The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 19, 1991
Filed:
Jan. 09, 1990
FuHung Hsieh, Columbus, MO (US);
Lloyd S Young, Barrington, IL (US);
Linda D Racicot, Hawthorn Woods, IL (US);
Subodh K Raniwala, Vernon Hills, IL (US);
The Quaker Oats Co., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
The invention relates to the preparation of fruit for use in packaged dry foods, such as mixes and ready to eat ceral. A method of infusing high levels of liquid humectant into fruits such as raisins, without generating a stream of waste humectant, is disclosed. The method comprises applying a relatively high level of liquid humectant as a surface coating, and allowing the raisins to stand for enough time for most of the humectant to be absorbed into the fruit, before admixing the resulting fruit the dry food for packaging. For dry foods having very low Water Activity levels, e.g. 0.30 and below, special means are disclosed for increasing the liquid humectant carrying capacity of the fruit, in order to accommodate very high levels of liquid humectant as a topical application, for infusion during a period of time in which the raisins are standing, e.g. during storage or shipment. These means include mechanical means, such as tumbling, or alternatively, ingredient means, such as the use of humectants containing thickeners.