An apparatus and method for making meat jerky in the form of a thin-walled tube uses a food extruder extruding a meat mixture through a tubular opening die and coating the meat mixture with a solution of calcium chloride to firm the meat mixture in the tubular form without collapsing. The present invention provides a reproducible process for creating meat jerky tubes with consistent length, width, and size portion.

An apparatus and method for making meat jerky in the form of a thin-walled tube uses a food extruder extruding a meat mixture through a tubular opening die and coating the meat mixture with a solution of calcium chloride to firm the meat mixture in the tubular form without collapsing. The present invention provides a reproducible process for creating meat jerky tubes with consistent length, width, and size portion.

The present disclosure provides a concentrated and natural, vinegar-derived food additive, wherein the food additive is an antimicrobial food additive or buffering food additive, compositions comprising the vinegar-derived food additive, methods for making the vinegar-derived food additive. The concentrated food additive can have a high acid value. Food products and methods of making food products containing the vinegar-derived food additive are provided. The food products can be meat, poultry, or fish food products.

The invention relates to an optimized nutrient salt composition comprising elemental sodium and potassium in the ratio of 1:1.5 to 1:7 preferably 1:3 and elemental potassium to chloride in the ratio of 1:1 to 1:1.5 and method of preparing the same. Said composition can be optionally added with a) salts of calcium and, or magnesium as taste stabilizers, b) carbohydrate like polysaccharide, oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide to produce energy electrolyte powder, c) food additives selected from anti-caking agents, crystal modifying agents, flavoring agents, flavor modifying agents, coloring agents and or any other food additives and d) nutrients selected from proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, sugars, fat/oil, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and water. Said optimized nutrient salt composition can be used as food, food ingredient, food supplement, table salt, preservative, food additive, seasoning agent and ingredient for oral rehydration fluid, intravenous fluids, beverages, energy drinks, sports/study drinks and stimulant drinks for humans, pets and livestock and for plant nutrition.

The invention relates to an optimized nutrient salt composition comprising elemental sodium and potassium in the ratio of 1:1.5 to 1:7 preferably 1:3 and elemental potassium to chloride in the ratio of 1:1 to 1:1.5 and method of preparing the same. Said composition can be optionally added with a) salts of calcium and, or magnesium as taste stabilizers, b) carbohydrate like polysaccharide, oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide to produce energy electrolyte powder, c) food additives selected from anti-caking agents, crystal modifying agents, flavoring agents, flavor modifying agents, coloring agents and or any other food additives and d) nutrients selected from proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, sugars, fat/oil, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and water. Said optimized nutrient salt composition can be used as food, food ingredient, food supplement, table salt, preservative, food additive, seasoning agent and ingredient for oral rehydration fluid, intravenous fluids, beverages, energy drinks, sports/study drinks and stimulant drinks for humans, pets and livestock and for plant nutrition.

The invention relates to a composition for use in processed meat, comprising: (a) between 0.2 and 3 mmol/g of carbonate selected from potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate and combinations thereof; (b) between 20 and 92% w/w of vegetal protein; (c) between 10 and 70% w/w of a vegetal fiber selected from the group of cellulose fiber, inulin and combinations thereof; (d) between 0 and 5% w/w of acid equivalent of glutamate;

wherein the combination of components (a), (b), (c) and (d) constitutes at least 60 wt. % of the dry matter that is contained in the composition.

This composition is capable of providing similar functionality to processed meat as phosphates.

The invention also relates to a method for the preparation of the aforementioned composition and to the application of the composition in processed meat.

The invention relates to a composition for use in processed meat, comprising: (a) between 0.2 and 3 mmol/g of carbonate selected from potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate and combinations thereof; (b) between 20 and 92% w/w of vegetal protein; (c) between 10 and 70% w/w of a vegetal fiber selected from the group of cellulose fiber, inulin and combinations thereof; (d) between 0 and 5% w/w of acid equivalent of glutamate;

wherein the combination of components (a), (b), (c) and (d) constitutes at least 60 wt. % of the dry matter that is contained in the composition.

This composition is capable of providing similar functionality to processed meat as phosphates.

The invention also relates to a method for the preparation of the aforementioned composition and to the application of the composition in processed meat.

The present composition for maintaining or improving the quality of processed meat comprises on a dry matter basis: between 20 and 60% w/w acid equivalent of an organic acid component selected from the group of acetate, lactate and combinations thereof; between 0.05 and 5% w/w acid equivalent of nitrite; between 0.5 and 5% w/w acid equivalent of ascorbate; and between 5 and 50% w/w of a vegetal fiber selected from the group of microfibrillated cellulose fiber, inulin and combinations thereof; wherein the composition when diluted with distilled water of 20° C. to a dry matter content of 10% w/w has a pH in the range of 5.0 to 9.0.

This composition can replace conventional stabilizers, acid regulators and anti-oxidants without deteriorating the quality of the processed meat. Furthermore, this composition can be composed of “label friendly” ingredients, with a more attractive consumer perception.

The invention also relates to a method for the preparation of the aforementioned meat treatment composition.

The present composition for maintaining or improving the quality of processed meat comprises on a dry matter basis: between 20 and 60% w/w acid equivalent of an organic acid component selected from the group of acetate, lactate and combinations thereof; between 0.05 and 5% w/w acid equivalent of nitrite; between 0.5 and 5% w/w acid equivalent of ascorbate; and between 5 and 50% w/w of a vegetal fiber selected from the group of microfibrillated cellulose fiber, inulin and combinations thereof; wherein the composition when diluted with distilled water of 20° C. to a dry matter content of 10% w/w has a pH in the range of 5.0 to 9.0.

This composition can replace conventional stabilizers, acid regulators and anti-oxidants without deteriorating the quality of the processed meat. Furthermore, this composition can be composed of “label friendly” ingredients, with a more attractive consumer perception.

The invention also relates to a method for the preparation of the aforementioned meat treatment composition.

Systems and methods of treating meat are provided. An example process extends the storage longevity of a meat, and the quality of the stored meat, by infusing an absorbent pad with a sodium chlorite solution, placing meat to be stored on the absorbent pad, sealing the meat and the absorbent pad in a vacuum-packing bag to produce vacuum-packed meat, and placing the vacuum-packed meat in a refrigeration unit at a temperature around −1.5 degrees Celsius. Example systems automate the example process with apparatus components. The concentration of the sodium chlorite solution vacuum-packed with the meat on an absorbent pad is formulated to greatly increase the refrigerated storage life of the meat, over conventional preservation, at a specific temperature range between −1.7 to 0.0 degrees Celsius, while maintaining freshness qualities of the meat in taste and smell, and color.