# US 5,702,741 A · Granular particulate food composition and method of making > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,702,741 A - Document ID: US5702741A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/662,356 - Filed: 1996-06-12 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1994-09-30 - Assignees: Nestec S.A. - Inventors: Ernest Reutimann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702741A ## CPC - A23L 17/75: {Coating with a layer, stuffing, laminating, binding or compressing of original fish pieces} - A23L 13/03: {Coating with a layer; Stuffing, laminating, binding, or compressing of original meat pieces} - A23L 13/06: {with gravy or sauce} - A23L 13/57: {Coating with a layer or stuffing} - A23L 15/20: {Addition of proteins, e.g. hydrolysates, fats, carbohydrates, natural plant hydrocolloids; Addition of animal or vegetable substances containing proteins, fats, or carbohydrates} - A23L 19/15: Unshaped dry products, e.g. powders, flakes, granules or agglomerates - A23P 20/10: Coating with edible coatings, e.g. with oils or fats - A23P 20/12: Apparatus or processes for applying powders or particles to foodstuffs, e.g. for breading; Such apparatus combined with means for pre-moistening or battering - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) - A23P: SHAPING OR WORKING OF FOODSTUFFS, NOT FULLY COVERED BY A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS ## Abstract A granular particulate composition, which may be employed to coat an exterior surface of a food, particularly meat, to provide for fluid retention, is prepared by combining individual particles of aggregated solids of intracellular starch, undenatured milk protein and uncoagulated egg albumen, the individual particles being formed by at least one of the milk protein, egg albumen and intracellular starch solids. The granular composition may be prepared by drying an aqueous mixture of egg albumen, milk protein, and intracellular starch under conditions of temperature which substantially avoid coagulation of the albumen, denaturation of the protein and gelatinization of the starch to obtain a mixture dried suitably for being formed into granules and by forming the dried mixture into granules. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for preparing a food composition comprising drying an aqueous mixture of egg albumen solids, milk protein solids, native starch solids and a polysaccharide gum under conditions of temperature which substantially avoid coagulation of the albumen, denaturation of the protein and gelatinization of the starch to obtain a mixture dried suitably for being formed into granules and forming the dried mixture into granules. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the mixture is vacuum-dried and the dried mixture is ground to form the granules. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A process according to claim 2 wherein the mixture comprises the egg albumen, milk protein, starch and polysaccharide gum in an amount of from about 60% to about 85% by weight. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the mixture is freeze-dried. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the mixture is spray-dried and the dried mixture is agglomerated for forming the granules. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the mixture is dried and formed into the granules so that the granules have a storage-stable moisture content. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the gum is xanthan gum. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the mixture comprises the egg albumen, milk protein and starch solids in amounts so that the granules formed comprise, by weight based upon the weight of the composition, the egg albumen solids in an amount of from about 10% to about 30%, the milk protein solids in an amount of from about 10% to about 30% and the starch solids in an amount of at least about 40%. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A process according to claim 8 wherein the milk protein is a whey protein concentrate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The product of the process of claim 9. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The product of the process of claim 8. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the milk protein is a whey protein concentrate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The product of the process of claim 12. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The product of the process of claim 1. ### Claim 15 A granular particulate food composition which comprises individual granular particles wherein the individual particles comprise aggregated solids of intracellular starch, uncoagulated egg albumen, undenatured milk protein and polysaccharide gum. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A composition according to claim 15 wherein the gum is xanthan gum. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A composition according to claim 15 wherein the milk protein is a whey protein concentrate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A composition according to claim 17 wherein the starch is native starch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A composition according to claim 15 wherein the starch is native starch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) A composition according to claim 15 wherein, by weight based upon the weight of the composition, the egg albumen solids are in amount of at least about 10%, the milk protein solids are in an amount of at least about 5% and the starch solids are in an amount of at least about 40%. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A composition according to claim 20 wherein the gum is in an amount up to about 5% by weight. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) A composition according to claim 15 wherein, by weight based on the weight of the composition, the egg albumen solids are in an amount of from about 10% to about 30%, the milk protein solids are in an amount of from about 10% to about 30% and the starch solids are in an amount of at least about 40%. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A composition according to claim 22 wherein the gum is in an amount up to about 5% by weight. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) A composition according to claim 15 wherein at least 90% of the granular particles have size of at least 100.mu.. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) A composition according to claim 15 wherein the granular particles have a mean particle size of from about 140.mu. to about 160.mu..