PURAC Biochem B.V.

The present invention provides a powdered vinegar that comprises partly neutralized vinegar, i.e. vinegar derived acid that is partly neutralized with e.g. sodium and/or potassium hydroxide, and free vinegar derived acid. The invention also provides a process for producing such a powdered vinegar and the use of this powdered vinegar in a foodstuff or a beverage, e.g. as a preservative. The present process offers the advantage that it yields a stable, free flowing powdered vinegar that can suitably be used as a preservative in e.g. processed meat products. The powdered vinegar has a high content of free acid, is easy to dissolve and acts as an acidulant.

The present invention provides a powdered vinegar that comprises partly neutralized vinegar, i.e. vinegar derived acid that is partly neutralized with e.g. sodium and/or potassium hydroxide, and free vinegar derived acid. The invention also provides a process for producing such a powdered vinegar and the use of this powdered vinegar in a foodstuff or a beverage, e.g. as a preservative. The present process offers the advantage that it yields a stable, free flowing powdered vinegar that can suitably be used as a preservative in e.g. processed meat products. The powdered vinegar has a high content of free acid, is easy to dissolve and acts as an acidulant.

The invention relates to a particulate acidulant composition comprising 20-70 wt. % malic acid, 3-40 wt. % lactic acid and 0-40 wt. % of food acid selected from citric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid and acetic acid and combinations thereof, wherein the acidulant composition comprises: 40-90 wt. % of M-particles comprising co-crystal of malic acid and partially neutralized polycarboxylic acid selected from malic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid, and combinations thereof, said M-particles containing at least 30 wt. % malic acid and at least 30 wt. % of the partially neutralized polycarboxylic acid; 5-60 wt. % of L-particles comprising co-crystal of lactic acid and at least partially neutralized carboxylic acid selected from lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid, and combinations thereof, said L-particles containing at least 30 wt. % lactic acid and at least 30 wt. % of the at least partially neutralized polycarboxylic acid; and wherein the combination of M-particles and L-particles constitutes at least 50 wt. % of the acidulant composition. The invention also relates to a particulate coating composition, to a method of preparing a food ingredient or a food product and to a confectionery product.

The invention provides a fermented onion composition having a dry matter content of at least 8 wt. %, said composition comprising, per gram of dry matter: 75-800 mg acid equivalent of organic acid selected from propionic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and combinations thereof; 2-200 mg acid equivalent of onion acid selected from selected from citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, pyruvic acid, succinic acid and combinations thereof; 0-150 mg of saccharides selected from fructose, glucose, sucrose and combinations thereof; 0-40 mg of onion protein; wherein the combination of components a) to d) constitutes 50-95 wt. % of the dry matter that is contained in the composition. The fermented onion composition of the present invention may suitably be applied as a food ingredient in edible products as it has useful functional properties. The fermented onion composition of the present invention can be prepared, for instance, by subjecting onion juice and/or onion pulp to membrane filtration to remove e.g. protein, followed by a fermentation step using propionic acid producing bacteria, lactic acid producing bacteria and/or acetic acid producing bacteria.

Methods to prepare a fruit ferment containing propionic acid and/or a salt thereof comprising i) obtaining a liquid fruit preparation, ii) optionally supplementing the liquid fruit preparation with water and/or with additional components to support fermentation, iii) fermenting the optionally supplemented liquid fruit preparation with a propionic acid-producing bacterial strain, iv) optionally further processing the fermentation product, to obtain the fruit ferment. Next to a propionic acid-producing bacterial strain, a lactic acid-producing bacterial strain may be used in the fermentation. And, a fruit ferment obtainable by said method.

The present invention relates to microbial safety of meat products. In particular new additives are provided for effective reduction of pathogenic bacteria, such as Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC), on or in meat products. The present inventors found that a combination of a nonionic surfactant and organic acid is particularly effective in the reduction of these and other pathogenic bacteria in meat products. The addition of a thickening agent was found to further enhance the effectiveness of the compositions in eliminating these pathogenic bacteria. The present invention provides these meat preservation compositions, the methods of treating meat with these compositions, the related uses of these compositions, as well as the meat products accordingly obtained.

This invention concerns reduction of moisture loss during the processing of meat. The present invention resides in the finding that pre-treatment of fresh meat with compositions comprising acetic acid salts and certain polysaccharide materials can reduce moisture loss with as much as 15%, as compared to non-treated meat. In some embodiments, the compositions are based on ingredients that can be labeled as ‘natural ingredients’. The invention provides compositions comprising such combinations of one or more acetic acid salts with one or more polysaccharide materials; methods and uses involving the treatment of meat with said compositions; as well as the meat products that are accordingly obtained.

The present invention relates to microbial safety of meat products. In particular new additives are provided for effective reduction of pathogenic bacteria, such as Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC), on or in meat products. The present inventors found that a combination of a nonionic surfactant and organic acid is particularly effective in the reduction of these and other pathogenic bacteria in meat products. The addition of a thickening agent was found to further enhance the effectiveness of the compositions in eliminating these pathogenic bacteria. The present invention provides these meat preservation compositions, the methods of treating meat with these compositions, the related uses of these compositions, as well as the meat products accordingly obtained.

The present invention relates to compositions and processes for preparing microbially stable edible products from dough and to processes and compositions for preparing edible dough-based products having improved mold resistance, extended shelf-life and good organoleptic properties. In accordance with the invention combination of an acetate component and a propionate component, in particular combinations of a (buffered) vinegar and a propionate component prepared by fermentation can be applied in bread and other baked dough products to accomplish satisfactory mold inhibitory effects at dosages that do not (negatively) affect the organoleptic properties of the product, such as flavor, taste or aroma. Hence, the present invention provides new preservative systems, the uses thereof for inhibiting mold in baked dough products, and the baked dough products accordingly obtained.

The present invention provides a composition for preserving or improving the quality of meat products and meat analogues, said composition comprising on a dry matter basis: (a) between 30 and 80% (w/w) acid equivalent of lactate and acetate in a weight ratio acetic acid equivalent to lactic acid equivalent of between 0.8/1 and 2.6/1; (b) between 0.04 and 2.5% (w/w) of anthocyanidin; wherein lactate and acetate are contained in the composition in a molar ratio of lactic acid equivalent : acetic acid equivalent of 0.5:1 to 1.7:1. The invention also relates to a method for the preparation of the aforementioned composition, the method comprising providing a vinegar product containing on a dry weight basis at least 30% (w/w) of acetic acid equivalent, wherein the acetate is selected from sodium acetate, potassium acetate, calcium acetate, acetic acid and combinations thereof; providing a lactic acid fermentation product containing on a dry weight basis at least 30% (w/w) of lactic acid equivalent, wherein the lactate is selected from sodium lactate, potassium lactate, calcium lactate, lactic acid and combinations thereof; providing a source of anthocyanidin containing on a dry weight basis at least 0.1% (w/w) of anthocyanidin; mixing the vinegar product, the lactic acid fermentation product and the source of anthocyanidin. The invention also relates to a process of preparing meat products or meat analogues, said process comprising adding the composition according to the invention to processed meat in an amount of between 0.5 and 15% (w/w) dry matter.