EP2209382A2

EP2209382A2 - Food product comprising a date-based filling, and method for the production thereof

Info

Publication number: EP2209382A2
Application number: EP08845401A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gilles Maller; Jean-Marie Bouvier; Anne Perenon; Daniel Durand; Jean-Marie Delaitre; Anne ENDRIZZI
Original assignee: Clextral SAS
Current assignee: Clextral SAS
Priority date: 2007-10-23
Filing date: 2008-10-21
Publication date: 2010-07-28
Also published as: WO2009056727A3; WO2009056727A2; FR2922414A1; IL205258A; FR2922414B1; IL205258A0

Abstract

This food product (100) comprises a filling (102) and a case (104), covering at least the periphery of this filling, this filling being made from pitted dates and having a water activity Aw of less than 0.6.

Description

FOOD PRODUCT COMPRISING A DATE-BASED FORAGE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

The present invention relates to a food product comprising a fodder based dates, and a method for the manufacture of this food product.

The invention relates to the technical field of food products which are manufactured in particular by a coextrusion process. In this respect, by the application FR-A-2 572 899, it is known to manufacture a filled product by simultaneous extrusion of a fodder and an envelope. For this purpose, there is provided an internal extrusion die forage, and at least one outer extrusion die of the casing, which is in the form of a hot plastic deformable clean to form a sheath around of the aforesaid fodder.

That being said, the invention proposes to produce a food product comprising a forage involving an ingredient different from those used until now in the state of the art. The invention also aims to propose a method, allowing an industrial manufacture of such a food product.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a coextruded food product comprising a fodder and an envelope, covering at least the periphery of this fodder, characterized in that this fodder is made from pitted dates and its activity from Aw water is less than 0.6.

According to other advantageous characteristics of this food product:

the fodder further comprises a depressant agent for the activity of water Aw;

the depressant agent of the Aw water activity comprises sorbitol, fructose, glycerol, dextrose or a mixture of at least some of these components;

the filling also comprises an agent capable of reducing the pH, in particular of citric acid, present between 0.5 and 1% by weight; the fodder comprises between 70 and 90% by weight of dates, in particular between 80 and 90%, as well as between 10 and 30% of said depressant agent for the activity of water, in particular between 10 and 20%;

this fodder has a water activity of between 0.50 and 0.59, and a pH of between 3.5 and 4.5;

the fodder comprises between 20 and 60% by weight of dates, in particular between 40 and 50%, and between 40 and 80% of said depressant agent for water activity, in particular between 50 and 60%;

this fodder has a water activity of between 0.38 and 0.52 and a pH of between 4 and 6;

- The forage has a viscosity, at room temperature and at rest, between 1 Mcp and 2 Mcp.

The subject of the invention is also a process for manufacturing the above food product, in which:

- a paste of dates is made;

a depressant agent is added to this paste for the activity of water, so as to obtain a forage having a water activity of less than 0.6;

at least a portion of the periphery of this filling is covered by means of an envelope, so as to obtain this food product.

According to other characteristics:

an agent capable of lowering the pH value, in particular citric acid, is added to the paste;

said date paste is made by grinding whole dates pitted;

said depressant agent is added to the activity of the water and / or said agent capable of lowering the pH value, at the same time as the whole dates are pitted;

a coextrusion of the fodder and the casing is made in order to obtain this final food product.

The invention will be described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given solely by way of non-limiting example, in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic view, illustrating an installation for the implementation of a method of manufacturing a food product according to the invention; and

- Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, illustrating the food product produced by the implementation of this method.

Referring to Figure 1, the process according to the invention involves dates, shown schematically and assigned the reference 2. In a well known manner, the date is a fruit very widespread in the Mediterranean basin, as well as in the Middle-East.

Typically, these whole dates have a water activity of between 0.65 and 0.77. In a manner known per se, the water activity of a product (Aw) is defined as the water vapor pressure of this product divided by that of pure water at the same temperature, ie the availability of this water. Water activity is one of the main parameters influencing the conservation of food.

Moreover, the relative humidity Hr of these dates is typically between 22 and 32%. This relative humidity is defined as the ratio of the partial pressure of water vapor contained in the air, to the saturation vapor pressure at the same temperature. Finally, the pH of these whole dates is close to 6.

These whole dates 2 are fed into a mill 4, of a type known per se, which is also schematically represented. By way of non-limiting example, such a mill may be of the blade type, or even of the meat grinder type where the dates are pressed through grids of different diameters.

The grinding time varies for example between 10 and 25 minutes, preferably between 15 and 20 minutes. This step makes it possible to obtain a homogeneous paste whose dynamic viscosity is of the order of 50,000 to 200,000 cpo as a result of mechanical work due to grinding. In addition, the presence of pieces of dates that may have a size of the order of 2 mm is not detrimental to the subsequent implementation of the process, as well as the quality of the final food product. It should be noted that this grinding is likely to generate a heating of the dates, which does not however lead to a significant change in their characteristics, especially in terms of water activity, but which has an influence on the lowering of the viscosity interesting for the rest of the process. Under these conditions, in accordance with the invention, it is a question of adding, by a line 6, at least one agent 8 called "depressor of water activity", namely to reduce the value of this activity. aw.

By way of non-limiting example, such an agent 8 may especially be sorbitol, fructose, glycerol, dextrose or a mixture of at least some of these products. This water activity depressant agent is added to the above-mentioned pulp in such an amount as to reduce the water activity of the date paste below 0.6.

According to an optional feature of the invention, an additional line 10 also adds an agent 12 making it possible to reduce the pH value of the dough. This agent 12, which is for example citric acid, is added in such an amount that it makes it possible to lower the pH of the dough substantially.

In the example illustrated, the agents 8 and 12, making it possible to decrease the respective values of the activity of the water and of the pH of the dough, are introduced into the mill 4. However, as a variant, can provide that at least one of these agents is introduced into the date paste, downstream of the mill 4. It is also possible to use, as a raw material, not whole dates, but a date paste. prefabricated, which is treated with the aforementioned agents.

Downstream of the mill 4, there is provided a pipe 14 in which a feed is circulated, which is formed by the aforementioned date paste, to which agents 8 and 12 have been added. This feed therefore has a lower water activity. at 0.6, as well as a pH less than or equal to 6.

Its viscosity, at a temperature between 30 ° C and 90 ° C, is advantageously between 40,000 and 200,000 cpo. This range of values allows this feed to be pumped conveniently, for example by means of a screw pump 16 which is provided with the pipe 14. In order to facilitate this pumping operation, the viscosity of the feed can be adjusted upstream of the pipe 14, for example by means of a kneader-mixer which by self-heating of the mixture will cause a lowering of the viscosity.

The downstream end of the pipe 14 opens into a coextrusion unit 18 of a type known per se, which is, for example, in accordance with that described in FR-A-2 572 899. This unit 18 also communicates with a second pipe 20, in which is conveyed a material suitable for constituting the envelope of the final food product.

The feed coming from the pipe 14, as well as the material of the envelope coming from the pipe 20, are then coextruded within the unit 18, in the usual way. This makes it possible to obtain a food product according to the invention, represented in FIG. 2. This food product, designated as a whole by the reference 100, comprises the aforementioned fodder, assigned reference 102, as well as the envelope 104. covering this forage 102.

This operation of coextrusion of the fodder and the envelope does not induce any significant modification of the characteristic values of this fodder. Under these conditions, the activity of the water and the pH of the fodder 102 are substantially invariant with respect to the values given above with reference to the circulation of this fodder in line 14.

This feed 102 has, at ambient temperature, a viscosity advantageously between 200,000 and 1,000,000 cpo. In this way, this feed is not likely to flow inadvertently in the final food product 100.

Two main types of compositions can be envisaged for forage 102, depending on whether the latter has a high or average date content.

Thus, according to a first variant, the composition by weight of this feed is as follows:

dates: between 70 and 90%, preferably between 80 and 90%;

agent (s) depressant (s) of the activity of water: between 10 and 30%, preferably between 10 and 20%;

agent for lowering the pH: between 0.5 and 1%; In this case, this feed has a water activity Aw of between 0.50 and 0.59, a pH of between 3.5 and 4.5, and a viscosity at ambient temperature of between 1 Mcpo and 2Mcpo. (centipoise). This viscosity is understood at rest, namely in the absence of any mechanical stress, it being understood that such a constraint induces a decrease in this viscosity. This forage has a relatively dark brown color, as well as a firm consistency. It is smooth on the palate, while having a strong taste of dates in the absence of aftertaste.

According to another variant of the invention, this feed comprises:

dates: between 20 and 60%, preferably between 40 and 50%;

depressant agent for the activity of water: between 40 and 80%, preferably between 50 and 60%;

agent for lowering the pH: between 0.5 and 1%;

In this case, this feed has a water activity Aw of between 0.38 and 0.52, a pH of between 4 and 6, and a viscosity at ambient temperature and at rest, which is between 1,000. 000 and 2,000,000 cpo. This forage has a light brown color and a shiny appearance. It is slightly acidic, while being sweet, and has a marked taste of dates.

In this example, the forage 102 and the casing 104 are coextruded, so that the casing 104 covers the entire periphery of the forage. However, the invention is also applicable to other methods of manufacturing a food product consisting of a forage and an envelope.

Thus, provision can be made to place a lower biscuit of the envelope, to deposit a layer of fodder on this biscuit, then to coat this fodder layer by means of a second cover biscuit. This operation, of a type known per se, is thus of the "sandwich topping" type.

The invention achieves the previously mentioned objectives.

Indeed, it takes advantage of an ingredient, namely the date, which was previously not used industrially for the manufacture of a filled food product. In addition, the addition of an appropriate agent gives the forage a water activity value of less than 0.6, which is favorable for a satisfactory holding of this food product. Indeed, thanks to this low water activity, this forage does not tend to migrate into the envelope that surrounds it, which is generally composed mainly of cereals.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described in the following, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

This example involves a mill 4, conforming for example to that marketed by Stephan under the reference UM 130E. This mill is fed with whole dates, having an Aw between 0.65 and 0.77, and a pH of 6, at a rate of 250-300 Kg / h. Within the mill, a depressant agent 8 of the activity of water, which is for example glycerol, is admitted at a flow rate of 50-60 kh / h. An agent 12 is also allowed to lower the pH, which is citric acid, at a rate of 1-2 kg / h.

Downstream of the mill 4, the forage thus formed circulates in line 14, at a flow rate of 160-180 kg / h. It is admitted in an extrusion unit 18, in accordance with that marketed by the company Clextral.

A material for producing the envelope, which is for example wheat flour, is also admitted in this coextrusion unit 18, at a flow rate of 200-250 kg / h.

The date-based fodder, which composes the final food product obtained downstream of the coextrusion unit 18, has the following mass composition:

- dates 49.50%;

- 20% glycerol;

- dextrose: 10%; - sorbitol: 10%; - fructose: 10%;

- citric acid: 0.5%;

The Aw water activity of this forage is 0.430, while its pH is 3.9. In addition, its viscosity at room temperature is about 1,000,000 cpo.

Claims

A co-extruded food product (100), comprising a forage (102) and an envelope (104), covering at least the periphery of this forage, characterized in that this forage is made from pitted dates and its activity of the water Aw is less than 0.6.

2. Food product according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling further comprises an agent (8) depressing the activity of Aw water.

3. Food product according to claim 2, characterized in that the agent (8) depressor of the water activity Aw comprises sorbitol, fructose, glycerol, dextrose or a mixture of at least some of these components.

4. Food product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling also comprises an agent (12) capable of reducing the pH, in particular of citric acid, present between 0.5 and 1% by weight. .

5. Food product according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the fodder comprises between 70 and 90% by weight of dates, especially between 80 and 90%, and between 10 and 30% of said depressant agent water activity, especially between 10 and 20%.

6. Food product according to the preceding claim, characterized in that this feed has a water activity of between 0.50 and 0.59, and a pH between 3.5 and 4.5.

7. Food product according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the fodder comprises between 20 and 60% by weight of dates, especially between 40 and 50%, and between 40 and 80% of said activity depressant agent. water, especially between 50 and 60%.

8. Food product according to claim 7, characterized in that this forage has a water activity of between 0.38 and 0.52, and a pH of between 4 and 6.

9. Food product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the forage (102) has a viscosity, at room temperature and at rest, between 1 Mcp and 2 Mcp.

A method of manufacturing a food product (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein:

- a paste of dates is made;

an agent (8) which depresses the activity of water is added to this paste, so as to obtain a filling having a water activity of less than 0.6;

- At least a portion of the periphery of this forage (102) is covered by means of an envelope (104), so as to obtain this food product (100).

11. Manufacturing process according to claim 10, characterized in that an agent (12) is added to the paste to lower the pH value, in particular citric acid.

12. The manufacturing method according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that said date paste is made by grinding whole dates pitted.

13. Manufacturing process according to claim 10 or 11, taken in combination with claim 12, characterized in that said agent (8) depressant of the activity of water and / or said agent (12) clean to lower the value of the pH, at the same time as the whole dates are pitted.

14. The manufacturing method according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that a coextrusion of the forage (102) and the casing (104), to obtain this final food product (100). .