A coated confectionery is provided including a confectionery core and a shell surrounding said confectionery core. The shell includes a soft coating including at least one layer of a first coating material and a hard coating including at least one layer of a second coating material. The soft coating forms at least 25% of a total weight of said shell.

A method and popping machine for popping different types of popcorn kernels is provided, where the different types of popcorn kernels include at least mushroom type popcorn and butterfly type popcorn. The method includes determining a selected one of the different types of popcorn kernels to be popped in a first popping cycle based upon a selection made by an operator, and then retrieving and using a first set of predetermined cooking temperature set points associated with cooking the selected one of the different types of popcorn kernels during performance of the first popping cycle. The cooking temperature set points determine several items which may include when to heat a kettle of the popping machine, when to signal an operator to take action such as loading kernels or dumping popped popcorn, and when to add sugar if a sweetened popped popcorn type is desired.

Disclosed are methods and systems for continuously coating food pieces. The methods include a steps of directing and uncoated food stream through an enrober to apply a first coating to at least a portion of a surface of each food piece to form a coated stream and continuously redirecting a portion of the coated stream back through the enrober along with the stream of uncoated food pieces to apply at least one additional coating to the portion of the coated stream.

A product conveying and coating system includes multiple, sequentially arranged conveyor units, with at least one conveyor unit being an open belt type. A carrier sheet is placed on a first of the conveyor units, a web of coating material in liquid form is deposited on the carrier sheet and spaced ropes of soft and sticky material are deposited on and settle into the web. The carrier sheet, web and ropes are transferred to a second conveyor unit after the coating material of the web solidifies, whereupon the ropes are cut into bar-length pieces. Thereafter, the carrier sheet is removed while the web and pieces are transferred to the open belt conveyor unit and exposed to an enrober. The enrober coats the pieces while melting portions of the web between the pieces in order to form full coated or encapsulated food products with soft and sticky cores.

A confectionery item for applying an edible temporary tattoo to a person's tongue, including a release medium and an edible substrate configured to be insertable into the person's mouth, the release medium being securable to the substrate and coated with a layer of edible hardener onto which a transfer is printed, wherein the transfer is a representation formed of edible ink printed onto the layer of edible hardener and configured to be transferred to the person's tongue during contact therewith.

The invention provides a non-trans, non-hydrogenated fat composition comprising less than 45 wt. % saturated fatty acids (SAFA) based on the total fatty acids in the composition, and a solid fat content (SFC) melting curve wherein the change in solid fat content from N35-N25 is at least 15 and wherein N35 is less than 3.

Disclosed are confectionery products having a texture and other attributes of a potato chip or snack chip, but which is made from candy ingredients.

Described herein is a crystalline fat comprising a powder density ranging from about 0.04 g/mL to about 0.40 g/mL at room temperature and at least 50% of particles have a particle size ranging from 10 to 50 μm in diameter. Also described herein is a shortening comprising crystalline fat having a powder density ranging from about 0.04 g/mL to about 0.40 g/mL at room temperature and at least 50% of particles have a particle size ranging from 3 to 60 μm in diameter and a liquid oil; wherein the crystalline fat ranges from about 25 wt % to about 99.9 wt % and the liquid oil ranges from about 0.1 wt % to about 75 wt %.

The present invention defines a process for forming a chewable oral dosage form, such as a gum having a pleasant flavor and texture. In particular, the invention includes a process of forming an oral dosage form, comprising: a first step of hydrating a gelling agent of agar-agar and locust bean gum; a second step of mixing in components of the agar matrix; a third step of mixing in an active ingredient; a fourth step of cooking the mixture; a fifth step of flavoring; a sixth step of moulding and gelling; and a seventh step of demoulding, degreasing and drying. The oral dosage form according to the invention also comprises an agar-agar matrix combined with gums, such as locust bean gum, and/or sugar; glycerol; inulin; flavoring agents; citric acid; a coating; and water, to complete the composition, which includes active ingredients.

Opacifying compositions comprising low-dye lakes as opacifiers are provided. The compositions provide desired whiteness and opacity and also provide a precoat or whiteness/opacity to any layer including the colorant layer to enhance coatings containing colorants. The opacifying compositions can be used in a confectionery, food, pet food, soft or hard panned coating, or edible ink.