Hydrophobic protein microparticles
AssigneeOpta Food Ingredients, Inc.
InventorsLeonard E. Stark, Akiva T. Gross
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Water-dispersible microparticles of hydrophobic, water-insoluble, non-denatured protein, and method for preparing a suspension of these microparticles by the controlled precipitation of the protein, is described. The suspension can be used as a substitute for most dietary fats, or to encapsulate selected molecules. The water-insoluble proteins used in the process can be chemically or enzymatically modified to enhance the properties of the microparticles.
Claims23
A fat-substitute comprising a stable aqueous dispersion of microparticles of hydrophobic protein, said hydrophobic protein being water-insoluble in its non-denatured state and said fat-substitute having organoleptic properties of a fat.
A fat-substitute comprising microparticles of a prolamine dispersed in an aqueous medium, which prolamine is water insoluble in its non-denatured state, said fat-substitute having organoleptic properties of a fat.
A fat-substitute comprising spherical microparticles of zein dispersed in an aqueous medium containing a stabilizing agent, said fat-substitute having organoleptic properties of a fat.
A food product normally containing fat in which all or a portion of fat has been replaced by a fat-substitute comprising a stable aqueous dispersion of microparticles of hydrophobic protein, said hydrophobic protein being water-insoluble in its non-denatured state, said fat-substitute having organoleptic properties of a fat in said food product.
A food product normally containing fat in which all or a portion of fat has been replaced by a fat-substitute comprising a stable aqueous dispersion of generally spherically shaped microparticles of zein having a substantially uniform particle size and a stabilizing agent comprising a gum or surface active agent, said fat-substitute having organoleptic properties of a fat in said food product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.