Inhibition of expansion of a cereal product, such as a ready-to-eat cereal, by a particulate insoluble component such as fiber and/or calcium is avoided by pelletizing the particulate insoluble component. A binder component, such as gelatinized starch, is used to bind particles of the particulate insoluble component into a coherent mass which is formed into non-expanded pellets for fortification of the cereal product. The expanded cereal products, such as extruded puffed RTE cereals which contain the pellets, exhibit a crisp, uniform texture and cell structure, improved, prolonged bowl life, a non-gritty mouthfeel, and a smooth, uniform surface appearance even though they are fortified with high amounts of the solid or particulate insoluble nutritional components.

Flavor encapsulation is generally performed by mixing flavor with a prolamin solution and drying the mixture into powdered forms of encapsulated flavor. In one embodiment, flavor and zein are separately dispersed in an alcohol-water mixture of appropriate ratio prior to mixing. In another embodiment, an aqueous food comprising bioactive components is mixed with the prolamin solution, thereby initiating precipitation of the prolamin and concentration of the bioactive components in said aqueous food. Resulting powdered forms of encapsulated flavor comprise the bioactive components from the aqueous food. In another embodiment, a two-phase drying process may be employed comprising removal of alcohol for evaporation-induced-self-assembly of zein microstructures, followed by removal of remaining water to produce said powdered form.

Flavor encapsulation is generally performed by mixing flavor with a prolamin solution and drying the mixture into powdered forms of encapsulated flavor. In one embodiment, flavor and zein are separately dispersed in an alcohol-water mixture of appropriate ratio prior to mixing. In another embodiment, an aqueous food comprising bioactive components is mixed with the prolamin solution, thereby initiating precipitation of the prolamin and concentration of the bioactive components in said aqueous food. Resulting powdered forms of encapsulated flavor comprise the bioactive components from the aqueous food. In another embodiment, a two-phase drying process may be employed comprising removal of alcohol for evaporation-induced-self-assembly of zein microstructures, followed by removal of remaining water to produce said powdered form.

A method of attenuating a postprandial insulin response comprising administering to a subject a composition comprising at last one sugar alcohols, monk fruit, a rheology modifier, and tagatose wherein a subject ingesting a carbohydrate-containing food comprising the composition experiences a decrease in the postprandial insulin response of from about 10% to about 90% for a time period ranging from about 15 minutes to about 180 minutes subsequent to ingestion of the carbohydrate-containing food when compared to the postprandial insulin response of a subject ingesting an otherwise identical carbohydrate-containing food comprising an equivalent amount of sucrose.

A method of attenuating a postprandial insulin response comprising administering to a subject a composition comprising at last one sugar alcohols, monk fruit, a rheology modifier, and tagatose wherein a subject ingesting a carbohydrate-containing food comprising the composition experiences a decrease in the postprandial insulin response of from about 10% to about 90% for a time period ranging from about 15 minutes to about 180 minutes subsequent to ingestion of the carbohydrate-containing food when compared to the postprandial insulin response of a subject ingesting an otherwise identical carbohydrate-containing food comprising an equivalent amount of sucrose.

The present invention is directed to a panned confectionery product comprising a chocolate piece having a color adherent coating on a surface of the chocolate piece, wherein the coating comprises a color adherent coating solution selected from the group consisting of a chocolate polish and a confectionery glaze and at least one edible colorant adhered to the coating solution.

The present invention is directed to a panned confectionery product comprising a chocolate piece having a color adherent coating on a surface of the chocolate piece, wherein the coating comprises a color adherent coating solution selected from the group consisting of a chocolate polish and a confectionery glaze and at least one edible colorant adhered to the coating solution.

Dried powder solid particles are disclosed containing a probiotic microorganism and a carrier phase wherein the probiotic microorganism is encapsulated, and wherein the carrier phase further comprises at least a nutritious source. The dried powder solid particles have a particle size distribution between n and (n+400) m, wherein n is comprised between 100 and 10,000 m, preferably between 300 and 5000 m, more preferably between 400 and 1000 m.

Dried powder solid particles are disclosed containing a probiotic microorganism and a carrier phase wherein the probiotic microorganism is encapsulated, and wherein the carrier phase further comprises at least a nutritious source. The dried powder solid particles have a particle size distribution between n and (n+400) m, wherein n is comprised between 100 and 10,000 m, preferably between 300 and 5000 m, more preferably between 400 and 1000 m.

An oral composition comprising at least one probiotic bacteria selected from the genera: Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacillus, and ferric pyrophosphate.