Process for preparing a pumpable broth composition

Abstract

This invention provides a high quality soluble protein composition and the processes of making the same. According to the described methods, a non-pumpable broth may be converted into a pumpable broth by using a filtration means. The resulting compositions are shelf-stable, easy to use and have excellent nutritional values as compared to other protein products.

Claims

1. A method of making a pumpable composition, comprising: (a) applying a starting composition to a filtration means, said filtration means having a pore size of 500 nanometers (nm) or smaller, said starting composition being prepared from an animal source, (b) allowing the starting composition to pass through the filtration means, and (c) collecting permeate that passes through said filtration means to obtain said pumpable composition, wherein said composition obtained in step (c) is pumpable at refrigeration temperature, and wherein hydroxyproline constitutes less than 3% (w/w) of total amino acids in said pumpable composition obtained in step (c).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said pumpable composition obtained in step (c) has at least 50% (w/w) solids.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said pumpable composition obtained in step (c) has collagen concentration of 10% (w/w) or lower.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein proline constitutes less than 7% (w/w) of total amino acids in said pumpable composition obtained in step (c).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein glycine constitutes less than 11% (w/w) of total amino acids in said pumpable composition obtained in step (c).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said filtration means is selected from the group consisting of microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said starting composition is subjected to a separation step before being applied to the filtration means, said separation step preceding step (a).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said separation step is carried out by centrifugation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said pumpable composition obtained in step (c) has a water activity of 0.85 or lower.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said pumpable composition obtained in step (c) is shelf-stable.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein enzyme is added to said starting composition before being applied to the filtration means.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein salt is added to said starting composition before being applied to the filtration means.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step (d) to remove sodium from the pumpable composition obtained in step (c).

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the level of sodium is reduced by at least 50% in step (d).

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition obtained in step (c) is pumpable at 4 C.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the color of the pumpable composition obtained in step (c) is substantially different from the color of the starting composition.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the color of the pumpable composition obtained in step (c) is substantially lighter than the color of the starting composition.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said filtration means has a pore size of 100 nm or smaller.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said pumpable composition obtained in step (c) has a viscosity of 50,000 cP or lower.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(1) This disclosure relates to a process for making a high protein composition from an animal source. In one aspect, the disclosed process may be used to make a pumpable composition from a composition that is not pumpable.

(2) The term refrigerated (or refrigeration) temperature refers to a temperature ranging from about 0 C to about 10 C, for example, 4 C.

(3) The term pumpable or pourable refers to the state of a composition having sufficient liquidity such that the composition may be poured by decanting or it may be passed through a pump without applying significant pressure. In one embodiment, the pumpable composition (e.g., broth) has a viscosity of 50,000 cP, 25,000 cP, 10,000 cP, 5,000 cP or lower at 25 C.

(4) In one embodiment, the disclosure provides methods of making a high quality protein composition from poultry. Poultry (e.g., chicken or turkey) is widely consumed in numerous applications as a healthy, nutritious food. Chicken broth is also widely used as the foundation for many classic foods including soups, stews, chowders, gravies, and sauces.

(5) As compared to other broth products, the disclosed compositions are easier to handle and provide a better balance of proteins and amino acids than regular broth prepared according to conventional methods.

(6) In one aspect, the disclosed process may be used to turn lower value raw poultry materials into a high value protein powder or broth without using additives.

(7) By way of example, several embodiments of the disclosed processes are described below:

(8) 1. In one embodiment, a method of making a pumpable composition is disclosed, comprising: (a) applying a starting composition to a filtration means, said filtration means having a pore size of 500 nm or smaller, (b) allowing the starting composition to pass through the filtration means, and (c) collecting permeate that passes through said filtration means to obtain said pumpable composition,

(9) wherein said composition obtained in step (c) is pumpable at refrigeration temperature.

(10) 2. In another embodiment, methods according to Item 1 are disclosed, wherein the pumpable composition obtained in step (c) has at least 50% (w/w) solids.

(11) 3. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein said pumpable composition obtained in step (c) has collagen concentration of 10% (w/w) or lower.

(12) 4. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein hydroxyproline constitutes less than 3% (w/w) of total amino acids in said pumpable composition obtained in step (c).

(13) 5. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein proline constitutes less than 7% (w/w) of total amino acids in said pumpable composition obtained in step (c).

(14) 6. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein glycine constitutes less than 11% (w/w) of total amino acids in said pumpable composition obtained in step (c).

(15) 7. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein said filtration means is selected from the group consisting of microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, membrane and combination thereof.

(16) 8. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein the filtration means has a pore size between 100 nm and 500 nm.

(17) 9. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein said animal source is poultry.

(18) 10. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein said starting composition is subjected to a separation step (d) before being applied to the filtration means. In one embodiment, step (d) may include, for example, phase separation of liquid:liquid or liquid:solid in time with or without elevated temperature to obtain or siphon off the concentrated liquid or solid.

(19) 11. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein said separation step (d) is carried out by centrifugation.

(20) 12. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein said pumpable composition obtained in step (c) has a water activity of 0.85 or lower.

(21) 13. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein enzyme is added to said starting composition before being applied to the filtration means.

(22) 14. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein salt is added to said starting composition before being applied to the filtration means.

(23) 15. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, further comprising a step (e) to remove sodium from the pumpable composition obtained in step (c).

(24) 16. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein the level of sodium is reduced by at least 50% in step (e).

(25) 17. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein the composition obtained in step (c) is pumpable at 4 C.

(26) 18. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein the color of the pumpable composition obtained in step (c) is substantially different from the color of the starting composition.

(27) 19. In another embodiment, methods according to any one of the preceding items are disclosed, wherein the color of the pumpable composition obtained in step (c) is substantially lighter than the color of the starting composition.

(28) In one embodiment, the soluble protein compositions may be used as an ingredient in food or beverage products. In another embodiment, the disclosed composition may also be used to prepare protein drinks, smoothies, or other nutritional or sport beverages.

(29) It is to be noted that, as used in this specification and the claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a device may include reference to one device, as well as two or more devices, unless the context clearly limits the reference to one device.

(30) The terms between and at least as used herein are inclusive. For example, a range of between 5 and 10 means any amount equal to or greater than 5 but equal to or smaller than 10.

(31) Unless otherwise specified, the percentage of certain component in a composition is by weight of total solid. Various commercially available products may have been described or used in this disclosure. It is to be recognized that these products are cited for purpose of illustration only. Certain physical and/or chemical properties and composition of the products may be modified without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that under certain circumstances, it may be more desirable or more convenient to alter the physical and/or chemical characteristics or composition of one or more of these products in order to achieve the same or similar objectives as taught by this disclosure.

EXAMPLES

(32) The following examples are provided to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to be limiting. The reagents, materials and instruments are presented as typical components, and various substitutions or modifications may be made in view of the foregoing disclosure by one of skills in the art without departing from the principle and spirit of the present invention.

Example 1 Preparation of Pumpable Broth by Filtration

(33) Frozen cooked chicken stock with 29% solids was received and thawed. The stock was then diluted to 12.85% solids, which was passed through a 50 nanometer ceramic membrane. The permeate was concentrated to 58% (w/w) solids. The concentrate had water activity measuring at 0.83. This permeate concentrate had high fluidity at refrigeration temperature (e.g., 4 C).

(34) Amino analyses of the permeate and retentate show that hydroxyproline, proline, and glycine were much higher in the Retentate samples than in the Permeate. This result confirmed that the majority of collagen and gelatin proteins was in the Retentate fraction while the percentage of collagen (and collagen derived proteins) and gelatin proteins in the Permeate fraction was reduced. This reduction of collagen and gelatin proteins in the Permeate fraction likely contributed to the reduction in gel strength and the increase in fluidity.

(35) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Amino acid analyses of the permeate and retentate Calculated Calculated W/W % to 100% W/W % to 100% Units Permeate solids Retentate solids Hydroxyproline 0.27 1.16 0.83 4.07 Aspartic Acid 0.57 2.45 1.02 5.00 Threonine 0.27 1.16 0.40 1.96 Serine 0.29 1.24 0.42 2.06 Glutamic Acid 1.88 8.07 2.55 12.50 Proline 0.65 2.79 1.11 5.44 Glycine 1.02 4.38 1.89 9.26 Alanine 0.61 2.62 1.15 5.64 Cysteine 0.08 0.34 0.07 0.34 Valine 0.25 1.07 0.43 2.11 Methionine 0.10 0.43 0.21 1.03 Isoleucine 0.20 0.86 0.36 1.76 Leucine 0.36 1.55 0.79 3.87 Tyrosine 1.28 5.49 0.69 3.38 Phenylalanine 0.21 0.90 0.35 1.72 Hydroxylysine 0.04 0.17 0.10 0.49 Ornithine 0.02 0.09 0.01 0.05 Lysine 0.55 2.36 1.05 5.15 Histidine 0.61 2.62 0.36 1.76 Arginine 0.41 1.76 0.93 4.56 Tryptophan 0.04 0.17 0.05 0.25 Total 9.71 14.77 72.40 Crude Protein* 17.77 76.27 18.28 89.61 Potassium 1.72 7.38 0.717 3.51 Magnesium 0.028 0.12 0.014 0.07 Iron (ppm) 12.4 53.22 8.51 41.72 Zinc (ppm) 3.60 15.45 2.28 11.18 Calcium 0.018 0.08 0.012 0.06 Sodium 0.775 3.33 0.342 1.68 Phosphorus 0.442 1.90 0.189 0.93

REFERENCES

(36) All references listed below as well as publications, patents, patent applications cited throughout this disclosure are hereby incorporated expressly into this disclosure as if fully reproduced herein. Shah et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/912,560. Shah et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/919,518. Shah et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/932,295. Shah et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/972,089. Shah et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/11/153,435. Dake et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/210,284. Dake et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/698,150. Dake et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/698,274. Dake et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/698,332. Dake et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/850,405. USDA SR-21 released Dec. 7, 2011 by U.S. Department of Agriculture.