Microcapsules having high carotenoid content
AssigneeKemin Foods, L.C.
InventorsZoraida DeFreitas, Harlan Hall, Jerry Newman, Mike Gordon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Microcapsules having a carotenoid content of between about 10% and 50% by weight. A crystalline form of one or more carotenoids is processed in a fluidized bed coating machine where a protective coating of a sugar or polyhydric alcohol, a starch, and optionally a protein, is applied. The carotenoid content of the finished microcapsules is in excess of 80% of the carotenoids present in the starting material.
Claims11
A microcapsule of one or more crystalline forms of carotenoids comprising a protective coating that releases the carotenoids upon ingestion of the microcapsule and wherein the carotenoid content of the microcapsule is between about 5% and about 20% by weight.
A method of forming a microcapsule of one or more crystalline forms of carotenoids having a protective coating that releases the carotenoids upon ingestion of the microcapsule, comprising the steps of:
- (a) fluidizing a carotenoid-containing starting material in a coating machine to produce a recirculating flow of the carotenoid-containing starting material;
- (b) preparing a liquid coating material comprising a sugar, a starch or maltodextrin, and optionally a coating protein;
- and
- (c) spraying the liquid coating material onto the recirculating carotenoid-containing starting material to build up the protective coating on the starting material.
A microcapsule of one or more carotenoids comprising a protective coating of a carotenoid composition substantially free of oil or fat and that releases the carotenoids upon ingestion of the microcapsule and wherein the carotenoid content of the microcapsule is between about 5% and about 20% by weight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.