a plasticizing agent to a base or spine portion of a hard taco shell, such as by targeted spraying, rolling, brushing or dipping of the taco shells, thereby softening the base or spine portion, preferably across a strip width between 4 mm-20 mm. As a result, when the taco shell is bitten, the softened base portion has some hinging flexibility or pliability which reduces the potential for any crack propagation. Therefore, the structural integrity of the hard taco shell can be better maintained while be eaten, resulting in retention of the fillings and less mess. If desired, an anti-migration agent can also be applied to assure containment of the plasticizing agent in the targeted region.

Disclosed herein is a composition for enhancing skin elasticity or improving skin wrinkles. In one aspect, 2-isopropylmalic acid or a salt, hydrate or solvate thereof, which is an active ingredient of the present disclosure, activates skin primary cilia and inhibits the expression of MMP-1 to enhance skin elasticity and improve skin wrinkles. In addition, in one aspect, 2-isopropylmalic acid or a salt, hydrate or solvate thereof, which is an active ingredient of the present disclosure, is a safe material and has the advantage that it can be treated in the living body in various forms such as cosmetics and food.

Spirulina infused gummies containing micronutrients for consumption by a person to deliver beneficial and necessary nutrients to the person and a method of preparing spirulina infused gummies to eliminate the bad odor and taste normally associated with spirulina. The gummies have pectin, water, citric acid, sugar and/or glucose and spirulina. Preservatives and flavor additives can also be included. The method of making the gummies includes heating a mixture of citric acid and water, adding pectin and sugar to the mixture and then stirring, adding hot glucose to the mixture, stirring the mixture and allowing the mixture to cool, adding spirulina to the mixture followed by continuous stirring, adding additional citric acid to the mixture, stirring until jellification begins, pouring the mixture into molds and removing the mixture from the molds when cool. Preferably, a preservative and a flavor additive are added to the mixture prior to the additional citric acid.

Cyclic ketal compounds provide excellent foam protection when having at least one moiety of a threshold size (comprising 4 or more carbon atoms) pendant from a ketal carbon. The carbons in such moieties may be present in one or more chains. The cyclic ketal compounds of the present invention are compatible with foodstuff manufacturing. In particular, it has been discovered that the cyclic ketal compounds of the present invention exhibit excellent foam control performance in both potato and sugar beet processing systems.

The present invention relates to a method for solubilizing poorly water-soluble dietary supplements and pharmaceutically active agents, to the solubilisate produced by this method and respective uses as a dietary supplement or pharmaceutical dosage form. A phosphatidylcholine-based solubilization method is disclosed.

[Problem] Provided is a food composition containing acetic bacterial cells which has a good aroma, and a method of producing the food composition. [Solution] The food composition containing acetic bacterial cells of the present invention contains acetic acid and n-butyric acid, the peak area ratio between which is 40:1 to 1:20, as measured by solid phase micro extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for odor components in the food composition. Surprisingly, such a food composition has a fermentative aroma like rice bran which can stimulate consumers' appetite.

A sugar-free soluble tea extract tablet and a method for preparing it that includes the steps of providing a sweetener blend, a natural binder, and a tea extract, in a proportion of five grams of sweater blend and one gram of natural binder for every one gram of tea extract. Then, heating the sweetener blend to melt into a liquid at a temperature ranged between 100 to 300 degrees Celsius, adding the tea extract and the natural binder to the melted sweetener blend to form a mixture, stirring the mixture thoroughly and pouring it into molds for cooling. The sweetener blend includes Erythritol and Monkfruit or stevia sweetener, and the natural binder is an organic gum fiber blend such as organic guar gum, organic gum arabic, organic agave fiber, organic rice hulls, or organic agave syrup.

A method for controlling foam comprising providing food composition comprising a foam control agent and a foodstuff, the foam control agent comprising a Mono glycidyl ether adduct or a Diglycidyl ether adduct. A composition useful for foam control comprising a mono glycidyl ether adduct, a diglycidyl ether adduct or combination thereof.

A method for making highly soluble Stevia sweetener compositions is described. The resulting sweetener compositions readily provide high concentration solutions, and also possess superior taste qualities. The compositions can be used as sweeteners, sweetness enhancers, and flavor enhancers in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

The invention relates to a particulate product comprising at least 10 wt. % of the coated acetate particles having the following characteristics: (a) comprising one or more carrier particles containing at least 80 wt. % of sodium acetate component selected from sodium acetate hydrates, sodium acetate anhydrous and combinations thereof; (b) comprising a coating layer that covers the one or more carrier particles, said coating layer containing at least 60 wt. % of potassium acetate; (c) containing potassium and sodium in a molar ratio of 0.4:1 to 5:1; and (d) a particle size in the range of 40 to 1,000 μm. The coated acetate particles in the particulate product are very stable, even though the potassium acetate in the coating layer is in direct contact with the surrounding atmosphere. The particulate product can suitably be used in the preparation of foodstuffs and beverages.