The invention relates to alcohol-containing food products, in particular to ice-cream-type products and other soft or semi-soft solid food products containing high levels of alcohol, and improved processes for their preparation. More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide improved processes for providing alcoholic food products that retain a creamy texture and favorable homogeneity, stability and viscosity over a wide range of temperatures commonly used during storage and serving. The invention further provides alcohol-containing food products characterized by particularly advantageous physical properties, nutritional values and palatability.

A natural hydrocolloid system can be used in, e.g., pet food compositions. Another aspect of the present disclosure is pet food compositions comprising such a natural hydrocolloid system, and preparation methods thereof. The hydrocolloid system can use blends of fruit fibers, such as citrus and apple fibers, and/or plant-based polysaccharides, such as psyllium, okra, chia, flaxseed, or seaweed; and can provide a gravy and even a jelly with functionalities comparable to the existing gravies. The blends can replace currently used hydrocolloids and can be used in new recipes with natural and clean labels.

A liquid concentrate formulated for dilution into a nutritional product is disclosed, as well as the resultant nutritional product, uses thereof, methods for the manufacture thereof, and methods for improving the cohesiveness of the nutritional product. The nutritional products have improved cohesiveness for promoting safer swallowing of food boluses for individuals having swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia. In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional product is prepared by diluting a liquid concentrate of one or more of a beta-glucan, a plant-extracted gum such as okra gum, or a plant-derived mucilage. 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 liquid concentrate formulated for dilution into a nutritional product is disclosed, as well as the resultant nutritional product, uses thereof, methods for the manufacture thereof, and methods for improving the cohesiveness of the nutritional product. The nutritional products have improved cohesiveness for promoting safer swallowing of food boluses for individuals having swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia. In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional product is prepared by diluting a liquid concentrate of one or more of a beta-glucan, a plant-extracted gum such as okra gum, or a plant-derived mucilage. 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.

The invention relates to compositions and methods for stabilizing and enhancing the viscosity of semisolid compositions, and to the production of stabilized alcohol-containing semisolid food products. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to novel stabilizers for semisolid compositions, to alcohol-containing semisolid food compositions comprising them, and to processes for the preparation and use thereof. Further, the invention in embodiments thereof provides non-liquid food products containing a high alcohol content, which are stable at room temperature and do not necessitate the use of gelling agents or other chemical stabilizers.

The invention relates to compositions and methods for stabilizing and enhancing the viscosity of semisolid compositions, and to the production of stabilized alcohol-containing semisolid food products. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to novel stabilizers for semisolid compositions, to alcohol-containing semisolid food compositions comprising them, and to processes for the preparation and use thereof. Further, the invention in embodiments thereof provides non-liquid food products containing a high alcohol content, which are stable at room temperature and do not necessitate the use of gelling agents or other chemical stabilizers.

The present invention relates to a composition and a product which are used when cooking food containing carbohydrates and proteins as main ingredients, when cooling processed food such as ramen, when preparing vegetable protein food such as tofu, or when administering alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, beverages and the like, so as to increase the elasticity, texture or taste of prepared or cooked food, thereby improving the flavor thereof.

The present invention relates to a composition and a product which are used when cooking food containing carbohydrates and proteins as main ingredients, when cooling processed food such as ramen, when preparing vegetable protein food such as tofu, or when administering alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea, beverages and the like, so as to increase the elasticity, texture or taste of prepared or cooked food, thereby improving the flavor thereof.

The present disclosure relates to the preservation and processing of polysaccharides having gelling properties from plants. More particularly, the present disclosure provides an antioxidant rich gelling fibre from plants such as seaweed and a method for preparation of the same. The gelling fibre of the present disclosure has improved gelling and/or thickening properties as compared to fibre obtained from fresh unprocessed plant sources such as seaweed and retains the natural antioxidants present in the fresh plant. In particular, seaweed in this disclosure refers to red seaweed. The said method of the present disclosure facilitates minimization of the amount of chemicals traditionally used in such processing methods and helps preserve the naturalness of the fresh plant source. The present disclosure further provides applications of the antioxidant rich gelling fibres of the present disclosure, specifically applications in the food industry.

The invention relates to method and a device for preparing a carbohydrate and/or protein product by subjecting a carbohydrate and/or protein to a heat treatment after a few ingredients have been added.