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:
May. 06, 2003
Filed:
Jun. 19, 2000
Keith A. Evenson, Elk River, MN (US);
James R. Borek, Burnsville, MN (US);
Barrie R. Froseth, Plymouth, MN (US);
Daniel L. Green, Minnetonka, MN (US);
Jamileh Lakkis, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Bernhard Van Lengerich, Plymouth, MN (US);
General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
Nutrient clusters for food products such as for addition to Ready-To-Eat cereals by providing, in a preferred form of the present invention, nutrient products such in the form of aggregates or clusters comprising a first particulate component; a nutrient powder blend, and sufficient binder to adhere the powder to the particulates. The nutrient clusters are in the form of pieces each weighing from about 0.3 to 5 g. and having a moisture content of about 2% to 10%. Disclosed are methods of preparing such nutrient clusters involving applying a liquid binder to the particulates to form sticky particulates, adding a powdered nutrient blend and curing the mixtures to form hardened dried nutrient clusters. The nutrient cluster can contain 100% US recommended daily allowance (“USRDA”) of essential vitamins and minerals and can contain added macronutrients such as soy proteins, soluble fiber, and/or calcium in nutritionally dense form in as little as 5 to 15 g of nutrient clusters. The clusters find particular suitability for use in providing to-order customized cereal products in response to particular customer requirements for nutrition.