Patent Application
20210127698
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a fat/oil composition containing fine food particle and a manufacturing method thereof.
Conventionally, as foods to be applied to bread or crackers, cream cheese-based sandwich spread with pickles, fat spread mainly composed of fat/oil, lever paste containing levers of livestock meat, and peanut butter containing nuts/seeds. Because these contain a large amount of lipophilic substances and/or in order to suppress the bleeding of fat/oil, additives such as emulsifiers were contained, which did not satisfy those consumers who are keen to health. In addition, if the conventional spread is stored in a cold refrigerator, it turns hard, as a result, it gets problematically hard to apply to a bread or a cracker because of worsened spreadability. If the conventional spread is placed at a temperature higher than a normal temperature, such as a warm season, it problematically turns too soft and/or fat/oil is separated. As a result, it was hard to apply it to a food materials such as bread or a cracker because of worsened spreadability.
As a method for effectively reducing the use of an emulsifier or a stabilizer, Patent Literature 1 reports a method of manufacturing of a water and oil contain food characterized in that fat/oil is absorbed into wet okara (water content: 55 to 95% by weight) having a particle diameter of 10 to 200 microns. Patent Literature 2 using a plant material, reports a method of producing a spread food containing a step of pulverizing a non-nut plant material to produce a powder having an average particle diameter of less than about 100 μm, and of exposing the powder to an elevated temperature. Also, as a spread product for fruits and vegetables, Patent Literature 3 reports a process in which a sweetener, a soluble dietary fiber, and pectin are mixed at high speed and a mixture obtained by adding vegetables is pasteurized. Further, as a spread-like food/drink using concentrated soy milk, in Patent Literature 4 reports a food/drink mixed with soy milk, a seasoning or a flavoring, and a stabilizer.
However, in Patent Literature 1, if the spread is used in food at an environment with high moisture and a varying temperature, the fat/oil and moisture may be separated from each other. Thus, the spread was not sufficient in terms of spreadability. In the technology of Patent Literature 2, the spread obtained by mixing flour from a non-nut plant material is not satisfactory enough, and there was a problem that the original flavor of the non-nut plant material is impaired because the flour from the non-nut plant material was exposed to an elevated temperature. In Patent Literature 3, pectin renders the spread hard at a low temperature and soft at a high temperature. Therefore, the spreadability was not to be maintained constant. In addition, the spread recited in Patent Literature 4 was not sufficient in terms of spreadability in a varying temperature but also by no means satisfactory to health-oriented consumers, because it contained a stabilizer.
One or more embodiments the present invention aim to provide a fat/oil composition comprising a fine food particle, which is used as a spread or the like, and which has good spreadability even under a low temperature or a high temperature.
In order to overcome the problems in the prior art as described above, the present inventors energetically studied to find that a fat/oil composition containing fine food particles, which satisfies a predetermined composition and physical properties, and which satisfies a stress under a predetermined condition, a ratio of a loss modulus to a storage modulus (loss tangent), and a composition in which a measured value (20° C., 10 seconds) by a Bostwick viscometer is adjusted in a predetermined range, respectively, is excellent in spreadability not only at a normal temperature but also at a low temperature and a high temperature, to complete one or more embodiments of the present invention.
That is, one or more embodiments of the present invention provides the followings.
[1] A fat/oil composition comprising fine food particles and having characteristics (1) to (5) and satisfying at least one of requirements (A) to (C):
(1) a fine food particle content of 25 mass % or more and 90 mass % or less;
(2) a total fat/oil content of 10 mass % or more and 70 mass % or less;
(3) a modal diameter of 0.3 μm or more and 200 μm or less after ultrasonication;
(4) a sugar content of 15 mass % or more and 60 mass % or less; and
(5) a moisture content of 20 mass % or less,
(A) stress measured with a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring device under conditions (a) to (d) is 0.2 N or less:
(a) mixing 2 parts of the fat/oil composition with 1 part of olive oil by weight,
(b) using a parallel plate having a diameter of 25 mm,
(c) setting a preset temperature of the fat/oil composition to 20° C., and
(d) measuring a maximum value of force applied in vertical direction when the parallel plate is lowered down with respect to a sample table to form a gap therebetween of 1 mm;
(B) loss tangent measured with a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring device under conditions (e) to (h) is 1.000 or more:
(e) using a parallel plate having a diameter of 25 mm,
(f) setting a preset temperature of the fat/oil composition to 20° C.,
(g) setting a gap to 1 mm, and
(h) a shear strain of 0.1% and an angular velocity of 1 rad/s; and
(C) a value measured (20° C., 10 seconds) with a Bostwick viscometer is 0.1 cm or more and 20 cm or less.
[2] The composition according to [1], wherein the moisture content (5) is 1 mass % or more.
[3] The composition according to [1] or [2], further satisfying requirement (6):
(6) (total fat/oil content)/[(moisture content)+(total fat/oil content)] is 0.75 or more.
[4] The composition according to any one of [1] to [3], further satisfying requirement (7):
(7) a maximum particle size before ultrasonication is 30 μm or more.
[5] The composition according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the fine food particles comprise at least one food selected from the group consisting of corns, green soybeans, green peas, carrots, pumpkins, kales, paprika, beets, broccoli, spinaches, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes.
[6] The composition according to any one of [1] to [5], comprising one or more kinds of oil cake food.
[7] The composition according to any one of [1] to [6], comprising an inedible part of food.
[8] The composition according to any one of [1] to [7], comprising an edible part and an inedible part derived from the same type of food.
[9] The composition according to [1] to [8], wherein the inedible part comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a corn core, a green soybean pod, a green pea pod, a carrot petiole base, pumpkin seed or guts, a kale petiole base, a paprika seed or calyx, beet peel, broccoli stem and leaf, a spinach stump, a tomato calyx, and a sweet potato end.
[10] A method for manufacturing a fat/oil composition containing fine food particles, the method comprising subjecting a fine food particle-containing fat/oil composition having characteristics (1) to (5) to warming until at least one of requirements (A) to (C) is satisfied:
(1) a fine food particle content of 25 mass % or more and 90 mass % or less;
(2) a total fat/oil content of 10 mass % or more and 70 mass % or less;
(3) a modal diameter of 0.3 μm or more and 200 μm or less after ultrasonication;
(4) a sugar content of 15 mass % or more and 60 mass % or less; and
(5) a moisture content of 20 mass % or less,
(A) stress measured with a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring device under conditions (a) to (d) is 0.2 N or less:
(a) mixing 2 parts of the fat/oil composition with 1 part of olive oil by weight,
(b) using a parallel plate having a diameter of 25 mm,
(c) setting a preset temperature of the fat/oil composition to 20° C., and
(d) measuring a maximum value of force applied in vertical direction when the parallel plate is lowered down with respect to a sample table to form a gap therebetween of 1 mm;
(B) loss tangent measured with a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring device under conditions (e) to (h) is 1.000 or more:
(e) using a parallel plate having a diameter of 25 mm,
(f) setting a preset temperature of the fat/oil composition to 20° C.,
(g) setting a gap to 1 mm, and
(h) a shear strain of 0.1% and an angular velocity of 1 rad/s; and
(C) a value measured (20° C., 10 seconds) with a Bostwick viscometer is 0.1 cm or more and 20 cm or less.
[11] The manufacturing method according to [10], wherein the moisture content (5) is 1 mass % or more.
[12] The manufacturing method according to [10] or [11], wherein the fine food particle-containing fat/oil composition further satisfies requirement (6):
(6) (total fat/oil content)/[(moisture content)+(total fat/oil content)] is 0.75 or more.
[13] The manufacturing method according to any one of [10] to [12], wherein the fine food particle-containing fat/oil composition further satisfies requirement (7):
(7) a maximum particle size before ultrasonication is more than 30 μm.
[14] The manufacturing method according to any one of [10] to [13], wherein Expression (I) is further satisfied:
H>145×2.73(−0.07×T) Expression (I)
wherein
H represents warming time (hour), and
T represents a maximum temperature (° C.) during warming.
[15] A method for imparting an effect of spreadability at a low temperature or a high temperature to a fat/oil composition containing fine food particles, the method comprising preparing the composition according to any one of [1] to [9] by warming of a fat/oil composition containing fine food particles.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a fat/oil composition comprising a fine food particle, which is used as a spread or the like, and which maintains excellent spreadability even at a temperature in a refrigerator lower than a normal temperature or at a temperature higher than a normal temperature in summer.
Hereinafter, examples of one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described, but one or more embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these aspects, and can be implemented with any modifications without departing from the gist thereof.
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a fat/oil composition containing fine food particles (fine food particle-containing fat/oil composition: hereinafter may be appropriately referred to as a “composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention”) that may be used as, for example, a spread.
Examples of the food as a raw ingredient of fine food particles used in the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention include, but not limited to, grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits. These foodstuffs may be used alone or in combination of two or more thereof. In addition, these foodstuffs may be directly used or may be used after various treatments (for example, drying, heating, harshness removal, peeling, seed removal, ripening, salting, and pericarp processing).
The grains are those to be eaten or drunk and may be any type. Examples thereof include, but not limited to, amaranth, foxtail millet, oat, barley, proso millet, quinoa, wheat, rice, sugar cane, buckwheat, corn (e.g., sweet corn), adlay, Japanese millet, fonio, and sorghum. In particular, preferred is corn, and sweet corn is further preferred.
The beans are those to be eaten or drunk and may be any type. Examples thereof include, but not limited to, kidney bean, runner bean, quail bean, soybean (e.g., yellow soybean and green soybean), pea (e.g., green pea), pigeon pea, mung bean, cowpea, azuki bean, broad bean, black soybean, chickpea, lentil, hiramame (Lens culinaris), peanut, lupine bean, grass pea, and carob. In particular, preferred are green soybean, pea, and black soybean, and green soybean and pea (in particular, green pea) are more preferred. Incidentally, green soybean is soybean in an immature state harvested together with its pod without being dried before harvesting and has a green appearance. Incidentally, a foodstuff of which a partial edible part is treated as a vegetable (e.g., green soybean or green pea) also can be judged whether it is a bean or not based on the state of the whole plant (e.g., soybean or pea) including the non-edible part (such as a pod).
The vegetables are those to be eaten or drunk and may be any type. Examples thereof include, but not limited to, artichoke, chives, ashitaba (Angelica keiskei), asparagus, aloe, cucurbitaceous plant, green bean, udo (Aralia cordata), pea sprout, podded pea, snap pea, okra, turnip, pumpkin, mustard, cauliflower, chrysanthemum, cabbage, cucumber, allium ochotense, water spinach, watercress, quiche, kale, great burdock, komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis), zha cai, sweet pepper, perilla, cowpea, garland chrysanthemum, ginger, stem of taro, sugukina (Brassica rapa var. neosuguki), zucchini, drowort, celery, tatsoi, Japanese radish, chinese mustard, bamboo shoot, onion, chicory, green pak choi, red pepper, tomato, eggplant, Brassica flower, bitter melon, Chinese chives, carrot, nozawana (Brassica rapa L. var. hakabura), Chinese cabbage, bok choy, basil, parsley, beet, bell pepper, fuki (Petasites japonicus), broccoli, sponge gourd, spinach, horseradish, potherb mustard, Japanese hornwort, myoga, bean sprout, cucumber, molokheiya, lily bulb, Japanese mugwort, Japanese leek, roquette, rhubarb, lettuce, lotus root, shallot, Japanese horseradish, western bracken fern, herbs (such as coriander, sage, thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary, peppermint, lemongrass, and dill), potatoes (such as kikuimo (Helianthus tuberosus), sweet potato, eddoe, potato, purple sweet potato, and yacon), and mushrooms (such as shiitake mushroom, matsutake mushroom, Jew's ear fungus, maitake mushroom, and mushroom). In particular, preferred are, for example, carrot, pumpkin, cabbage, kale, paprika, beet, broccoli, spinach, onion, tomato, and potatoes, and carrot, pumpkin, kale, paprika, spinach, beet, broccoli, tomato, and sweet potato are particularly preferred.
The fruits are those to be eaten or drunk and may be any type. Examples thereof include, but not limited to, acerola, avocado, apricot, strawberry, fig, Japanese apricot, citrus fruits (such as iyokan, citrus unshu, orange, grapefruit, lime, and lemon), olive, persimmon, kiwi fruit, guava, pomegranate, watermelon, plum, cherries (such as cherry and black cherry), jujube, pineapple, haskap, banana, papaya, loquat, grape, berries (such as blueberry and raspberry), mango, mangosteen, melon, peach, and apple. In particular, preferred are, for example, avocado, strawberry, berry, citrus, grape, and apple, and for example, strawberry and apple are particularly preferred.
The composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may contain arbitrary one or more foodstuffs in addition to the food as the raw ingredient of the fine food particles. Examples of such foodstuffs include plant foodstuffs, microbial foods, and animal foodstuffs. In particular, plant foodstuffs are preferable. Examples of the plant foodstuff include, but not limited to, spices and algae. These foodstuffs may be used alone or in combination of two or more thereof. Furthermore, the edible parts and/or the inedible parts thereof may be used in an arbitrary combination. In addition, these foodstuffs may be directly used or may be used after various treatments (for example, drying, heating, harshness removal, peeling, seed removal, ripening, salting, and pericarp processing).
When the foodstuff used in the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention includes an inedible part in addition to an edible part, only the edible part may be used, only the inedible part may be used, or both the edible part and the inedible part may be used. In particular, since an “inedible part” contains a large amount of insoluble dietary fibers, the use of the “inedible part” keeps the spreadability at a low temperature or a high temperature constant and is therefore preferable.
In the present disclosure, the “inedible part” of a foodstuff refers to a part of the foodstuff that is usually unsuitable for eating/drinking and is discarded in normal dietary habits, and the “edible part” refers to a part obtained by removing the discarded part (inedible part) from the whole foodstuff. In particular, a foodstuff including an inedible part has poor feeding ability and compatibility with other foodstuffs and has not been used for eating and has been discarded a lot. However, one or more embodiments of the present invention can suitably use such inedible parts. In addition, the classification of a foodstuff can be judged based on the state of the whole plant including the inedible part. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the proportion of the inedible part in the composition may be, on the wet weight basis, 0.1 mass % or more, 0.2 mass % or more, 0.4 mass % or more, 0.6 mass % or more, 0.8 mass % or more, 1.0 mass % or more, 2.0 mass % or more, or 3.0 mass % or more. In addition, the upper limit of the mass percentage above may be usually 98 mass % or less, 91 mass % or less, 85 mass % or less, 80 mass % or less, or 55 mass % or less. It is preferable to adjust the proportion of the inedible part in the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention in the predetermined range above, from the viewpoint of good flavor.
The edible parts and/or the inedible parts of foodstuffs used in the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may be derived from a single type of foodstuff or may be an arbitrary combination of those derived from multiple types of foodstuffs. Furthermore, when both an edible part and an inedible part are contained, the proportion by percentage of “(inedible part)/[(edible part)+(inedible part)]” may be 0.2% or more because the quality of taste of the edible part is improved, 0.5% or more, 0.8% or more, 1.0% or more, 2.0% or more, or 3.0% or more. In addition, the upper limit of the proportion by percentage may be 100% or less, 90% or less, 80% or less, 70% or less, or 60% or less.
In addition, when the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention contains both an edible part of a foodstuff and an inedible part of a foodstuff, although the edible part and the inedible part may be derived from different types of foodstuffs, it is preferable to contain the edible part and the inedible part derived from the same type of foodstuffs. That is, it is possible to eat the nourishment of a foodstuff without waste by using a part or the whole of the edible part and a part or the whole of the inedible part derived from the same type of foodstuffs.
Specifically, when an edible part and an inedible part are derived from the same type of foodstuffs, the inedible part may be contained in the composition in an amount, on the wet weight basis, of 6 mass % or more, 8 mass % or more, 10 mass % or more, 15 mass % or more, 18 mass % or more, or 20 mass % or more. The upper limit may be 90 mass % or less, 80 mass % or less, 70 mass % or less, 60 mass % or less, or 50 mass % or less.
Examples of the inedible part of the foodstuff in the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention include peel, seeds, cores, and strained lees of the above-mentioned various foodstuffs. In particular, for example, in the peel, seeds, cores, and strained lees of corn, green soybean, pea, carrot, pumpkin, cabbage, kale, onion, paprika, beet, broccoli, spinach, tomato, apple, avocado, and citrus fruits, but not limited thereto, since nourishment abundantly remains, they can be suitably used in one or more embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, examples thereof include, but not limited to, the bract, pistil, and corncob (core) of corn, the pod of green soybean, the pod of pea (e.g., green pea), the petiole base of carrot, the seeds or guts of pumpkin, the core of cabbage, the petiole base of kale, the protection leaf, bottom, or head of onion, the seeds and calyx of paprika, the peel of beet, the stem and leaf of broccoli, the stump of spinach, the calyx of tomato, the core of apple, the seeds and peel of avocado, and the peel, seeds, and guts of citrus fruits. In particular, from the viewpoint of productivity and flavor, more preferred are a corn core, a green soybean pod, a green pea pod, a carrot petiole base, pumpkin seed or guts, a kale petiole base, a paprika seed or calyx, beet peel, broccoli stem and leaf, a spinach stump, and a tomato calyx.
Incidentally, the site and the proportion of the inedible part in the foodstuff used in the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention can be naturally understood by those skilled in the art who handle the food or processed products of the food. For example, the “disposal part” and the “wastage rate” described in the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan, 2015, (Seventh Revised Version) can be referred to and used as the site and the proportion of the inedible part, respectively. Table 1 below lists examples of foodstuffs containing insoluble dietary fiber and their “disposal parts” and the “wastage rates” (i.e., the sites and the proportions of inedible parts) described in the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan, 2015, (Seventh Revised Version). Incidentally, based on the site and the proportion of the inedible part in a foodstuff, the site and the proportion of the edible part can also be understood.
In one or more embodiments of the present invention, from the viewpoint of securing an appropriate fluidity and preventing the overall color from becoming uneven due to migration of the coloring matter of fine food particles to oil, the content of the fine food particles contained in the fine food particle-containing fat/oil composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may be in a predetermined range. Specifically, the content of the fine food particles contained in the fine food particle-containing fat/oil composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may be 25 mass % or more. In particular, the content may be 30 mass % or more, 35 mass % or more, 40 mass % or more, or 45 mass % or more. In addition, the upper limit may be 90 mass % or less. In particular, the upper limit may be 85 mass % or less, 80 mass % or less, 75 mass % or less, or 70 mass % or less.
The content of fine food particles in the composition can be determined by measuring the content of fine food particles of 2,000 μm (2 mm) or less, which is the target of laser diffraction particle size distribution measurement, in the composition. When the composition includes food or the like having a size of larger than 2 mm, the measurement may be performed after removing the food or the like of larger than 2 mm. For example, a fraction of the composition passed through 9-mesh (aperture: 2 mm) is centrifuged, and the weight of the precipitated fraction obtained by sufficiently removing the separated supernatant can be measured. More specifically, the content of fine food particles in a composition can be measured by, for example, allowing an arbitrary amount of the composition to pass through a 9-mesh (Tyler mesh), centrifuging the passed-through fraction at 15,000 rpm for 1 minute, sufficiently removing the separated supernatant, and measuring the weight of the precipitated fraction. Incidentally, the content of fine food particles in a composition remaining on the mesh after sieving through the 9-mesh can be measured by sufficiently leaving to stand and then further allowing the fine food particles to sufficiently pass through a 9-mesh using a spatula or the like, and the content of fine food particles in a composition having a low fluidity not passing through a 9-mesh, for example, a composition having physical properties in which the Bostwick viscosity is 10 cm or less at 20° C. for 30 seconds, can be measured by diluting the composition about 3-fold with fat/oil that is liquid at a normal temperature, such as olive oil, allowing the composition to pass through a 9-mesh, and then centrifuging the composition. The content of fine food particles in a thermoplastic composition can be measured in a state provided with fluidity by heating as in the composition having a low fluidity not passing through a 9-mesh. In these cases, the fat/oil or moisture is partially incorporated in the precipitated fraction, and the total amount of fine food particles refers to the total weight of such components incorporated in the precipitated fraction and the food.
The composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may contain oil cake food from the viewpoint of spreadability and flavor. The oil cake food refers to seed plants and nuts that are usually used as raw materials for vegetable fat/oil, and it is preferable to use nuts from the viewpoint of flavor. Specifically, the nuts may be any type, and examples thereof include, but not limited to, almond, hemp, linseed, perilla, cashew nut, Japanese nutmeg, ginkgo, chestnut, walnut, poppy, coconut, sesame, chinquapin, Japanese horse-chestnut, lotus seed, Torreya seed, pistachio, sunflower seed, brazil nut, hazelnut, pecan, macadamia nut, pine nut, and peanut. In particular, almond, cashew nut, macadamia nut, pistachio, hazelnut, coconut, coffee bean, and cacao bean are mentioned, and almond, cashew nut, and hazelnut are particularly preferable.
When the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention includes oil cake food, the content thereof may be 3 mass % or more, 5 mass % or more, or 10 mass % or more from the viewpoint of spreadability and flavor. In addition, the content of the oil cake food may be 60 mass % or less, 50 mass % or less, or 40 mass % or less. Furthermore, although the oil cake food may have any properties, paste, liquid, semi-solid, and powder forms are preferred because of ease of mixing with each foodstuff.
The composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may contain one or more kinds of fat/oil. When two or more kinds of fat/oil are contained, the combination of the two or more kinds of fat/oil and the ratio thereof are arbitrary.
Although examples of the type of fat/oil include edible fat/oil, various types of fatty acids, and food made therefrom, it is preferable to use edible fat/oil. The edible fat/oil may be that contained in a foodstuff, but addition of edible fat/oil other than the foodstuff is preferred because of familiarity with the foodstuff. Incidentally, when edible fat/oil other than a foodstuff is added, it is preferable to adjust the amount thereof such that the content of the edible fat/oil other than the foodstuff is 10 mass % or more, in particular, 30 mass % or more of the total fat/oil content in the composition.
Examples of the edible fat/oil include sesame oil, rapeseed oil, high oleic rapeseed oil, soybean oil, palm oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, high oleic sunflower oil, safflower oil, olive oil, linseed oil, rice oil, camellia oil, perilla oil, flavor oil, coconut oil, grape seed oil, peanut oil, almond oil, avocado oil, cacao butter, salad oil, canola oil, and animal fat/oil such as MCT (medium chain fatty acid triglyceride), diglyceride, hydrogenated oil, transesterified oil, milk fat, and beef tallow. In particular, for example, sesame oil, olive oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, rice oil, coconut oil, and palm oil are preferred, and from the viewpoint of flavor, olive oil, coconut oil, and rapeseed oil are more preferred.
Examples of the food made of various types of fat/oil as the raw materials include butter, margarine, shortening, fresh cream, and soybean milk cream (e.g., “Kokurimu” (registered trademark) of Fuji Oil Co., Ltd.).
In particular, from the viewpoint of ease of manufacturing, the edible fat/oil to be used may be edible fat/oil that is liquid at a normal temperature. Incidentally, the term “normal temperature” in the present disclosure refers to 20° C. unless otherwise specified. The term “liquid edible fat/oil” refers to fat/oil having liquid fluidity, specifically, fat/oil having a Bostwick viscosity (the measured value of the flow distance of a sample in a trough at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time) of 10 cm or more, 15 cm or more, or 28 cm or more at 20° C. for 10 seconds in a Bostwick viscometer (that used in one or more embodiments of the present invention has a trough length of 28.0 cm and a maximum Bostwick viscosity, i.e., the maximum flow distance of a sample in the trough, of 28.0 cm). In one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable that the fat/oil part (for example, the fat/oil components released by centrifugation at 15,000 rpm for 1 minute) in the composition have liquid fluidity (specifically, the Bostwick viscosity at 20° C. for 10 seconds in a Bostwick viscometer is 10 cm or more, 15 cm or more, or 28 cm or more). Incidentally, when two or more kinds of edible fat/oil including liquid fat/oil are used, it is preferable that 90 mass % or more, in particular 92 mass % or more, further 95 mass % or more, and particularly 100 mass % of the whole fat/oil is the liquid fat/oil.
In addition, the proportion of unsaturated fatty acid (the total proportion of monovalent unsaturated fatty acid and multivalent unsaturated fatty acid) may be higher than the proportion of saturated fatty acid in the edible fat/oil from the viewpoint of ease of manufacturing, and the proportion of unsaturated fatty acid may be twice or more the proportion of saturated fatty acid in the edible fat/oil.
In the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention, the lower limit of the total fat/oil content is 10 mass % or more from the viewpoint of spreadability at a low temperature. The lower limit may be 15 mass % or more, 18 mass % or more, or 20 mass % or more. In addition, from the viewpoint of suppressing oily taste, the upper limit of the total fat/oil content in the whole composition may be 70 mass % or less. The upper limit may be 60 mass % or less, 50 mass % or less, or 45 mass % or less.
In addition, a ratio of the total fat/oil content to the sum of the moisture content and the total fat/oil content in the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may be in a predetermined range from the viewpoint of the spreadability, in particular, the spreadability at a low temperature (which is the spreadability at 4° C. in one or more embodiments of the present invention). Specifically, generally, a ratio of 0.75 or more is preferable, and a ratio of 0.80 or more is further preferable. At the same time, the lower limit of the ratio may be 0.95 or less or 0.90 or less.
In one or more embodiments of the present invention, as a method for measuring the total fat/oil content, the amount of lipid in the composition may be measured, and a usual method can be used. Examples thereof include methods in accordance with the method described in the “Food Labeling Standards (Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 10, 2015)” or the “Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan, 2015 (Seventh Revised Version) Analysis Manual”. Specifically, for example, a chloroform-methanol mixture extraction method or a Soxhlet extraction method is mentioned.
The composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may contain arbitrary one or more seasonings and food additives. Examples of the seasoning and food additives include soy sauce, soybean paste, alcohols, minerals, flavoring, pH adjusters (e.g., sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lactic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, and acetic acid), cyclodextrin, antioxidants (e.g., tea extract, raw coffee bean extract, chlorogenic acid, spice extract, caffeic acid, rosemary extract, rutin, quercetin, bayberry extract, and sesame extract), emulsifiers (e.g., glycerol fatty acid ester, saponin, sucrose fatty acid ester, and lecithin), colorants (e.g., β-carotene, caramel, turmeric pigment, safflower yellow pigment, gardenia yellow pigment, and grape skin pigment), and thickening stabilizers (e.g., tamarind seed gum, tara gum, guar gum, hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate, and pectin).
However, with the recent increase in nature-oriented perspective, the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may contain no so-called food additives, emulsifier and/or colorant and/or thickening stabilizer (for example, those listed as “emulsifier”, “colorant”, and “thickening stabilizer” in “Appendix Additive 2-1” or “Appendix Additive 2-3” of the “Food Labeling Standards (Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 10, 2015)”. In particular, the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention preferably does not contain emulsifiers for satisfying health-conscious consumers and preventing migration of the coloring matter of fine food particles to oil. In addition, it is especially desirable that the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention contains no food additives (for example, materials listed in “Appendix Additive 2-1” or “Appendix Additive 2-3” of the “Food Labeling Standards (Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 10, 2015)” applied to food additive use).
In the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention, various parameters relating to the particle size of the composition before and after ultrasonication, i.e., the maximum particle size and the modal particle size may satisfy the following specific requirements.
In the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention, the modal particle size after ultrasonication is adjusted in a predetermined range. Consequently, the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention has appropriate spreadability not only at a normal temperature but also at a high temperature and a low temperature. Specifically, the lower limit of the modal particle size after ultrasonication of the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention is 0.3 μm or more. Furthermore, the lower limit may be 1 μm or more, 3.0 μm or more, 5.0 μm or more, or 7.0 μm or more. In addition, the upper limit is 200 μm or less. The upper limit may be 100 μm or less, 90 μm or less, 80 μm or less, 70 μm or less, 60 μm or less, or 50.0 μm or less. In addition, a modal particle size after ultrasonication of the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention adjusted in the above predetermined range is preferable from the viewpoint of migration of the coloring matter of the fine food particles.
In addition, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, the modal particle size represents the particle size at the channel with the highest particle frequency % in particle size distribution at each channel obtained by measuring the composition with a laser diffraction particle size distribution analyzer. When multiple channels has exactly the same particle frequency %, the particle size at the channel of the smallest particle size among them is adopted. When the particle size distribution is normal distribution, the value agrees with the median diameter. When the particle size distribution is biased, especially when there are multiple peaks in the particle size distribution, the numerical values greatly differ from each other. The measurement of the particle size distribution of a sample with a laser diffraction particle size distribution analyzer can be performed by the method below. Incidentally, when a sample is a thermoplastic solid, the sample also can be similarly subjected to the analysis with a laser analysis particle size distribution analyzer described below by heat-treating the sample and the subjecting the obtained liquid sample to analysis.
The maximum particle size in the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention before ultrasonication may be adjusted in a predetermined range for improving the flavor release and imparting a good flavor to the composition. Specifically, the maximum particle size before ultrasonication may be 30 μm or more, 40 μm or more, 50 μm or more, 55 μm or more, or 60 μm or more. If micronization is performed until the maximum particle size before ultrasonication becomes less than the above-mentioned lower limit, the texture of the foodstuff is destroyed to easily give unfavorable flavor. At the same time, the upper limit may be 2,000 μm or less, and from the viewpoint of flavor in addition to spreadability, although it is not limited thereto, an upper limit of 1,800 μm or less, further 1,500 μm or less, in particular, 1,200 μm or less, further 1,100 μm or less, or particularly 1,000 μm or less is preferable.
Incidentally, since the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention is a turbid system, it is difficult to visually differentiate the maximum particle size precisely, but it is thought that when the maximum particle size after disturbance is higher than a predetermined value, the probability that the maximum particle size in the sample after disturbance observed with a microscope is also higher than the predetermined value is high, and it is thought that when the maximum particle size before disturbance is higher than a predetermined value, the probability that the maximum particle size in the sample before disturbance observed with a microscope is also higher than the predetermined value is high.
In addition to the maximum particle size before ultrasonication and the modal particle size after ultrasonication above, the 50% integrated diameter (d50) of particle sizes after ultrasonication of the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may be adjusted in a predetermined range from the viewpoint of spreadability and migration of the coloring matter of the fine food particles. Specifically, the d50 of the particle sizes after disturbance of the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention, i.e., after ultrasonication, may be 1 μm or more, 5 μm or more, or 8 μm or more. In addition, the upper limit of the d50 may be 150 μm or less, 100 μm or less, or 75 μm or less.
Incidentally, the d50 of particle sizes of a composition is defined as a particle size at which the ratio of the cumulative value of particle frequency % on the large side to the cumulative value of particle frequency % on the small side is 50:50 when the particle size distribution of the composition is divided into two from a certain particle size.
Incidentally, the term “particle size” in the present disclosure refers to that measured on a volume basis unless otherwise specified.
Although the methods for measuring various parameters relating to the particle size of one or more embodiments of the present invention are not limited, in general, the particle size distribution is measured by a known measuring method, and the parameters can be determined based on the resulting particle size distribution. As specific examples of the apparatus, condition, and procedure for measuring particle size distribution, those described in Examples can be used.
The solvent at the time of measurement may be any solvent that hardly affects the structure of the composition, and, for example, ethanol can be used. When the measurement apparatus and software described in Examples are used, measurement may be performed by pressing down the washing button of the software to implement washing, pressing down the set zero button of the software to implement zero adjustment, and directly charging a sample by sample loading until the concentration of the sample falls within an appropriate range. The concentration of a sample before disturbance, i.e., a sample not subjected to ultrasonication is adjusted in an appropriate range by performing sample loading two times or less after sample charging, then immediately laser diffraction is performed at a flow rate of 60% for a measurement time of 10 seconds, and the result may be used as the measured value. When a sample after disturbance, i.e., a sample subjected to ultrasonication is measured, a previously ultrasonicated sample may be charged, or a sample is charged and then ultrasonicated using the above-mentioned measurement apparatus, and subsequently the measurement may be performed. In the latter case, a sample not subjected to ultrasonication is charged, the concentration is adjusted in an appropriate range by sample loading, and the ultrasonication button of the software is then pressed down to perform ultrasonication. Subsequently, defoaming is performed three times, and then sample loading is performed again. Immediately after verification that the concentration is still in the appropriate range, laser diffraction is performed at a flow rate of 60% for a measurement time of 10 seconds, and the result can be used as the measured value. The parameters at the time of measurement can be, for example, distribution display: volume, particle refractive index: 1.60, solvent refractive index: 1.36, upper limit of measurement (μm)=2,000.00 μm, and lower limit of measurement (μm)=0.021 μm.
In determining various particle sizes of the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable to measure the particle size distribution at each channel (CH) and then determine the particle sizes using the particle size for each measurement channel shown in Table 2 below as the standard. Specifically, the particle frequency % of each channel (which is also referred to as “particle frequency % for XX channel”) can be determined by measuring the frequency of particles that are not larger than the particle size specified for each channel shown in Table 2 below and larger than the particle size specified for the channel with one larger number of each channel (in the channel largest in the measurement range, measurement lower limit of particle size) shown in Table 2 below and using the total frequency of all channels in the measurement range as the denominator. For example, the particle frequency % of channel 1 represents the frequency % of particles having sizes of 2,000.00 μm or less and higher than 1,826.00 μm. Regarding the maximum particle size, among the channels giving particle frequency % in the results obtained by measuring the particle frequency % at each of 132 channels shown in Table 2 below, the particle size of the channel of the largest particle size can be determined as the maximum particle size. In other words, when the maximum particle size of the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention is measured using a laser diffraction particle size distribution analyzer, the preferable measurement conditions are that ethanol is used as the measurement solvent, and the particle size of an object with an upper limit of measurement of 2,000.00 μm and a lower limit of measurement of 0.021 μm is measured immediately after charging of the sample.
The composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention contains one or more sugars. The sugar may be that derived from a raw material of the composition, such as a foodstuff, or one or more sugars may be separately added to the composition. Examples of the type of sugar include, but not limited to, saccharides (e.g., glucose, sucrose, fructose, glucose fructose liquid sugar, and fructose glucose liquid sugar), sugar alcohols (e.g., xylitol, erythritol, and maltitol), artificial sweeteners (e.g., sucralose, aspartame, saccharin, and acesulfame K), starch, and starch decomposition products, and also include foodstuffs containing sugar, such as juice extraction (including juice) and sap derived from plants containing these saccharides, and purified products or concentrates thereof. In particular, preferred are foodstuffs containing sugar and purified products or concentrates thereof from the viewpoint of easily feeling the original sweetness of the material. Examples of the foodstuff containing sugar include fruit juice, date, sugar cane, maple, and honey.
The sugar content in the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may be adjusted in a predetermined range from the viewpoint of improving the spreadability at a normal temperature (in one or more embodiments of the present invention, spreadability at 20° C.). The lower limit of the sugar content in the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may be 15 mass % or more, 18 mass % or more, 20 mass % or more, or 25% or more as the total content of sugars in the whole composition. In addition, the upper limit of the sugar content in the whole composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may be 60 mass %, 50 mass % or less, 45 mass % or less, or 40 mass % or less. Incidentally, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, a usual method can be used as the method for measuring sugar content. Examples thereof include methods in accordance with the method described in the “Food Labeling Standards (Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 10, 2015)” or “Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan, 2015 (Seventh Revised Version) Analysis Manual”. Specifically, for example, high-performance liquid chromatography is mentioned.
The composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention has a stress in a predetermined range from the viewpoint of the allover spreadability. Specifically, the upper limit of the stress of the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention when 1 part of olive oil is stirred and mixed with 2 parts by weight of the fat/oil composition may be 0.20 N or less, 0.15 N or less, 0.10 N or less, or 0.08 N or less. At the same time, the lower limit of the stress of the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may be 0.00 N or more. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the stress of a composition can be measured with a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring device. Specifically, the stress refers to the maximum value of the vertical repulsive force applied to a jig when lowering a parallel plate (Parallel-Plat (PP) 25) having a diameter of 25 mm to form a gap of 1 mm (the gap between the sample table and the jig is 1 mm) at a specific preset temperature (preset temperature: 20° C.). That is, the value measured with a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring device under the following conditions (a) to (d) can be used as the stress value.
(a) mixing 2 parts of a fat/oil composition with 1 part of olive oil by weight;
(b) using a parallel plate having a diameter of 25 mm;
(c) setting the preset temperature of the fat/oil composition to 20° C.; and
(d) measuring the maximum value of force applied in the vertical direction when the parallel plate is lowered down with respect to the sample table to form a gap therebetween of 1 mm.
In the measurement, if a solid larger than 1 mm is present, an accurate value may not be measured, and so the residue after removing the solid is subjected to measurement. For example, 5 g of olive oil is stirred and mixed with 10 g of a sample, and the solid (e.g., an ingredient) larger than 1 mm is appropriately removed from the sample by a method not affecting the stress of the composition to prepare a measurement sample to be used. In addition, the measurement can be performed using Modular Compact Rheometer (MCR) 102 (manufactured by Anton Paar GmbH) as the measurement equipment, Parallel Plat (PP) 25 as the jig for measurement, and software (RheoCompass) attached to the MCR 102 measurement equipment and setting the measurement conditions such that the preset temperature is 20° C. and the gap between the sample table of the MCR 102 and the jig is lowered down to 1 mm. Specifically, a series of measurement conditions are set such that the migration profile is set to “paste form”, the inertia of the measurement jig is adjusted, then the setting is stored, and the motor is adjusted; an appropriate amount of each sample previously set to the preset temperature of MCR 102 is placed at a predetermined place of MCR 102; and the maximum value of the vertical repulsive force applied to the jig when lowering the jig to a predetermined position under certain conditions can be determined as the measured value. Incidentally, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, when a stress of a composition is measured, a negative numeric value is a measurement error and is therefore regarded as 0.00 N.
The composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention has a ratio (loss tangent) of the loss modulus to the storage modulus in a predetermined value range from the viewpoint of obtaining excellent spreadability. Specifically, the lower limit of the loss tangent of the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may be 1.000 or more, 1.100 or more, 1.200 or more, or 1.300 or more. At the same time, the upper limit of the loss tangent of the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may be 7.500 or less, 5.000 or less, 4.000 or less, or 3.000 or less. Incidentally, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, the loss tangent of a composition means the degree of liquid properties and solid properties of the composition, and the larger the value is, the stronger the liquid property is. The value can be obtained by measuring the storage modulus and the loss modulus with a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring device. Specifically, for example, the measurement can be performed using Modular Compact Rheometer (MCR) 102 (manufactured by Anton Paar GmbH) as the measurement equipment and using the same jig for measurement, software, and measurement conditions as those in the measurement of stress under certain conditions at a shear strain of 0.1% and an angular velocity of 1 rad/s (1 radian per second). That is, the value measured with a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring device under the following conditions (e) to (h) can be used as the value of loss tangent.
(e) using a parallel plate having a diameter of 25 mm;
(f) setting the preset temperature of the fat/oil composition to 20° C.;
(g) setting the gap to 1 mm; and
(h) a shear strain of 0.1% and an angular velocity of 1 rad/s.
The composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention has a viscosity value measured at 20° C. with a Bostwick viscometer in a predetermined value range. Specifically, the lower limit of the measured viscosity value (measurement temperature: 20° C.) may be 0.1 cm or more for 10 seconds from the viewpoint of maintaining excellent spreadability and properties, 1 cm or more, or 2 cm or more. At the same time, the upper limit of the measured viscosity value (measurement temperature: 20° C.) may be 20 cm or less for 10 seconds from the viewpoint of moderate ease of application and spreadability, 15 cm or less, or 12 cm or less. Incidentally, a too high measured viscosity value (measurement temperature: 20° C.) is not preferable because the composition does not spread and permeates in a foodstuff, such as bread. In contrast, a too low measured value is not preferable because the composition agglomerates and does not spread on a foodstuff, such as bread, and is difficult to apply.
The composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may have a viscosity value measured at 4° C. with a Bostwick viscometer in a predetermined value range, although it is not limited thereto. Specifically, the viscosity value measured with a Bostwick viscometer (measurement temperature: 4° C.) may be 0.1 cm or more for 10 seconds and further preferably 1 cm or more, or 5 cm or more from the viewpoint of spreadability at a low temperature. At the same time, the viscosity value measured with a Bostwick viscometer (measurement temperature: 4° C.) may be 20 cm or less for 10 seconds, 15 cm or less, or 12 cm or less from the viewpoint of obtaining quality with moderate ease of application and the viewpoint of spreadability.
The composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention also may have a viscosity value measured with a Bostwick viscometer at 60° C. in the same range as the preferable range of the viscosity value measured with a Bostwick viscometer at 4° C., although it is not limited thereto.
In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the viscosity value measured with a Bostwick viscometer means the value of the flow distance of a sample in a trough at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time measured with the Bostwick viscometer. The Bostwick viscometer used has a trough length of 28.0 cm and the maximum measured viscosity value, i.e., the maximum flow distance of a sample in the trough of 28.0 cm. As a measuring method, the viscosity value can be obtained by, for example, installing a KO-type Bostwick viscometer (manufactured by Fukayatekkousyo) horizontally using a level, closing the gate, then filling a reservoir with a sample adjusted to a predetermined temperature to full, pressing down a trigger for opening the gate and simultaneously measuring time, and measuring the flow distance of the material in a trough after a predetermined period of time.
The composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention may contain moisture. The moisture in the composition may be that derived from the above-described various components of the composition or may be that further added as water. However, the moisture content in the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention is not higher than a predetermined range. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the moisture content of a composition means the total amount of moisture amount derived from each component of the composition and the moisture amount separately added and refers to the mass ratio with respect to the whole composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, the moisture content in the whole composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention is 20 mass % or less from the viewpoint of enhancing the spreadability at a high temperature (which is the spreadability at 60° C. in one or more embodiments of the present invention) and may be 15 mass % or less, or 10 mass % or less. Although the lower limit of mass ratio of the moisture content is not limited, the content of moisture in the composition may be 1 mass % or more, 3 mass % or more, or 5 mass % or more. Incidentally, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, a usual method can be used as the method for measuring moisture content. Examples thereof include methods in accordance with the method described in the “Food Labeling Standards (Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 10, 2015)” or “Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan, 2015 (Seventh Revised Version) Analysis Manual”. Specifically, for example, a reduced pressure heat drying method and an ordinary pressure heat drying method are mentioned.
The method for manufacturing the composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter, may be appropriately referred to as “manufacturing method of one or more embodiments of the present invention”) is not particularly limited. Typically, a composition satisfying the above-mentioned characteristics and requirements may be prepared by mixing particles of food as the raw material of a composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention, another foodstuff to be added as needed, and other components, such as a fat/oil, moisture, and an additive, and subjecting the mixture to, for example, warming. Incidentally, arbitrary additional treatment, such as pulverization or micronization and pretreatment thereof, may be performed as needed.
In the manufacturing method of one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is preferable to perform warming at a maximum temperature during heating in a predetermined range from the viewpoint of spreadability and migration of the coloring matter of fine food particles. Incidentally, the maximum temperature during heating is the maximum-attained temperature of the composition during warming. Specifically, the lower limit of the maximum temperature during heating may be 30° C. or more from the viewpoint of ease of maintaining properties and may be 35° C. or more, 40° C. or more, or 45° C. or more. At the same time, the upper limit of the maximum temperature during heating may be 150° C. or less from the viewpoint of flavor at the time of application and may be 120° C. or less, 110° C. or less, or 100° C. or less.
In addition, the warming time and the maximum temperature during heating under standing conditions may satisfy a certain expression because the spreadability at a normal temperature is enhanced. Incidentally, the warming time in one or more embodiments of the present invention refers to the period from the time when the product temperature of a composition rises by 0.1° C. from the temperature before warming until the time when the temperature reaches the maximum temperature T (° C.) during heating. Specifically, when the warming time is denoted as H (hour) and the maximum temperature during warming is denoted as T (° C.), the warming under standing conditions in the manufacturing method of one or more embodiments of the present invention may satisfy Expression (I):
H>145×2.73(−0.07×T) Expression (I).
In the manufacturing method of one or more embodiments of the present invention, the particles of food or a composition prepared by mixing the particles with another raw material may be subjected to pulverization or micronization. The fine food particle-containing fat/oil composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention satisfying the above-mentioned various characteristics can be easily and efficiently obtained by performing pulverization or micronization. Incidentally, although pulverization or micronization may be performed before warming, during warming, or after warming, it is preferable to perform before warming or during warming.
The method of pulverization or micronization used in one or more embodiments of the present invention is not particularly limited and may be either dry pulverization or wet pulverization, may be any of high temperature pulverization, ambient temperature pulverization, and low temperature pulverization, and may use any equipment called, for example, a blender, a mixer, a mill, a kneader, a pulverizer, a shredder, or an attritor, and preferred is a method that can treat food with a high shear force in a short time. As a dry-type fine pulverizer, for example, a medium stirring mill, such as a dry bead mill and a ball mill (a rolling type, a vibration type, etc.), a jet mill, a high-speed rotary impact type mill (e.g., pin mill), a roll mill, or a hammer mill can be used. As a wet-type fine pulverizer, for example, a medium stirring mill, such as a bead mill and a ball mill (a rolling type, a vibration type, a planet type mill, etc.), a roll mill, a colloid mill, a starburst system, or a high-pressure homogenizer can be used. In particular, a medium stirring mill (a bead mill or a ball mill) and a high-pressure homogenizer are preferred, and in particular, a bead mill can be more preferably used.
In particular, a pulverization method using a wet medium stirring mill may be used because migration of the coloring matter of fine food particles to oil is suppressed to provide highly stable quality compared with other treating methods. Although the principle thereof is unknown, it is probably because that the particle state of the fine food particle-containing fat/oil composition may be changed by pulverization. In addition, the conditions at the time of treatment with a wet medium stirring mill may be adjusted according to the size and properties of the foodstuff and the properties of the target fine food particle-containing fat/oil composition. In particular, in micronization using a wet bead mill, for example, the micronization time, whether a system of passing only once (one pass) or a system of circulating multiple times (circulation type), the pressurizing condition, the size and filling rate of beads, the outlet mesh size, the raw material slurry transfer rate, and the mill rotation strength may be appropriately selected and adjusted. In particular, the micronization time may be usually less than 30 minutes, 0.1 minutes or more and 25 minutes or less, 1 minute or more and 22 minutes or less, or 2 minutes or more and 20 minutes or less. Incidentally, the micronization time in one or more embodiments of the present invention refers to the shearing time of a treated sample. For example, in a bead mill crusher having a pulverization chamber volume of 100 mL and a percentage of void of 50% into which the treated liquid excluding the beads can be injected, when a sample is subjected to one pass treatment at a rate of 200 mL per minute without circulating the sample, since the void volume of the pulverization chamber is 50 mL, the sample micronization time is 50/200=0.25 minutes (15 seconds).
Regarding the beads that are used in micronization with a wet bead mill, the material of the beads and the material of the bead mill inner cylinder may be the same materials, and the materials may be both zirconia.
As pretreatment for micronization, it is preferable that a foodstuff be previously roughly pulverized with, for example, a jet mill, a pin mill, a stone pulverization mill, or a rotary crusher (e.g., wonder crusher) and is then subjected to micronization. In addition, it is preferable to subject a powder foodstuff adjusted to a size having a median diameter of 100 μm or more and 1,000 μm or less to micronization, from the viewpoint of productivity.
One or more embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to Examples, but these Examples are merely examples for convenience of description, and one or more embodiments of the present invention is not limited to these Examples in any sense.
Composition samples of Comparative Examples 1 to 9 and Test Examples 1 to 29 were prepared as follows.
The dried products of sweet corn being grains, pineapple and raspberry being fruits, beet, carrot, pumpkin, kale, paprika, broccoli, spinach, tomato, and sweet potato being vegetables, and green pea and green soybean being beans were pulverized with a rotary crusher (wonder crusher) to obtain dry pulverized products. All of the dry pulverized products were subjected to drying until a water activity of 0.95 or less. Incidentally, as the edible part of each foodstuff, the part that is generally eaten or drunk (the part other than inedible parts) was used, and also, as inedible parts of a part of the foodstuffs, a sweet corn core, a green pea pod and a green soybean pod, a carrot petiole base, pumpkin seeds or guts, a kale petiole base, paprika seeds or calyx of paprika, beet peel, broccoli stem and leaf, a spinach stump, a tomato calyx, and a sweet potato end were used. In addition, paprika was used in the raw state, in addition to the dry pulverized product, by pulverization with a rotary crusher (wonder crusher).
These pulverized products were mixed with a fat/oil according to the proportions shown in Tables 3 to 40 below, followed by thoroughly stirring with a tabletop stirrer until obtaining an almost uniform appearance. A roughly pulverized composition in a paste form was thus obtained. As the fat/oil, commercially available olive oil, salad oil, or the like was used. These roughly pulverized compositions were subjected to micronization using a wet bead mill fine pulverizer and 1-mm-diameter beads and appropriately adjusting the outlet aperture of the wet bead mill fine pulverizer, the liquid transfer rate, and so on at constant conditions until the completion of micronization for less than 30 minutes. The oil cake food paste was also subjected to micronization by adjusting as in the pulverized product above.
These finely ground products were mixed with other foodstuffs, such as sugar and water, according to the proportions shown in Tables 3 to 40 below, and warming was performed under conditions of the maximum temperature during warming and the warming time shown in Tables 3 to 40 below to finally obtain the composition samples of Comparative Examples 1 to 9 and Test Examples 1 to 29.
[Particle size distribution (modal diameter, maximum diameter, and d50)]
The particle size distribution of each composition sample was measured using Microtrac MT3300 EXII system of MicrotracBEL Corporation as the laser diffraction particle size distribution analyzer. Ethanol was used as the solvent at the time of measurement, and DMSII (Data Management System version 2, MicrotracBEL Corporation) was used as the measurement application software. In the measurement, the washing button of the measurement application software was pressed down to implement washing, the set zero button of the software was pressed down to implement zero adjustment, and a sample was directly charged by sample loading until the concentration fell within an appropriate range.
In the measurement of a sample not subjected to disturbance, i.e., a sample before ultrasonication, the sample concentration was adjusted in an appropriate range by performing sample loading twice or less after sample charging, then immediately laser diffraction measurement was performed at a flow rate of 60% for a measurement time of 10 seconds, and the result was used as the measured value. In the measurement of a sample subjected to disturbance, i.e., a sample after ultrasonication, the sample was charged, the sample concentration was adjusted in an appropriate range by sample loading, and the ultrasonication button of the software was then pressed down to perform ultrasonication at a frequency of 40 kHz and an output of 40 W for 3 minutes. Subsequently, defoaming was performed three times, and then sample loading was performed again. Immediately after verification that the concentration was still in the appropriate range, laser diffraction measurement was performed at a flow rate of 60% for a measurement time of 10 seconds, and the result was used as the measured value. The measurement conditions used were distribution display: volume, particle refractive index: 1.60, solvent refractive index: 1.36, upper limit of measurement (μm)=2,000.00 μm, and lower limit of measurement (μm)=0.021 μm.
In the measurement of the particle size distribution of a sample at each channel, the particle sizes at the respective measurement channels shown in Tables 3 to 40 below were used as the standard. The particle frequency % of each channel was determined by measuring the frequency of particles that were not larger than the particle size specified for each channel and larger than the particle size specified for the channel with one larger number of each channel (in the channel largest in the measurement range, measurement lower limit of particle size) and using the total frequency of all channels in the measurement range as the denominator. Specifically, the particle frequency % at each of 132 channels was measured below. Regarding the results obtained by measurement, the particle size at the channel of the highest particle frequency % was used as the modal particle size. When multiple channels had exactly the same particle frequency %, the particle size at the channel of the smallest particle size among them was adopted as the modal particle size. In addition, among the channels giving particle frequency, the particle size of the channel of the largest particle size was adopted as the maximum particle size.
The composition samples obtained by the procedure above in Comparative Examples 1 to 9 and Test Examples 1 to 29 were subjected to sensory evaluation by the following procedure.
First, the sensory inspectors performing each sensory test were chosen from inspectors who were previously trained for discrimination of, for example, the taste, texture, and appearance of food and showed particularly excellent results and had experience in product development, a wealth of knowledge about the quality of food, such as taste, texture, and appearance, and were capable of performing absolute evaluation on each sensory inspection item.
Subsequently, a sensory test evaluating the quality was performed for composition samples of Test Examples and Comparative Examples by 10 trained sensory inspectors in total chosen by the procedure above. In this sensory test, the items, “spreadability at 4° C.”, “spreadability at 20° C.”, “spreadability at 60° C.”, “flavor at the time of application”, and “migration of coloring matter”, were each evaluated on a scale of five grades according to the following criteria.
Samples were each put in a 50-mL glass container with a lid and were left to stand in an incubator at 4° C. for 10 hours, and 3 g of each sample was then applied to one side of 4-cm square bread having a thickness of 1.5 cm with a butter knife and was evaluated according to the following five grades:
5: The sample spread over the entire surface immediately, did not fluff, and was glossy and favorable;
4: The sample spread over the entire surface, did not fluff, and was favorable;
3: The sample was spread over almost the entire surface, slightly fluffed, and was favorable;
2: The sample did not spread over the entire surface, fluffed noticeably, and was out of the acceptable range; and
1: The sample did not spread at all, fluffed extremely noticeably, and was out of the acceptable range.
Samples were each put in a 50-mL glass container with a lid and were left to stand in an incubator at 20° C. for 3 hours, and 3 g of each sample was then applied to one side of 4-cm square bread having a thickness of 1.5 cm with a butter knife and was evaluated for the same evaluation items as in the “Spreadability at 4° C.” above according to five grades.
Samples of 30 mL each were put in a 50-mL glass container with a lid and were left to stand in an incubator at 60° C. for 3 hours, and 3 g of each sample was then applied to one side of 4-cm square bread 1.5 cm thick with a butter knife and was evaluated for the same evaluation items as in the “Spreadability at 4° C.” above according to five grades.
[Flavor at the time of application]
The bread to which 3 g of each sample was applied in the evaluation of “Spreadability at 20° C.” was tasted and evaluated according to the following five grades:
5: Harsh taste and green smell were not felt, and the flavor of the material was very favorable;
4: Harsh taste and green smell were not felt, and the flavor of the material was favorable;
3: Harsh taste and green smell were weak, and the flavor of the material was slightly favorable;
2: Harsh taste and green smell were slightly felt, and the flavor of the material was slightly bad; and
1: Harsh taste or green smell was felt, and the flavor of the material was bad.
Samples were each put in a 50-mL glass container with a lid and left to stand at 60° C. overnight and were compared with samples left to stand at 20° C. overnight to visually evaluate by according to the following 5 grades:
5: The coloring matter of the material did not migrate to oil, the overall color was perfectly preserved, and the appearance was very favorable;
4: The coloring matter of the material hardly migrated to oil, the overall color was preserved, and the appearance was favorable;
3: The migration of the coloring matter of the material to oil was weak, the overall color was slightly preserved, and the appearance was slightly favorable;
2: The coloring matter of the material migrated to oil, the overall color was slightly uneven, and the appearance was slightly unfavorable; and
1: The coloring matter of the material migrated to oil, the overall color was uneven, and the appearance was unfavorable.
In each of the evaluation items, all the inspectors evaluated the standard samples in advance, standardized each score of the evaluation criteria, and then performed sensory inspection with objectivity by 10 inspectors in total. The evaluation items were evaluated by a system of selecting one number closest to the inspector's own evaluation in five-grade evaluation of each item. The total result of the evaluation was calculated from the arithmetic mean values of the scores by 10 inspectors in total. Furthermore, the standard deviation was calculated to evaluate the variation among the panelists and was verified to be in a predetermined range.
[Analysis and evaluation result of composition sample]
The physical properties, such as particle size distribution, of the composition samples of Comparative Examples 1 to 9 and Test Examples 1 to 29 and the results of evaluation by sensory tests are shown in the following Tables 3 to 40.
The fine food particle-containing fat/oil composition of one or more embodiments of the present invention has excellent spreadability in a wide range of conditions from cold to hot, has good flavor, can be easily and widely used in the food field, such as spread, and has significantly high usefulness.
Although the disclosure has been described with respect to only a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that various other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of one or more embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-158434 | Aug 2018 | JP | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2019/029945 | Jul 2019 | US |
| Child | 17145940 | US |
