In order to manufacture a food product which, with further preparation, can be given a form in which it is ready for immediate consumption, a consumable, at least sushi-like product roll is prepared. The product roll comprises a core with a filling which is enveloped by a casing of a high-carbohydrate composition followed by a barrier layer which covers the casing. The barrier layer is covered with a batter layer and the batter layer is covered with a crumb layer. The thus obtained body is subjected to a freezing step for complete freezing thereof. By way of preparation the frozen product roll, after optionally being defrosted, is heated by being baked or deep-fried until the core is at least no more than just defrosted, while the batter layer with the crumb layer has formed into a crispy outer layer. The product is thus given a directly consumable form.

In order to manufacture a food product which, with further preparation, can be given a form in which it is ready for immediate consumption, a consumable, at least sushi-like product roll is prepared. The product roll comprises a core with a filling which is enveloped by a casing of a high-carbohydrate composition followed by a barrier layer which covers the casing. The barrier layer is covered with a batter layer and the batter layer is covered with a crumb layer. The thus obtained body is subjected to a freezing step for complete freezing thereof. By way of preparation the frozen product roll, after optionally being defrosted, is heated by being baked or deep-fried until the core is at least no more than just defrosted, while the batter layer with the crumb layer has formed into a crispy outer layer. The product is thus given a directly consumable form.

An edible filling formed of protein-containing solid particles in a fat-containing carrier having lecithin during wet particle size reduction to emulsify before enough starch is added to absorb excess or free fat-containing carrier when mixed together. One preferred particle size reduction method step employs wet grinding of proteins in a ball mill disposed in a fat containing oil or shortening carrier until substantially all of the proteins have been reduced in size to a particle size of less than 40 microns enabling the reduced size protein particles to remain in suspension in the resultant filling for an extended period of time increasing filling storage or shelf life while also producing a filling of more uniform appearance, texture and taste. Lecithin in excess of what is needed for emulsification is added during filling making to protect proteins and absorb excess water in the filling.

An edible filling formed of protein-containing solid particles in a fat-containing carrier having lecithin during wet particle size reduction to emulsify before enough starch is added to absorb excess or free fat-containing carrier when mixed together. One preferred particle size reduction method step employs wet grinding of proteins in a ball mill disposed in a fat containing oil or shortening carrier until substantially all of the proteins have been reduced in size to a particle size of less than 40 microns enabling the reduced size protein particles to remain in suspension in the resultant filling for an extended period of time increasing filling storage or shelf life while also producing a filling of more uniform appearance, texture and taste. Lecithin in excess of what is needed for emulsification is added during filling making to protect proteins and absorb excess water in the filling.

In an illustrative embodiment, systems for designing and producing customized food products include receiving a request to design a customized food product containing a printed edible medium. The systems may calculate, based on product inventory at a preferred bakery, a preparation lead time for the food product where the product inventory includes availability of printed edible media substrates. The systems may present customization user interface screens that provide customization options for the food product. The systems may convert customization option selections made at the customization user interface screens into decorating instructions for the food product and transmit the decorating instructions to the bakery. The systems may determine a position in a preparation queue for the food product based in part on attributes of pending food product orders in a preparation queue at the bakery.

In an illustrative embodiment, systems for designing and producing customized food products include receiving a request to design a customized food product containing a printed edible medium. The systems may calculate, based on product inventory at a preferred bakery, a preparation lead time for the food product where the product inventory includes availability of printed edible media substrates. The systems may present customization user interface screens that provide customization options for the food product. The systems may convert customization option selections made at the customization user interface screens into decorating instructions for the food product and transmit the decorating instructions to the bakery. The systems may determine a position in a preparation queue for the food product based in part on attributes of pending food product orders in a preparation queue at the bakery.

The invention comprises a method for generating a THC amended food product from a commercially available original food product, the method including the steps of: (1) receiving the original food product into a THC licensed manufacturing facility from a legal zone where THC in the original food product is illegal; (2) exposing THC, water, and an emulsifier to shear forces exceeding 50,000 sec.sup.−1 to generate a THC emulsion; and (3) adding, in the THC licensed manufacturing facility, the THC emulsion to the original food product to form a THC amended product.

The invention comprises an apparatus and a method for amending a food product, comprising the steps of: (1) receiving into a second geographic zone the food product from a first geographic zone, where packaging greater than five milligrams per serving of tetrahydrocannabinol in the food product is: (a) illegal in the first geographic zone and (b) legal in the second geographic zone; (2) forming a composition of the tetrahydrocannabinol comprising a viscosity of less than 2,000 mPa.Math.sec; (3) injecting the food product with the composition of tetrahydrocannabinol to form an amended food product; and optionally (4) forming an emulsion of the tetrahydrocannabinol, an emulsifier, and water, the emulsion comprising, excluding particle sizes of less than 20 nm, a mean particle size of less than 1000 nm and a viscosity of less than 100 mPa.Math.sec.

A filling device comprises a modified vacuum-filling head that introduces a viscous filling, such as a gravy, into a loaf matrix in a retortable can so that the filling remains enclosed by the set loaf matrix after retorting. The filling can remain as a viscous gravy or can set as a gel, depending on the formulation of the filling. Preferably the viscous filling is distributed horizontally into the loaf matrix, for example through horizontally-facing apertures, during a pause in the descent of the can away from the filling device. The flow of the filling can be controlled by synchronized pneumatic valves.

A filling device comprises a modified vacuum-filling head that introduces a viscous filling, such as a gravy, into a loaf matrix in a retortable can so that the filling remains enclosed by the set loaf matrix after retorting. The filling can remain as a viscous gravy or can set as a gel, depending on the formulation of the filling. Preferably the viscous filling is distributed horizontally into the loaf matrix, for example through horizontally-facing apertures, during a pause in the descent of the can away from the filling device. The flow of the filling can be controlled by synchronized pneumatic valves.