Micromilling plant sterols and emulsifiers

US6391370B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• KRAFT FOODS HOLDINGS, INC. · US

Inventors

• Richard B. Rogers · Midland, US
• John B. Topinka · Evanston, US
• Elizabeth Gwartney · Littleton, US
• Johnny Casanovas · Des Plaines, US
• Scott T. Ostergaard · Racine, US
• Daniel G. Lis · Schaumburg, US
• John A. DeWalt · South Holland, US
• Anilkumar G. Gaonkar · Buffalo Grove, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 6, 2000
• Grant date: May 21, 2002
• Expiry date: Apr 6, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A23V2002/00
• WIPO field: Food chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Plant sterols have been shown to be cholesterol-reducing agents in human serum. In the present invention, plant sterols, plant stanols, plant sterol esters and other non-toxic sterols are micromilled with emulsifiers in a solvent (water or edible oil) to produce dispersion which can be incorporated into full-fat, reduced-fat, low-fat, fat-free and triglyceride-free food products. Such water-based or edible oil-based dispersions can be used to incorporate relatively high levels of such sterols/stanols in food products without the adverse organoleptic effect normally associated with the use of such plant sterols and plant stanols.