US3634104A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microbial stabilization of combined foods and liquids
Assignee: General Foods Corp
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Filing: 1968-09-10
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Granted: 1972-01-11
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Expires: 1988-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A food product comprised of solid pieces of meat and/or vegetables intimately mixed within a liquid phase gravy or sauce is made microbiologically stable at nonrefrigerated storage conditions by infusing both the solids phase and surrounding aqueous liquid phase with stabilizing solutes to the extent of reducing the water activity of the solids phase to a level ranging from about 0.6 to about 0.9 and formulating the liquid phase with stabilizing solutes such that the water activity of the liquid phase differs from the water activity of the solids phase by less than 0.1.
Inventors
- 👤 Milton Kaplow
- 👤 Joseph J Halik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:58
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03J; H03J5/00; H03J5/02; A; A23; A23B; A23B4/00; A23B4/14; A23B4/18; A23B4/20; A23B7/00; A23B7/14; A23B7/153; A23B7/154; A23K; A23K30/00; A23L; A23L13/00; A23L13/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the liquid phase is formulated to contain a fat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the liquid phase is formulated to contain a colloid selected from the group consisting of starch, dextrin, flour and mixtures thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the food product contains an antimycotic agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process according to claim 4, wherein the antimycotic agent is potassium sorbate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the solids phase has an Aw ranging from about 0.75 to about 0.85 and the Aw of the liquid phase differs in value from the Aw of the solid phase by less than 0.05.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
177 words
A spoonable food composition having micro-organic stability when stored in a substantially moisture impermeable package at nonrefrigerated temperature conditions which comprises: a. a solids phase comprised of food pieces selected from the group consisting of meat pieces, vegetable pieces and mixtures thereof infused with micro-organically stabilizing solutes selected from the group consisting of sugars, salts, glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof to the extent whereof the moisture content of the solids phase is 20 to 45 percent by weight of the food pieces and the solids phase water activity ranges from about 0.60 to about 0.90, said solids phase intimately mixed with and immersed in b. an aqueous liquid phase selected from the group consisting of gravy and sauce, said aqueous liquid phase having a level of solutes selected from the group consisting of sugars, salts, glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof which impart to the aqueous liquid phase a moisture content of 20 to 40 percent and a water activity which differs by less than 0.1 from the water activity of the solids phase.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A spoonable food product according to claim 7 wherEin the solids phase water activity ranges from about 0.75 to about 0.85 and the aqueous liquid phase water activity differs by less than 0.05 from the water activity of the solids phase.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-07-12 | 1976-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-10 | 1979-07-12 | 1980-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-10 | 1983-07-12 | 1984-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |