General Mills Marketing, Inc.

General Mills IP Holdings Ii, LLC

William E Archibald

Dean F Funk

David A Kirk

Robert J Harrison

A packaged food article, comprising a package maintaining at least a partial vacuum and having at least a portion being flexible; and at least one food piece disposed therein in the form of a shaped solid composite mass comprising an aggregate base having a quantity of food particles, wherein at least a portion of the food piece is in conforming contact with the flexible package portion and wherein the food piece has a water activity of 0.45 or less is disclosed. In one embodiment the packaged food article further comprises binder. In most embodiments, the binder comprises 25% or less, by weight, of the product, resulting in a product that is less sweet than other grain-based handheld food products, yet retains a chewy texture. In another embodiment, highly oxygen sensitive ingredients are used as a food ingredient. The resulting product has a very long shelf life, maintaining its full color, texture and flavor for at least 3 months, up to about 12 months. Additionally, most of the frangible ingredients remain whole and there is minimal, if any, waste during manufacturing as no trimming is required.

Methods of making vacuum packaged food products

Described is a packaged dough product comprising a dough composition in a flexible package and including encapsulated basic chemical leavening agent and non-encapsulated acidic chemical leavening agent, the packaged dough product containing a carbon dioxide scavenger to reduce bulging of the packaged product during storage.

Growing community of inventors

Atascadero, CA, United States of America

William E Archibald