General Mills, Inc.

S Ganesh Ganesan

Barrie R Froseth

Loren J Gordon

Douglas J Brash

Peter M Smith

Bernhard H Van Lengerich

Philip K Zietlow

Mathew F Langenfeld

James L Stinson

Philip E Palkert

Dean E Franssell

Aerated confections in the form of pieces having a body color and a body exterior surface importantly characterized by at least a portion of which has been modified to provide an appearance disparate to the body. The aerated food products comprise 50 to 98% of a saccharide component; about 0.5 to 30% of a structuring agent; and about 1 to 8% moisture. The aerated food products have a density of about 0.1 to 1.0 g/cc. The products are additionally characterized by having an external surface, and wherein at least a portion of the external surface has a distinguishing feature differing from the body in color, texture or structure. Preparation methods are disclosed directed to a mass of aerated confection pieces having at least one colored portion and having an external surface; applying a substance, at least a fraction of which has a second color, to adhere to the external surface and to define sticky aerated confection pieces; and, forming the sticky aerated confection pieces into finished non-sticky coated pieces, The confectionery food products find particular suitability for use as ingredients for children's RTE cereals.

Appearance modified aerated confection and method of preparation

A slitting assembly ( ) in the preferred form of a rotary cutter includes a shaft ( ) upon which relatively thin, large diameter annular blades ( ) are slid and held in place on the shaft by relatively large diameter hubs ( ). An axial bore ( ) is provided through the shaft ( ) for circulating a coolant in fluid communication therewith by rotary joints ( ). Thus, the blades ( ) are cooled below ambient temperature by conduction through hubs ( ) and shaft ( ) for imparting continuous longitudinal cuts in a band ( ) of fat-free brownie products having an internal temperature higher than ambient. The outer periphery of the blades ( ) rotate against a back-up roll ( ) rotatable about a parallel axis below the band ( ). Scrapers ( ) are provided to remove any product sticking to the back-up roll ( ) and the axial faces of the blades ( ).

Assembly and methods for slitting fat-free products

A slitting assembly (10) is disclosed in the preferred form of a rotary cutter including a shaft (50) upon which relatively thin, large diameter annular blades (56) are slid. Relatively large diameter hubs (60) are provided having inner surfaces for receipt on the shaft (50) and having axial ends which flushly abut with the axial faces of the blades (56) for holding the blades (56) in axially spaced relations on the shaft (50). An axial bore (54) is provided through the shaft (50) for circulating a coolant in fluid communication therewith by rotary unions (74, 78). Thus, the blades (56) are cooled below ambient temperature by conduction through hubs (60) and shaft (50) for imparting continuous longitudinal cuts in a band (12) of fat-free brownie products having an internal temperature higher than ambient. The outer periphery of the blades (56) rotate against a back-up roll (22) rotatable about a parallel axis below the band (12). Scrapers (30, 70) are provided to remove any product sticking to the back-up roll (22) and the axial faces of the blades (56).

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Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

S Ganesh Ganesan