Title of Invention

A PROCESS FOR MAKING A POWDERED PRECURSOR FOR PREPARING A NEUTRAL OR MILDLY ACIDIC BEVERAGE WITH A PH IN RANGE FROM 5.5 TO 8

Abstract

A process for making a powdered precursor for preparing an acidic beverage upon admixture of the powdered precursor with a liquid, the process comprising the steps: (a) preparing a first slurry comprising a protein source and a polysaccharide stabiliser, said first slurry having a neutral or an acidic pH; (b) adjusting the pH of the first slurry, if necessary, to a value in the range of from 5.5 to 7.5, preferably 6 to 7.5, more preferably from 6 to 7; and (c) spray drying the first slurry after step (a) or step (b).

Full Text

F7754 FORM - 2 THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970) & The Patents Rules, 2006 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See Section 10 and Rule 13) BEVERAGES AND THEIR PREPARATION HINDUSTAN LEVER LIMITED, a company incorporated under the Indian Companies Act, 1913 and having its registered office at Hindustan Lever House, 165/166, Backbay Reclamation, Mumbai -400 020, Maharashtra, India The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed WO 2005/063058 PCT/EP2004/013502 1 BEVERAGES AND THEIR PREPARATION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to beverages, especially 5 beverages having a pH at or close to neutral and processes for preparing them. The beverages may be in powder form for conversion into a drink by the addition of a liquid. Background of the Invention 10 At neutral or mildly acidic pH, protein used in instant powdered drinks tends to sediment, due to poor dispersibility, leading to phase separation and consumer perception of chalkiness and sandiness. In order to produce stable acidic foods, different stabilisers have been used to prevent 15 coagulation and precipitation of protein particles. At higher concentrations of stabiliser, unwanted effects such as phase separation, precipitation, etc are observed. In addition, all stabilisers increase viscosity when used, and are therefore not suited to the tastes of today's consumers who prefer low 20 viscosity and light food textures. It is also known to granulate powdered soybean protein in a fluidized bed agglomerator whilst spraying-on an aqueous solution of carbohydrate, as disclosed in US-A-2002/146487 and US-A-2003/124226. 25 Stabilisers such as carrageenan, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na), propylene glycol alginate ester (PGA), water-soluble soybean polysaccharides (SSP), and beet-derived pectin (BD-pectin) have normally been used in ready-to-drink products, either alone or in combination (including mixtures with other 30 polysaccharides) for production of ready-to-drink acidic WO 2005/063058 PCT/EP2004/013502 protein foods in order to prevent phase separation with resultant chalkiness and sandiness caused by protein particles. Thus, there remains a need to provide beverages around neutral pH or mildly acidic pH, which are either in liquid, drinkable 5 form or which can be made into a drinkable composition by dispersing in a liquid, the drinkable compositions having a low viscosity, preferably in the range of 5 to 50 mPas at a shear rate of 0.1 s-1 or at 10 s-1 beverages avoid the drawbacks of phase separation, chalkiness and sandiness due to the protein 10 particles. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a process for making a powdered precursor for preparing a 15 neutral or mildly acidic beverage upon admixture of the powdered precursor with a liquid, the process comprising the steps: (a) preparing a first slurry comprising a protein source and a polysaccharide stabiliser, said first slurry 20 having a neutral or mildly acidic pH; (b) adjusting the pH of the first slurry, if necessary, to a value in the range of from 5.5 to 7.5, preferably from 6 to 7.5, more preferably from 6 to 7; and 25 (c) spray drying the first slurry after step (a) or step (b). According to a second aspect of the invention there is an acidic beverage made by the admixture of a liquid, preferably 3 0 an aqueous liquid and a powdered precursor made by the process WO 2005/063058 PCT/EP2004/013502 3 of the first aspect of the invention. An aqueous liquid is one which contains at least some water, preferably at least 10%, more preferably at least 25%, most preferably at least 50% by weight of water. The term also includes substantially pure 5 water such as tap water. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the inventors have ground that the above-mentioned problems can be overcome by spray drying of solutions of proteins and stabilisers at nearly neutral or mildly acidic pH. 10 Detailed Description of the Invention The beverage powder precursors must be mixed with a liquid in order to form a composition which is suitable for a consumer to drink. Any suitable liquid can be used, but preferred examples 15 are water and milk. "Milk" also includes flavoured milk drinks. Preferably a second slurry is prepared comprising the protein source, a third slurry is prepared comprising the polysaccharide stabiliser and the second and third slurries are admixed to provide said first slurry. 20 As used herein, the term "neutral or mildly acidic" preferably means a pH from 5.5 to 8, more preferably from 6 to 7. In any range wherein the lower value is "from 6", this may be replaced by "from more than 6" or by "from 6.00001" or "from 6.01". If the first slurry has a pH range outside the target range of 25 from 6 to 7.5 or outside the preferred target range of from 6 to 7, then before spray drying in step (c), in step (b) its pH is adjusted by conventional means. The Protein Source The protein source may comprise any specific type of protein, 3 0 e.g. animal, in particular dairy protein, or plant protein. WO 2005/063058 PCT/EP2004/013502 4 Preferably the protein source provides at least some plant protein, for example soy protein, pea protein or lupin protein, or mixtures thereof. These proteins can be intact or hydrolysed, and can be used separately or in combination with 5 each other. The total amount protein to be used may be generally about 0.5 to 10 wt%, preferably 0.5 to 4 wt%, and preferably around 2.7 % wt (e.g. 4 g in a 150g serving) with respect to the final product. 10 In relation to the first slurry, the amount of protein source in the second slurry could for example be from 5 to 20wt%. The Polysaccharide Stabiliser A wide range of polysaccharides can be used as stabilisers, 15 particularly polysaccharide gums. However, preferred stabilisers are selected from locust bean gum, tamarind seed polysaccharide, gellan gum, xanthan gum, guar gum, tara gum, gum arabic, kalaya gum, carrageenan, agar soybean polysaccharides and mixtures thereof. 20 One or more auxiliary non-polysacccharide stabilisers may be used in addition to the polysaccharide stabiliser(s). In particular, preferred auxiliary stabilisers are glycol alginate esters, methoxy pectin (HM-pectin), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na), propylene glycol alginate 25 ester (PGA), and beet-derived pectin (BD-pectin). These may be used alone or in combination. The most preferred stabilisers are guar gums. The amount of the stabiliser to be used may be generally about 0.05-10 % wt, and preferably 0.05 - 2 wt%, with respect to the 30 final beverage product, but these ranges do not restrict the scope of the invention because they may vary depending on WO 2005/063058 PCT/EP2004/013502 5 differences in the protein concentration. The weight ratio of protein .-stabiliser is preferably from 5:1 to 50:1 more preferably from 10:1 to 30:1. The amount of stabiliser in the first slurry is preferably from 5 0.02 to 20 wt%, e.g. 5 to 20 wt%. With regard to the third slurry, the amount of stabiliser in the third slurry is preferably from 0.1 to 20 wt%, preferably from 0.1 to 3 wt%. 10 Carbohydrate Preferably, carbohydrate is included in the first slurry, most preferably introduced via the protein source-containing second slurry. Preferred carbohydrates include sugars, starches, and maltodextrin. 15 Other Ingredients The powder preferably further contains emulsifier, organic acid (such as lactic, malic or citric) and oil fat and is fortified with minerals, vitamins, etc. Once dispersed in a liquid such 20 as water or milk, the drink is preferably stable against coagulation and phase separation for at least 30 minutes. Product Form The powdered precursor may be one adapted to make any desired 25 neutral or mildly acidic beverages, upon addition of a suitable liquid such as water or milk. For the spray drying operation, the feed may be a stable solution of the ingredients with a dry matter content between 10 and 50%, preferably between 30 and 40% (m/m). This slurry is WO 2005/063058 PCT/EP2004/013502 6 spray dried in a so-called spray-drier, resulting in fine particulate matter. A spray dryer is a system where the feed liquid is atomised by means of any type of atomiser, i.e. rotary, two or one phase nozzle, and subsequently dried to from 5 particulate matter. Where the particle size is between 5 and 400 um, eg between 5 and 100 urn. To produce a dry powder, the spray tower is preferably operated at a temperature of from 150 to 250°C, depending on the dry matter content and tower loading (mass flow ratio slurry to air). The resulting powder will be 10 typically hydrophobic. Due to its fineness and hydrophobicity the material is typically difficult to disperse in water without lump formation. An additional agglomeration or granulation step increases the particle size of each particle. The initial particle will have a d4/3 average particle diameter 15 of from 5 um to 100 um, e.g. from 5um to 35 um whereas the preferred d4/3 average particle size ex granulator lies preferably between 50 and 600 um, more preferably between 150 and 400 jam. This improve the dispersibility so far that it can be easily use in a powdered drink mix, where the spray-dried 20 powder is used, in a mixture with other powders. The agglomeration preferably takes place in a fluid bed type of agglomerator, like a Fielder-Aeromatic type. The binder fluid is preferably plain water. It is advantageous to agglomerate a mixture of the spray-dried material with a carbohydrate like 25 sucrose or maltodextrin or an easily dissolving salt. Alternatively any other type of agglomerator can be used,' e.g.: high shear mixer granulator e.g. Schugi type granulator or Loedige ploughshare type, pressure granulators, e.g. Bepex basket extruder type 30 granulators, or steam granulators. WO 2005/063058 PCT/EP2004/013502 7 The most favourable technique is the use of a combined spray-drier/fluidised bed system, where the powder from the spray drier is directly granulated. Such a system would be for 5 example a Fluidized Spray Dryer or a Multistage Spray Dryer form GEA Niro A/S. The agglomeration could be just due to the remaining cohesiveness of the powder due to steam treatment or water spray on, with or without addition of easily water soluble material as binder. Such material would be 10 carbohydrates, salts or polymers known as binder. The addition of lecithin can improve the wetability and dispersability of the powder. The present invention will now be explained in more detail by way of the following non-limiting examples. Throughout these 15 examples, the parts and percentages are based on weight unless otherwise specified. Examples 20 As analytical methods viscosimetry, particle sizing and phase separation measurements were used. The used methods will be explained in the following chapter. The viscosity was tested in a cone-plate geometry of a 25 rotational rheometer. Temperature was set to 20°C. The data are taken from the down curve of a flow curve hysteresis. 10 1/s and 50 l/s were chosen as relevant shear rates. The stability of the beverages was tested by measuring the 30 phase-separated volume in a cylinder as well as visually. When WO 2005/063058 PCT/EP2004/013502 8 visually clear floes were determined the system was classified as unstable. The surface weighted volume mean diameters D3,2 and D4,3 of the 5 particles in the beverage were determined by laser diffraction to get a value for sandiness. The amount of unstable dispersed mater was measured by centrifugation of the final product for 20 minutes at 2800 g 10 and 20°C. The percentage of the sediment (sediment/total mass x 100) was measured after 5 minutes of dripping out the water. Examples 1-4 These examples comprise, respectively, preparation of four 15 powdered beverage precursors by spray drying and agglomeration. The used material was a standard spray dried skim milk powder as source for a milk protein. The used spray dried was in this case a Niro Mobile Minor. The soy protein originates from a soy protein isolate: FXP 219 D ex Solae, as pea protein Pisane HD 20 NO5 ex Cosucrua was used. The stabiliser are: Blanose 7LF ex Hercules (SCMC 7), k-Carragenan (Genugel X-0909 ex CP Kelco), Vidocreme A type of guar gum ex Unipektin (guar). The used maltodextrin is a DE 12 maltodextrin ex Rouguette (Glucidex IT 12). 25 30 WO 2005/063058 PCT7EP2004/013502 9 Table 1: Examples with different proteins and stabilisers. Example 1 2 3 4 Protein source soy soy Pea soy/SMP Type k-Carraghenan SCMC 7 Guar Guar Protein powder SMP 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 16.9% Soy- 30.0% 30.0% 22.4% 28.7% Pea 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Ma1todextrin MD12 69.4% 62.0% 76.0% 52.8% Citric acid CA 0.0% 4.0% 0.0% 0.0% Biopolymer Stabilis er 0.6% 2.0% 2.0% 1.6% T in [°C] 159 160 161 160 T out [°C] 83 83.7 81.9 80 Total solids content in final product % 10% 20% 20% 20% pH 7.02 5.6 5.89 6.7 D3,2 wet 5 min. Micron 0.26 5 20.7 0.35 D4,3 wet 5 min. Micron 9.4 12.1 50 58.3 PhaseSeparation 15 min. % 0 0 0 0 Stable after 15min. yes Slightly flocculat ed Yes yes PhaseSeparation 45 min. % 0 0 1 0 Stable after 45min. yes slightlyfl-occulated Yes yes eta 10 1/sec. 5min mPas 28 30 35 31 2ta 50 1/sec. 5min mPas 22 28 34 29 Centrifugation % 13.6 22 35 7.7 WO 2005/063058 PCT/EP2004/013502 10 Example 4 is agglomerated in a so-called multistage drier, where a fluid bed is integrated in the spray tower. It was possible to disperse the agglomerated powder by adding it to water and by stirring the mass for 20 seconds with a spoon. 5 This shows that the powder has good instant properties. The non-agglomerated samples (1-3) showed less ideal instant properties and they were dispersed shortly by a blender type of equipment for 15 sec. 10 Reference samples were produced for comparison to the above examples. Table 2: Reference samples WO 2005/063058 PCT/EP2004/013502 Example Ref1 Ref2 Ref3 Ref4 Protein source Soy Soy Pea/Guar Soy/Guar Protein powder SMP 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Soy 30.0% 30.0% 0.0% 30.0% Pea 0.0% 0.0% 25.0% 0.0% Maltodextrin MD12 70.0% 67.0% 75.0% 70.0% Citric acid CA 0.0% 3.0% 0.0% 2.0% Biopolymer 0.00% 0.0% 2.00% 2.00% Total solids content in final product % 20.0% 20.0% 20.0% 20.0% PH 7.08 5.5 6.01 6.99 D3.2 wet 5 min. micron 13.3 5.5 27.1 0.7 D4,3 wet 5 min. micron 21.7 25.5 85 149.6 Phase separation 15 min. % 1 0 0 1 Stable after 15min. yes slightly flocculated yes yes Phase separation 45 min. % 10 0.5 2 10 Stable after 45min. slightly flocculated slightly flocculated yes slightly flocculated 3ta 10 1/sec. 5min mPas 9.5 58 61 246 3ta 50 1/sec. 5min mPas 10.5 29 61 360 Centrifugation % 19.5 36.7 32.9 6.6 02-09-2005 7754 (V) Cpl EP0413502 EPO – DG1 02.09.2005 12 Claims 1. A process for making a powdered precursor for preparing a neutral or mildly acidic beverage upon admixture of the powdered precursor with a liquid, the process comprising the steps: (a) preparing a first slurry comprising a protein source and a polysaccharide stabilizer selected from locust bean gum, tamarind seed polysaccharide, gellan gum, xanthan gum, guar gum, tara gum, gum arabic, kalaya gum, carrageenan, agar soybean polysaccharides and mixtures thereof, said first slurry having a neutral or mildly acidic pH; (b) adjusting the pH of the first slurry, if necessary, to a value in the range of from 5.5 to 7.5, preferably from 6 to 7.5, more preferably-from 6 to 7; and (c) spray drying the first slurry having a dry matter content of 10-50% (m/m) after step (a) or step (b). 2. A process according to claim 1, wherein a second slurry is prepared comprising the protein source, a third slurry is prepared comprising the stabiliser and the second and third slurries are then mixed to form said first slurry. 3. A process according to either preceding claim, wherein carbohydrate is added to at least one slurry, preferably the second slurry as recited in claim 2. AMENDED SHEET 02-09-2005 7754 (V) Cpl EP0413502 13 A-. A proccoa according to any preceding claim,—wherein the polysaccharide-stabiliser io selected from locust bean gum, tamarind occd polysaccharide,—gcllan gum,—xanthan-gum-,—guar gum,—tara gum,—gum arabio;—kalaya gum,—carrageonan,—agar soybean polysaccharide;] and mixturco thereof; 54. A process according to any preceding claim, further comprising the step of subjecting the slurry or any or all slurries to a heat treatment, preferably in the range of from 40°C to 80°C. 65. A process according to any preceding claim, further comprising the step of homogenising the slurry or any or all of the slurries. 76. A process according to any preceding claim, further comprising agglomerating the spray dried product of step (c). 87. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein in step (a) the first slurry has a pH above the isoelectric point of the protein, preferably a pH above 6. AMENDED SHEET 02-09-2005 7754 (V) Cpl 14 EP0413502 98. A process according to claim 2, wherein the stabiliser in the third slurry is neutral or is negatively charged. 109. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the protein source comprises a plant protein, animal protein or mixtures thereof. 11lO. A process according to claim 9i&, wherein the plant protein is selected from soy protein, pea protein or lupin protein or mixtures thereof, and/or the animal protein is selected from dairy protein. 112. A process according to claim 2, wherein the amount of stabiliser in the third slurry is from 0.01 to 20 wt %, preferably from 0.1 to 20 wt%. 123. A process according to any preceding claim wherein in step (d) one or more further ingredients are added to the mixture of slurries, these ingredients preferably being selected from fat, emulsifiers and organic acids. ±4-.—A neutral or -mildly acidic beverage made by the admixture of a liquid;—preferably an aqucouo liquid and a powdered precursor made by the proccos of any preceding claim. ±S-. A neutral or mildly acidic beverage according to claim 14, which containa atabiliocr at a level of- from 0.05 to -10wt%. AMENDED SHEET 7754 (V) cpl 02-09-2005 EP0413502 15 16. A neutral or acidic beverage according to claim 14 or claim 15,—which containo protein at a level of from 0.5 to 10 17-.—A neutral or mildly acidic- beverage according to any of claimo 11 16, which hao a viocooity of from 5 to-50 mPaa at a ohcar rate of 0.1 o~^or of 10 a~*- Dated this 23rd day of June 2006 HINDUSTAN LEVER LIMITED (S. Venkatramani) Sr Patents Manager AMENDED SHEET

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