Mars, Incorporated

John Richard Mitchell

Keith Buckley

Ian Edward Burrows

The invention relates to food products having a gelled or thickened aqueous phase, a pH value of 2.5 up to 5.0 and in the case of milk products up to the neutral range about 7.5. Applicants have found unexpected benefit in using crude pectinaceous material of which the degree of esterification is or has been reduced to less than 20%, and preferably less than 10%, as the thickening or gelling agent in such products. Gel strength measurements show that comparable gels are formed with much lower pectin concentrations when the crude material is used than when purified or extracted pectin is employed. Gel structures are better and there is an outstanding cost advantage. Products contain from 0.1 to 20% crude pectinaceous material such as comminuted citrus peel. They may contain comminuted animal or vegetable protein or fruit puree or other flavoring at a pH of 2.5 to 5.0. Alternatively they may contain milk or milk derivatives, for example, from 2 to 60% milk solids and may have an acidic pH in the case of yoghurts or a pH up to about 7.5 in the case of ice cream, desserts or other milk products.

Food binding agent

Food products comprising solid foodstuffs and more especially meat, meat by-products or other proteinaceous materials are contained in an aqueous phase of near neutral pH value thickened or gelled by pectic substances having a degree of esterification (methoxylation) of less than 20%. Where a rigid gel is required the pectic substance is preferably reacted with a di- or tri-valent metal ion, notably calcium ion and also with a sequestrant. The pectic substance may be a purified or isolated pectate or a natural pectin source, for example citrus peel, in which the pectic substance has the required low level of esterification, for example by enzymatic or chemical treatment of the natural material. Food products employing the thickener or gelling agent of this invention include canned meat products containing meat or meat by-product pieces in a gel or thickened gravy formed by the pectic substance, meat loaf and similar products in which the gel forms a rigid binder for the meaty material, formed products such as sausage or simulated meat pieces based on vegetable proteins, and semi-moist products based on comminuted meaty materials in which the pectic substance provides a coherent elastic texture.

Gelling and thickening agents

Food products comprising solid foodstuffs and more especially meat, meat by-products or other proteinaceous materials are contained in an aqueous phase of near neutral pH value thickened or gelled by pectic substances having a degree of esterification (methoxylation) of less than 10%.

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East Leake, United Kingdom

John Richard Mitchell