IL115930A - Products based on tomato components having improved nutritional value - Google Patents

Description

PRODUCTS BASED ON TOMATO COMPONENTS HAVING IMPROVED NUTRITIONAL VALUE PRODUCTS BASED ON TOMATO COMPONENTS. HAVING IMPROVED NUTRITIONAL VALUE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to novel dietary products. More particularly, the invention relates to products based on tomato which can be used to replace, or to supplement, the amount of tomato required in a balanced diet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is generally recognized nowadays that tomatoes have great nutritional importance, and that a balanced diet should include them. Unfortunately, in many countries tomatoes are not available as a major crop, and usually they are grown only during the summertime, and are therefore very expensive or unavailable during long off-season months. Another problem yet unsolved is that of supplying the nutrients available from tomatoes to persons who do not like, or for any reason do not wish to eat tomatoes.

A further problem which has not been addressed to date is that tomatoes vary very much in their absolute and relative contents of the various nutrients, due to seasonal changes, weather, fertilizers employed, tomato variety, etc. Accordingly, so far no "standard tomato" exists, which if consumed in a given amount will provide the desired quantity of nutrients. .0.

An average tomato contains 94-95% of water and 4-4.5% of sugars, the rest being microelements. A typical raw tomato composition is shown in Tables I - III: Table I Component Content Water 94-95 Solids 5 - 6 Proteins 0.85 - 0.95 Fats 0.2 - 0.3 Carbohydrates 4 - 5 Fibers 0.5 - 1.0 Ash 0.5 Table II Mineral Content mg/lOQg Calcium 7.00 Iron 0.48 Magnesium 11.00 Copper 0.08 Phosphorus 23.00 Manganese 0.12 Sodium 8.00 Table III Component Content mg/lOQg Ascorbic acid (C) 17.6 - 36.0 Thiamine (Bl) 0.06 Riboflavin (B2) 0.05 Niacine (B3) 0.60 Vitamin A (retinol equiv.) 113 It is therefore clear that it would be highly desirable, from a nutritional point of view, if the nutritional ingredients of tomatoes were available worldwide throughout the year, in concentrated form at reasonable cost. So far, however, the art has failed to provide a solution to this problem.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means to make the nutritional ingredients of the tomato readily available in a convenient, easy-to-consume form, also to people who dislike tomatoes.

It is another object of the invention to provide such tomato ingredients at a low cost/performance price.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a steady supply of such tomato ingredients, throughout the year, regardless of local climate, in standardized predesigned formulations which are not dependent on seasonal fluctuations.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide "standard" tomato products, containing a desired amount of nutrient components.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to natural dietary tomato-equivalent composition, comprising nutritionally valuable tomato components, particularly tomato oleoresin components, such as lycopene, vitamins, minerals and tomato dietary fibers, in a mixture substantially free from nutritionally unimportant tomato components.

Furthermore, the invention is directed to packaged nutritional tomato-equivalent easy-to-consume compositions in various forms, to unit dosages of such compositions, and to processes for their preparation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As stated, the invention relates to dietary tomato-equivalent compositions. Particularly, the invention is directed to compositions comprising: a) extracted tomato oleoresin or oleoresin components; and b) dry tomato fibers.

Furthermore, the composition may optionally comprise other nutritionally valuable tomato components, such as soluble tomato solids (e.g., ascorbic acid, etc.), or tomato lipids and minerals.

While the form in which the abovementioned components are supplied is not critical, it will be appreciated by the skilled person that very different package forms can be provided, some of which may be more convenient than others for a given nutritional routine, or for some different dietary preferences. According to one embodiment of the invention, for instance, the oleoresin and the fibers are packaged in separate compartments of the same package. According to another embodiment of the invention, the oleoresin and the fibers are mixed.

The oleoresin and the fibers can be contained in different packaging, depending whether it is desired to mix them or to keep them separate, such packaging being for examples packets or capsules, or the oleoresin and the fiber can be provided in tablet form. By "packet", in the context of the present invention, is meant to indicate different packaging in which the powdered product is contained in an envelope, normally - but not necessarily - in the form of a stick, from which it can be swallowed as such, or mixed into drinks or foods, e.g., yogurts.

The invention is also directed to dietary unit dosages which can be taken orally to replace or supplement the daily intake of tomatoes. Such an exemplary unit dosage form may comprise about 0.10 gr to about 0.65 gr of a tomato or equivalent fibers, containing 20 mg to 200 mgr. of a 4% to 12% tomato oleoresin. Of course, equivalent amounts of the major ingredient of the oleoresin, i.e., lycopene in crystalline form, can be supplied instead of the oleoresin.

Also encompassed by the invention is a process for making a composition according to the invention, comprising the steps of: a) selecting and pretreating tomatoes by washing, sorting and the like procedures; b) crushing the tomatoes; c) removing the stems, coarse peels and other waste materials; d) separating the pulp from the tomato serum; e) extracting tomato oleoresin from the pulp; f) drying the residual pulp to obtain tomato fibers having a water content of less than 5%; g) grinding the dehydrated tomato fibers; and h) combining the desired proportions of tomato oleoresin and of dried fibers, to obtain the desired nutritional composition.

Depending on the packaging form of the final product, it is of course possible to add dietary-acceptable carriers and flavors. For instance, if packets are supplied, a higher amount of dietary fibers as well as flavors will be desirable, as compared with, e.g., a tablet to be swallowed. Additionally, if tablets are prepared, they require the use of binders and 1 15930/ 2 - / - natural binders, such as beeswax, stearates, or other conventional tabletting agents.

As will be understood by the skilled person, it is possible to add to the compositions of the invention any desired nutritional additive, such as minerals (e.g., iron), or vitamins (e.g., Vitamin C or E), or any other desired additive, including flavors and colorants. Additionally, it is possible to replace the tomato fibers with other equivalent nutritional fibers, all of which is also encompassed by the present invention.

All the above and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limitative examples.

Example 1 1 Ton of clean and sorted ripe tomatoes were crushed and separated from waste materials (stems, coarse peels, etc.). The so treated tomatoes were fed to a separation step where the tomato pulp was separated from the serum by means of a conventional centrifuge. The tomato serum was dried to yield 50 Kg of soluble tomato solids. The tomato pulp (100 Kg) was fed to an extraction step where it was extracted with 270 Kg of warm (50°) ethyl acetate to yield, after evaporation of the solvent, 1,800 g of a tomato oleoresin containing 5% lycopene. The wet extracted pulp was dried in a drum drier to remove essentially all water, and then ground to yield 5 Kg of tomato fibers.

The process is schematically shown in Fig. 1.

Example 2 The products obtained in Example 1, together with other significant -over 5% RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance), naturally occurring vitamins and minerals (in a tomato), e.g. β-carotene, Vitamin C, potassium, copper, etc., were reconstituted and filled in soft elastic commercially available gelatin capsules. Each capsule was loaded with 0.1 g of tomato fiber, admixed with 60 mg of 5% oleoresin. The resulting capsule contained the nutrient value of one or more serving of tomato.

Example 3 Example 2 was repeated, but instead of the oleoresin employed, 7 mg of crystalline lycopene was used, which was obtained by crystallization from the tomato oleoresin of Example 1.

Example 4 Tablets were prepared, using the same components as in Example 2, but using a stabilized form of lycopene with a tabletting matrix of stearic acid, magnesium stearate, cellulose and dicalcium phosphate. The tablets 115930/ 2 -9- vvere made in a conventional bench tabletting machine, using a pressure of 2000 - 4000 pounds per square inch (141 Kg/cm2 - 280 Kg/cm2). The tablets so obtained showed good shelf life and stability to humidity.

Example 5 A "stick" was prepared by filling a laminate elongated packet with 4 g of tomato fiber, admixed with 15 mg oleoresin, and 10 gr of soluble tomato solids, as bulk and flavoring material. The contents of the stick so made can be swallowed directly, or dispersed in water or in a drink.

All the above examples have been provided for the purpose of illustration and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. Many modifications can be made to the invention. For instance, different tomato fractions can be employed together with the basic nutrients, many different nutritional' supplements can be included, and dosages and packaging may vary, all without exceeding the scope of the invention.

Claims (21)

3481/95 -10- CLAIMS:

1. A dietary tomato-equivalent composition, comprising tomato oleoresin or oleoresin component(s) and tomato fibers, which is substantially free from nutritionally unimportant tomato components.

2. A composition according to claim 1, comprising: a) extracted tomato oleoresin or oleoresin component(s); and b) dry tomato fibers.

3. A composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the oleoresin or oleoresin component(s) and the fibers are packaged in separate compartments of the same package.

4. A composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the oleoresin or oleoresin component(s) and the fibers are mixed.

5. A composition according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the oleoresin or oleoresin component(s) and the fibers are contained in a packet or a capsule.

6. A composition according to claim 4, wherein the oleoresin or oleoresin component(s) and the fiber are in tablet form.

7. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising other nutritionally valuable tomato components. 3481/95 -11-

8. A composition according to claim 7, wherein the other nutritionally valuable tomato components comprise soluble tomato solids or tomato lipids.

9. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising added non-tomato originating nutritional supplements.

10. A composition according to claim 9, wherein the added nutritional supplements comprise minerals.

11. A composition according to claim 10, wherein the minerals comprise iron, and/or potassium.

12. A composition according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the added nutritional supplements comprise one or more vitamins.

13. A composition according to claim 12, wherein the vitamin is Vitamin E or/and Vitamin C.

14. A composition according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the added nutritional supplements comprise one or more carotenoids.

15. A composition according to claim 14, wherein the carotenoid is β-carotene. 34S1/95 11593 -12-

16. A dietary unit dosage form of a condensed tomato, comprising about 0.10 gr'. to about 0.65 gr; of a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13, containing about 20 mg to about 200 mg of a 4% to 12% tomato oleoresin.

17. A dietary unit dosage form of a condensed tomato, comprising about 0.25 g to about 0.5 gr. of a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13, containing about 5 mg to about 7.5 mg of lycopene.

18. A process for making a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising the steps of: a) selecting and pre treating tomatoes by washing, sorting and the like procedures; b) crushing the tomatoes; c) removing stems, coarse peels and other waste materials; d) separating the pulp from the tomato serum; e) extracting tomato oleoresin from the pulp; f) drying the pulp to obtain tomato fibers having a water content of less than 5%; g) grinding the dehydrated tomato fibers; and h) combining the desired proportions of tomato oleoresin and of dried fibers, to obtain the desired condensed composition.

19. A method for the preparation of a dietary tomato-equivalent composition comprising tomato oleorsin or oleorsin component(s) in combination with tomato fiber. 115930/ 2 3481/95 -13-

20. A mixture of tomato oleoresin or oleoresin components) with tomato fibers, for use s a base material in the preparation of a dietary tomato-equivalent composition.

21. A dietary tomato-equivalent composition, essentially as described and illustrated, and wifh particular reference to the examples. For {h© Applicants