Calcium-Enriched Food Product

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an enriched food product, such as a calcium-enriched chewable food product in which at least one piece of the food product provides the recommended daily DRI of elemental calcium. The enriched food product has a mouth feel, texture and taste substantially similar to a non-enriched food product. The food product may also provide Vitamin D3 in a range of 100-2400 IU and optionally may be enrobed with a flavored coating. The present invention is also directed to a method for producing the enriched food product.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive food product;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the food product of FIG. 1 showing the interior of the food product;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the process steps for producing the inventive food product;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of packaging for a single serving of the food product of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a multi-pack formed from the packaging of FIG. 4.

Claims

1. A calcium-enriched food product comprising: a chewable food product in which at least one piece of the food product provides the recommended daily DRI of calcium;wherein the calcium-enriched food product has a mouth feel, texture and taste substantially similar to a non-calcium-enriched food product.

2. The food product of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of food product provides calcium in the range of 100-1500 mg.

3. The food product of claim 2, wherein the at least one piece of the food product provides calcium in the range of 100-650 mg.

4. The food product of claim 3, wherein the calcium is 500 mg.

5. The food product of claim 3, wherein the calcium is 100-490 mg.

6. The food product of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of the food product also provides Vitamin D3 in a range of 100-2400 IU.

7. The food product of claim 6 wherein the range of Vitamin D3 is 200-1200 IU.

8. The food product of claim 1, wherein the food product is enrobed with a flavored coating.

9. The food product of claim 1, wherein the calcium is selected from a group of calcium sources consisting of calcium citrate, calcium gluconate, calcium lactate, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and calcium citrate malate.

10. The food product of claim 9, wherein less than 100% of the calcium source has a particle size less than 100 μm.

11. The food product of claim 10, wherein less than 99% of the calcium source has a particle size less than 40 μm.

12. The food product of claim 11, wherein less than 90% of the calcium source has a particle size less than 20 μm.

13. The food product of claim 1, wherein the food product is selected from a group consisting of a baked food product, an unbaked food product, a cooked food product, an uncooked food product, a confectionary, a flavored cake, a brownie, a strudel and other cake-like products.

14. The food product of claim 13, wherein the food product has a bakery or confectionary type interior.

15. The food product of claim 13, wherein the food product is enrobed with a flavored coating.

16. The food product of claim 13, wherein the food product has a flavor selected from a group consisting of chocolate, chocolate mint, lemon, caramel, cappuccino, mocha, cinnamon, maple, butter, fruit flavors, vanilla, peanut butter, and carrot cake flavor.

17. The food product of claim 15, wherein the coating has a flavor selected from a group consisting of chocolate, chocolate mint, lemon, caramel, cappuccino, mocha, cinnamon, maple, butter, fruit flavors, vanilla, and peanut butter.

18. The food product of claim 1, wherein each piece of unenrobed food product has a weigh in the range of 3.5 to 24 grams.

19. The food product of claim 8, wherein each piece of the food product is completely enrobed with 0.5-8 grams of coating.

20. A method for producing an enriched food product, the food product being chewable and providing the recommended daily DRI of calcium, the method comprising the steps of: a) mixing selected wet and dry ingredients in a mixer to form a mixed dough/batter;b) feeding the mixed dough/batter through an extruder;c) cutting the extruded dough/batter into individual pieces;d) packing the extruded pieces into packing material thereby providing a chewable calcium-enriched food product in which in which at least one piece of the food product provides the recommended daily DRI of calcium and the food product has a mouth feel, texture and taste substantially similar to a non-calcium-enriched food product.

21. The method of claim 20, further including the step of completely enrobing the individual pieces with an exterior coating prior to packing the pieces into the trays.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the trays are blister cavity trays that are hermetically sealed after filling.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one piece of the food product provide calcium the range of 100-1500 mg.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein one piece of the food product provides calcium in the range of 100-650 mg.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the calcium is 500 mg.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the calcium is 100-490 mg.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one piece of the food product also provides Vitamin D3 in a range of 100-2400 IU.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein each piece of the food product provides Vitamin D3 in a range of 200-1200 IU.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the calcium is selected from a group of calcium sources consisting of calcium citrate, calcium gluconate, calcium lactate, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and calcium citrate malate.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein less than 100% of the calcium source has a particle size less than 100 μm.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein less than 99% of the calcium source has a particle size less than 40 μm.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein less than 90% of the calcium source has a particle size less than 20 μm.

33. The method of claim 20, wherein the food product is selected from a group consisting of a baked food product, an unbaked food product, a cooked food product, an uncooked food product, a confectionary, a flavored cake, a brownie, a strudel and other cake-like products.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the food product has a bakery or confectionary type interior.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the food product is enrobed with a flavored coating.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the food product has a flavor selected from a group consisting of chocolate, chocolate mint, lemon, caramel, cappuccino, mocha, cinnamon, maple, butter, fruit flavors, vanilla, peanut butter, and carrot cake flavor.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the coating has a flavor selected from a group consisting of chocolate, chocolate mint, lemon, caramel, cappuccino, mocha, cinnamon, maple, butter, fruit flavors, vanilla, and peanut butter.

38. The method of claim 20, wherein each piece of unenrobed the food product has a weight in the range of 3.5 to 24 grams.

39. The method of claim 20, wherein each piece of the food product is completely enrobed with 0.5-8 grams of coating.

40. An enriched food product comprising: a chewable food product in which at least one piece of the food product is a delivery system for active compounds, beneficial oils and fats, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals or additives;wherein the enriched food product has a mouth feel, texture and taste substantially similar to a non-enriched food product.

41. The enriched food product of claim 40, wherein the active compounds are selected from a group consisting of minerals such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus; vitamins such as Vitamin A, the Vitamin B group, Vitamin C, D and K.

42. The enriched food product of claim 40, wherein the beneficial oils and fats are selected from a group consisting of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), omega 6 and 3 fatty acids

43. The enriched food product of claim 40, wherein the active compounds are further selected from a group consisting of functional ingredients such as antioxidant and other related compounds, glucosamine, and chondroitin.

44. The enriched food product of claim 40, wherein the pharmaceuticals are selected from a group consisting of phenyltoin, cholchicine, ibuprofen, aspirin, hydroxchloroquine, and diuretics.

45. The enriched food product of claim 40, wherein the additives are selected from a group consisting of caffeine, flavor masking agents, microencapsulated active compounds, and light, heat or temperature liable compounds.

46. The enriched food product of claim 40, wherein the food product is enrobed with a flavored coating.

47. The enriched food product of claim 40, wherein the food product is selected from a group consisting of a baked food product, an unbaked food product, a cooked food product, an uncooked food product, a confectionary, a flavored cake, a brownie, a strudel and other cake-like products.

48. The enriched food product of claim 47, wherein the food product has a bakery or confectionary type interior.

49. The enriched food product of claim 47, wherein the food product is enrobed with a flavored coating.

50. The enriched food product of claim 47, wherein the food product has a flavor selected from a group consisting of chocolate, chocolate mint, lemon, caramel, cappuccino, mocha, cinnamon, maple, butter, fruit flavors, vanilla, peanut butter, and carrot cake flavor.

51. The enriched food product of claim 49, wherein the coating has a flavor selected from a group consisting of chocolate, chocolate mint, lemon, caramel, cappuccino, mocha, cinnamon, maple, butter, fruit flavors, vanilla, and peanut butter.

52. The enriched food product of claim 40, wherein each piece of unenrobed food product has a weigh in the range of 3.5 to 24 grams.

53. The enriched food product of claim 49, wherein each piece of the food product is completely enrobed with 0.5-8 grams of coating.