General Mills, Inc.

Maeve C Murphy

James E McGuire

Michael D Engesser

Robert L Schuppan

Stephen J Fox

Eric R Engesser

Brian E Glass

James E Langler

Ellen M Silva

Malathy Nair

Timothy T Johnson

Shannyn Stuart

Jerry L Fultz

Jose Antonio Maldonado

Amy Konkoly

Gary W Stoddard

Ann S Touhey

Duane C Wosje

Nancy Santori

Katya Barragan-Perez

Paula B Alcantar

Gregory J Yunger

James E Mcguire

Greg J Yunger

A method for preparing a cultured dairy product comprising: blending water, ultra-filtered milk and other ingredients to form a blended milk containing about 1.6% lactose, about 3.9% protein and about 0.8% fat; culturing the blended milk by adding a starter culture and fermenting the blended milk to produce a cultured dairy product; and processing the cultured dairy product with only mechanical steps to form a finished cultured dairy product containing less than 4% total sugar and less than 0.1% lactose.

Cultured dairy products and method of preparation

The present invention provides improvements in dairy products especially cultured dairy products such as stirred style yogurt. The improvement provides aerated or whipped yogurt products and methods of preparing such improved whipped yogurt products. The improvement resides in part in the post fermentation addition of a hydrated emulsifier blend to cultured yogurt.

Whipped yogurt products and method of preparation

The present invention provides methods for preparing at least pasteurized hydrated emulsifier compositions. The methods for preparing an aseptic hydrated emulsifier comprise the steps of: A. Preparing a hydrated emulsifier blend of lactylated mono- and di-glycerides; B. Treating the hydrated blend to at least pasteurize the blend to form an at least pasteurized hydrated emulsifier blend; and, C. Cooling the at least pasteurized hydrated emulsified blend to refrigerator temperatures forming a cooled pasteurized hydrated emulsifier blend. The hydrated emulsifier described herein is also useful in the aeration of food products such as yogurt, other refrigerated milk products, ready-to-spread frostings, fermented and unfermented soy, rice and nut milk products, beverages, and whipped toppings.

Food products and their method of preparation

The present invention provides methods for preparing at least pasteurized hydrated emulsifier compositions. The methods for preparing an aseptic hydrated emulsifier comprise the steps of: A. Preparing a hydrated emulsifier blend of lactylated mono- and di-glycerides; B. Treating the hydrated blend to at least pasteurize the blend to form an at least pasteurized hydrated emulsifier blend; and, C. Cooling the at least pasteurized hydrated emulsified blend to refrigerator temperatures forming a cooled pasteurized hydrated emulsifier blend. In preferred embodiments, the present methods comprise substeps for preparing the hydrated emulsifier blend of lactylated mono- and di-glycerides, comprising: admixing a first wetting agent emulsifier comprising sodium stearyl lactate with hot water to form a clear mixture; admixing a second emulsifier comprising a blend of lactylated mono- and di-glycerides with the clear mixture; and, maintaining the lactic ester blend of mono- and di-glycerides at about 43&#xb0; C. to 95&#xb0; C. for sufficient time to disperse and hydrate the lactylated mono- and di-glyceride in the clear mixture to form a hydrated emulsifier blend. The hydrated emulsifier described herein is also useful in the aeration of food products such as yogurt, other refrigerated milk products, ready-to-spread frostings, fermented and unfermented soy, rice and nut milk products, beverages, and whipped toppings.

Nutritionally improved cultured dairy products, such as milk beverages and yogurt products, include a fine powdered calcium phosphate salt of reduced particle size having a mean diameter &lE;6&mgr;m in amounts sufficient to provide a total calcium content of 0.25% to 0.75%. A method for producing the calcium fortified products is also provided wherein an fine powdered insoluble calcium salt is admixed with a milk blend prior to fermentation. A yogurt can then be prepared by conventional fermentation. Both stirred style and cup set style yogurt products can be prepared.

Calcium fortified products and methods of preparation

A reduced fat ready-to-spread frosting composition comprises a sweetening agent; reduced levels of a defined triglyceride high solids index shortening; high levels of particular emulsifiers; about 0.1 to 1.0 wt % of a selected high strength gelling agent; and elevated moisture levels. The shortening system is characterized by a high solid fat index. The frosting composition has a density of about 0.95-1.20 g/cc, contains less than about 6% total fat, and is further characterized in that the weight ratio of triglyceride to emulsifier is about 1:0.3-0.5.

Reduced fat ready-to-spread frosting

Food product

Growing community of inventors

New Hope, MN, United States of America

Maeve C Murphy