A cookie product is prepared having a liposome-encapsulated component dispersed therein and leavened to a crumb-like structure. The liposomes substantially retain their structural integrity during the processing, mixing, and post extrusion baking and thus remain intact in the finished cookie. The liposomes may encapsulate flavorings, fragrances, preservatives, anti-staling agents, and other labile food additives. The liposomes may provide a sustained release of the encapsulant to the cookie during storage and prior to consumption. The encapsulant may be released when the cookie is baked or eaten by the consumer. The cookies are prepared by feeding the cookie ingredients to a blending zone of a cooker-extruder and heated to form a heat treated mass. A liposome-encapsulated component is added to the cooled heat treated mass and mixed at low pressure and temperature to prevent rupture of the liposomes. An optional source of water may also be admixed to form a dough-like mixture. The dough-like mixture is then extruded into shaped cookie pieces, and leavened by heating in an oven. The heat treating of the dough-like mixture in the cooker-extruder reduces the post extrusion baking time such that liposomes prepared from phospholipids having a high phase transition temperature substantially retain their structure integrity in the leavened cookie.
To incorporate a water-soluble active principle in a stable lipidic phase, the water-soluble active principle is added with stirring in the presence of water to a fat containing a lecithin fraction low in phosphatidyl choline and the heterogeneous mixture obtained is dried to form a homogeneous micellar phase.
Oxygen sensitive oils or oils containing oil soluble oxygen sensitive substances are encapsulated in proteins which have been reacted with carbohydrates that contain reducing sugar groups. An aqueous mixture of a protein preferably casein and a carbohydrate preferably a sugar is heated within the range of 60 to 160.degree. C. so that Maillard reaction products are formed in the aqueous mixture. The oil phase, up to 50% by weight is then emulsified with the aqueous phase to form micro encapsulated oil particles. The formation of MRP may also be done after emulsification prior to drying. The emulsions can be used as food ingredients or dried to form powders.
The invention provides a food additive prepared from refined and fractionated phospholipids containing at least 35% phosphatidyl choline and a ratio of 2:1 to 10:1 phosphatidyl choline to phosphatidyl ethanolamine which is complexed with water and vigorously mixed to form globular vesicles or liposomes. The aqueous liposomes are then used per se or mixed with food ingredients and/or with an edible reinforcing carbohydrate to form a suspension or paste which is added to the foodstuff. The liposome can replace some or all of the fat in the food as well as acting as a carrier, encapsulating agent, moisturizing agent, and depanner for foods.
An improved method for maintaining a designed functional shape in fabricated, expanded snack products by utilizing discrete, solid lipid particles. These lipids must be solid at room temperature with a melting point above 100.degree. F. such that they remain discrete and solid when mixed with the dough and are subsequently sheeted or extruded. During the toasting, frying, or baking step, the solid lipid particles melt and soften and disrupt the starch matrix, thus allowing steam to escape and preventing undesirable defects such as excessive blistering, pillowing, and other shape defects that prevent the intended functionality. The addition of solid lipid particles, however, prevents steam accumulation only in the localized area where a solid lipid particle exists. Thus, by changing the level of solid lipid particles in the dough, the degree of shape deformities can be controlled.
An improved method for controlling blister formation in fabricated, expanded snack products by utilizing discrete, solid lipid particles. These lipids must be solid at room temperature with a melting point above 100.degree. F. such that they remain discrete and solid when mixed with the dough and are subsequently sheeted or extruded. During the toasting, frying, or baking step, the solid, lipid particles melt and soften and disrupt the starch matrix, thus allowing steam to escape and preventing blisters. The blisters are only prevented, however, in the localized area where a solid, lipid particle exists. Thus, by changing the level of solid, lipid particles in the dough, the size of resulting blisters can be controlled.
