Sugar beet pulp bulking agent and process

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for producing a non-caloric sugar beet pulp bulking agent comprising placing sugar beet pulp slices, particles or spent cossettes into a stabilizing solution to prevent darkening, water-washing to remove a majority of soluble carbohydrates, contacting with an alcoholic solution to remove color and bitter constituents, removing water and alcohol and milling to a flour consistency. The sugar beet pulp bulking agent is especially useful as a partial replacement for high-caloric ingredients such as flour, fat and/or sugar in a food product with at least a one-third reduction in caloric density, more preferably from 50% to 75% or higher. The sugar beet pulp bulking agent has a high water binding capacity of from 15 to 25 grams of water per 1 gram of bulking agent.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.