Comestible products, for example beverage products, are disclosed containing encapsulated probiotic bacteria having resistance to subjection to at least thermal and acidic conditions. Beverage products include at least one aqueous liquid and capsules comprising a gelled mixture of alginate and denatured protein, and probiotic bacteria entrapped within the gelled mixture. The average particle size of the capsules is optionally less than 1000 microns (m) in diameter, such as less than 500 m in diameter. Methods are provided for making such encapsulated probiotics by providing a mixture comprising sodium alginate, denatured protein and active probiotic cells, and combining the mixture with a divalent cation to initiate cold gelation of the sodium alginate and denatured protein to form a second mixture. The second mixture is passed through an opening having a diameter of less than 1000 m to form capsules. The weight ratio of protein to alginate is from 1:1 to 9:1.

The invention is a mechanism, sized for insertion into a commercially-available water bottle, for instantaneously producing a water-based beverage without spillage that comprises a concentrate fully encompassed by an instantaneously dissolvable water-soluble film with water-soluble access members about the film that have a faster water-dissolution rate than the film. The film is thick enough to retain the concentrate when at room temperature and not in contact with water, but thin enough to dissolve very quickly, e.g. within five seconds, when contacted with water.

The present invention relates to means for protecting bioactive materials in mammalian food or feed formulations used to enhance the health status of mammals.

The present invention relates to means for protecting bioactive materials in mammalian food or feed formulations used to enhance the health status of mammals.

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.

Provided herein is a composition comprising: a) about 25% up to about 75% of a plasmolysed micro-organism by weight of the total weight of the composition; b) about at least greater than 20% up to about 60% by weight flavor or fragrance, of the total weight of the composition c) about 1% up to about 25% desiccant; d) about 4% up to about <10% water; wherein the mean particle size distribution by weight of the composition is about greater than 100 micrometer up to about 1 millimeter. Also provided herein is a method of making a plated yeast composition comprising a. blending: i) a homogenous cake, wherein the cake is made by mixing, at a temperature that ranges from 20 C. to about 90 C. a) a plasmolysed micro-organism in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 90% by weight of the total weight of the cake; b) a flavor or fragrance oil provided in an amount of from at least 0.01% up to about 60% by weight of the total weight of the cake; and c) water provided in an amount of from about 5% up to about 90% by weight of the total weight of the cake; wherein the micro-organism to water ratio in the cake is provided in an amount, by weight, of about 4.5:1 to 0.5:1; with ii) at least about 40% up to about 99.9%, by weight desiccant, of the total weight of the composition; iii) optionally from about 0.2 to about 2% by weight a flow agent of the total weight of the composition to form a uniform mixer. b. sifting the blended mixer to form a powder with a particle size about 100 to 1,000 micrometer.

Provided herein is a composition comprising: a) about 25% up to about 75% of a plasmolysed micro-organism by weight of the total weight of the composition; b) about at least greater than 20% up to about 60% by weight flavor or fragrance, of the total weight of the composition c) about 1% up to about 25% desiccant; d) about 4% up to about <10% water; wherein the mean particle size distribution by weight of the composition is about greater than 100 micrometer up to about 1 millimeter. Also provided herein is a method of making a plated yeast composition comprising a. blending: i) a homogenous cake, wherein the cake is made by mixing, at a temperature that ranges from 20 C. to about 90 C. a) a plasmolysed micro-organism in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 90% by weight of the total weight of the cake; b) a flavor or fragrance oil provided in an amount of from at least 0.01% up to about 60% by weight of the total weight of the cake; and c) water provided in an amount of from about 5% up to about 90% by weight of the total weight of the cake; wherein the micro-organism to water ratio in the cake is provided in an amount, by weight, of about 4.5:1 to 0.5:1; with ii) at least about 40% up to about 99.9%, by weight desiccant, of the total weight of the composition; iii) optionally from about 0.2 to about 2% by weight a flow agent of the total weight of the composition to form a uniform mixer. b. sifting the blended mixer to form a powder with a particle size about 100 to 1,000 micrometer.

A simple cellulose sulphate based microencapsulation technology has been applied to encapsulate bacterial or other microbial cells, which produce and release digestive enzymes and thereby provides an acid resistant shelter for these microbial cells. Surprisingly, the resulting spheres were found to provide sufficient protection for encapsulated cells from treatment with aqueous acidic solutions. Thereby the cellulose sulphate microencapsulated cells, such as probiotics are now enabled to survive passage, for example, through the stomach after consumption by a human or animal with a higher survival rate than those not within a microcapsule. After passing the stomach these cells are delivering products produced by them, e.g. enzymes or other nutrition factors. This technology therefore proves to be very useful in providing digestive or otherwise beneficial enzymes and/or of living microbial cells, into the lower gastrointestinal tract, where they could confer their health benefit to the host.

A simple cellulose sulphate based microencapsulation technology has been applied to encapsulate bacterial or other microbial cells, which produce and release digestive enzymes and thereby provides an acid resistant shelter for these microbial cells. Surprisingly, the resulting spheres were found to provide sufficient protection for encapsulated cells from treatment with aqueous acidic solutions. Thereby the cellulose sulphate microencapsulated cells, such as probiotics are now enabled to survive passage, for example, through the stomach after consumption by a human or animal with a higher survival rate than those not within a microcapsule. After passing the stomach these cells are delivering products produced by them, e.g. enzymes or other nutrition factors. This technology therefore proves to be very useful in providing digestive or otherwise beneficial enzymes and/or of living microbial cells, into the lower gastrointestinal tract, where they could confer their health benefit to the host.