Improved adhesion of powdered and particulate color and flavoring to dry snack foods such as, but not limited to: chips, pretzels, crackers, and puffed, popped, baked or extruded compositions is provided. The improved adhesive is a milk or water based composition with added high quality protein selected from one or more of milk, whey, milk concentrate, whey concentrate, isolated milk protein, soy concentrate, soy milk, soy isolate, egg, egg white, egg protein isolate, or combinations from animal, grain or legume sources with an essential amino acid composition that meets human growth and maintenance standards. The improved adhesive is applied to the surface of snack foods providing an adhesive surface for binding dry flavoring and colors. Examples show snack food compositions with improved nutrient content including reduced fat content, an increase in protein content and a beneficial increase in the protein quality measured by the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score.

For coloring foods, nutritional supplements, cosmetic or pharmaceutical products, the invention provides a dye, which contains at least one pigment in the form of a water-insoluble sulfate, carbonate, or phosphate of at least one alkaline earth metal, which is selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfate, magnesium phosphate, calcium phosphate, and magnesium carbonate.

A bleaching clay product, a method of producing and a method of decolorizing an oil are disclosed. The bleaching clay product comprises attapulgite that has been thermally activated. The bleaching clay product may have a permeability in oil in the range of 0.04-3 darcy and may have a surface area of 45-140 m.sup.2/g. The method of producing such bleaching clay product may comprise thermally activating a material that includes attapulgite by heating the material at a temperature in the range of 300 to 900° C. The method of decolorizing may include contacting for a contact time an oil with the bleaching clay product that comprises attapulgite that has been thermally activated, and separating the bleaching clay product from the oil to recover a decolorized oil that has a lower red color than the oil had prior to the contacting.

A steviol glycoside composition with reduced surface tension. The reduced surface tension steviol glycoside composition includes an aqueous solution of a steviol glycoside and a surface tension reducing compound in an amount effective to reduce surface tension. Method for reducing surface tension in a steviol glycoside solution includes contacting a steviol glycoside and a surface tension reducing compound.

A steviol glycoside composition with reduced surface tension. The reduced surface tension steviol glycoside composition includes an aqueous solution of a steviol glycoside and a surface tension reducing compound in an amount effective to reduce surface tension. Method for reducing surface tension in a steviol glycoside solution includes contacting a steviol glycoside and a surface tension reducing compound.

Various ingredients and compositions are prepared from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant. The compositions can be used as bulking agents, and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Various ingredients and compositions are prepared from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant. The compositions can be used as bulking agents, and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Colorant particles made from an insoluble protein-based substrate to which a dye is adsorbed are disclosed. The colorant particles are highly dispersible onto solid surfaces or within liquid systems, and thus can be used as substitutes for the alumina-based lake particles that are conventionally used as colorants in consumer products, such as food or beverage products, cosmetic products, pharmaceutical products, nutraceutical products, or toys.

An apparatus for use in decorating cookies, baked items or other items, comprising a thermoplastic rubber base piece; a piece of polyester silk component positioned on the thermoplastic rubber base piece; and an ABS plastic top piece, wherein the apparatus is configured to eliminate lifting of the stencil while airbrushing. When airbrushing food coloring through a stencil on to cookies or other items, the polyester silk screen presses the stencil against the item firmly and evenly across its entire surface. Further, the polyester silk screen slows the movement of air therethrough. These two properties both act to reduce an undesirable effect of the airbrushing process called under-spray, in which the airstream lifts the stencil off the cookie or other item slightly, blurring the edges of the stenciled image.

An apparatus for use in decorating cookies, baked items or other items, comprising a thermoplastic rubber base piece; a piece of polyester silk component positioned on the thermoplastic rubber base piece; and an ABS plastic top piece, wherein the apparatus is configured to eliminate lifting of the stencil while airbrushing. When airbrushing food coloring through a stencil on to cookies or other items, the polyester silk screen presses the stencil against the item firmly and evenly across its entire surface. Further, the polyester silk screen slows the movement of air therethrough. These two properties both act to reduce an undesirable effect of the airbrushing process called under-spray, in which the airstream lifts the stencil off the cookie or other item slightly, blurring the edges of the stenciled image.