Method for forming shaped products for human and/or animal consumption or as marine bait and products produced thereby

Abstract

Methods for forming simulated, shaped, edible products suitable for human and/or animal consumption, or as a bait for marine creatures; and simulated, edible products produced thereby. More particularly, improved processes of the foregoing character wherein an aqueous alginate solution containing one of a sterilant or a sterilant neutralizer, with or without other additives such, for example, as comminuted food products, offal, coloring materials, flavorings, attractants and/or species specific repellants or irritants for marine creatures, are mixed into an essentially homogeneous viscous solution with the viscous solution thus formed being introduced in a desired shaped configuration into a setting bath containing a metallic salt in aqueous solution wherein the setting bath includes the other of the sterilant or sterilant neutralizer, so as to: (i) substantially instantaneously "set" the shaped viscous solution upon contact with the setting bath in the shaped configuration in which it is introduced; (ii) sterilize the ingredients comprising the product thus formed; and (iii), neutralize the sterilant so as to permit the intended use of the product without danger of harm or irritation from hazardous residues; yet, wherein the product thus formed can be readily made indistinguishable from the real or natural product that it simulates in terms of appearance, texture, bite, taste, feel, olfactory and/or gustatory characteristics, and other sensory characteristics.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.