Provided is means of thickening a liquid component, wherein the thickener contains an oil and/or fat composition, the oil and/or fat composition contains an oil and/or fat component containing one or more types of XXX-type triglycerides having fatty acid residues X, each with x carbon atoms, at positions 1 to 3 of glycerin, x, the number of carbon atoms, is an integer selected from 10 to 22, and the XXX-type triglyceride is contained at 50% by mass or more relative to a content of the oil and/or fat component being 100% by mass; or the thickener, wherein the oil and/or fat composition is a powder oil and/or fat composition having a loose bulk density of 0.05 to 0.6 g/cm.sup.3, the oil and/or fat component contains a 3-type oil and/or fat, and a particle of the powder oil and/or fat composition has a plate shape.

A protein product, such as a beverage or the like, includes a mixture of water, a paste comprising protein, pH buffers, and a stabilizer. In particular, the protein product includes from about 40.00 wt. % to about 98.00 wt. % water, from about 0.50 wt. % to about 35.00 wt. % protein paste, from about 0.10 wt. % to about 0.50 wt. % sodium bicarbonate, from about 0.30 wt. % to about 0.80 wt. % calcium carbonate, and from about 0.10 wt. % to about 0.80 wt. % stabilizer. The pH of the protein product is from about 7.60 to about 8.40. The protein paste may be derived from peanuts processed at a heat load of greater than 3 and less than or equal to 2000.

A protein product, such as a beverage or the like, includes a mixture of water, a paste comprising protein, pH buffers, and a stabilizer. In particular, the protein product includes from about 40.00 wt. % to about 98.00 wt. % water, from about 0.50 wt. % to about 35.00 wt. % protein paste, from about 0.10 wt. % to about 0.50 wt. % sodium bicarbonate, from about 0.30 wt. % to about 0.80 wt. % calcium carbonate, and from about 0.10 wt. % to about 0.80 wt. % stabilizer. The pH of the protein product is from about 7.60 to about 8.40. The protein paste may be derived from peanuts processed at a heat load of greater than 3 and less than or equal to 2000.

A thickening powder promotes safe swallowing of a nutritional product by an individual with dysphagia and can be used in methods of treating dysphagia, promoting safe swallowing of a nutritional product, and mitigating a risk of aspiration during swallowing of a nutritional product. The powder contains beta-glucan and at least one carrier ingredient in an amount that is neutral toward or enhances the extensional properties of the nutritional product. The at least one carrier ingredient can be one or more of maltodextrin, isomaltulose, sucrose or lactose. The powder can be diluted in a diluent to form an aqueous solution that is at least a portion of a nutritional product and to improve the cohesiveness of the nutritional product. 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 thickening powder promotes safe swallowing of a nutritional product by an individual with dysphagia and can be used in methods of treating dysphagia, promoting safe swallowing of a nutritional product, and mitigating a risk of aspiration during swallowing of a nutritional product. The powder contains beta-glucan and at least one carrier ingredient in an amount that is neutral toward or enhances the extensional properties of the nutritional product. The at least one carrier ingredient can be one or more of maltodextrin, isomaltulose, sucrose or lactose. The powder can be diluted in a diluent to form an aqueous solution that is at least a portion of a nutritional product and to improve the cohesiveness of the nutritional product. 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 present invention relates to a fermentation kit for the home preparation of plant juice fermentation products, also called plant-based milks, in particular fermented milks or liquid, stirred or firm yogurts, with ferments and at least one texture agent miscible with water at a temperature of 10° C. to 30° C.

The present invention relates to a fermentation kit for the home preparation of plant juice fermentation products, also called plant-based milks, in particular fermented milks or liquid, stirred or firm yogurts, with ferments and at least one texture agent miscible with water at a temperature of 10° C. to 30° C.

Disclosed herein is at least one low protein yogurt composition comprising at least one dairy ingredient, dairy alternative ingredient, or mixture thereof, and a texturizing agent comprising an inhibited starch and a non-granular, enzymatically-debranched waxy potato starch, wherein said low protein yogurt comprises less than 2.9% dairy protein content, and at least one method for making these low protein yogurt compositions. Also disclosed herein is a texturizing agent comprising an inhibited starch and a non-granular, enzymatically-debranched waxy potato starch.

Disclosed herein is at least one low protein yogurt composition comprising at least one dairy ingredient, dairy alternative ingredient, or mixture thereof, and a texturizing agent comprising an inhibited starch and a non-granular, enzymatically-debranched waxy potato starch, wherein said low protein yogurt comprises less than 2.9% dairy protein content, and at least one method for making these low protein yogurt compositions. Also disclosed herein is a texturizing agent comprising an inhibited starch and a non-granular, enzymatically-debranched waxy potato starch.

The present invention provides a hydrocolloid-based thickener composition for the management of dysphagia with improved dispersibility in water or aqueous liquids to allow for ready hydration and solubilisation, and a process for preparing the same. More specifically, the present invention provides a process for preparing a readily dispersible hydrocolloid composition, the process comprising (a) providing a dry blend of xanthan gum, carboxymethyl cellulose and maltodextrin in the form of a powder; (b) contacting the dry blend of step (a) with a solution of a calcium salt to provide a first agglomerate; (c) contacting the first agglomerate of step (b) with a solution of maltodextrin to provide a second agglomerate; and (d) recovering the second agglomerate, and the composition obtained thereby.