Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23C—DAIRY PRODUCTS, e.g. MILK, BUTTER OR CHEESE; MILK OR CHEESE SUBSTITUTES; MAKING THEREOF
  • A23C11/00—Milk substitutes, e.g. coffee whitener compositions
  • A23C11/02—Milk substitutes, e.g. coffee whitener compositions containing at least one non-milk component as source of fats or proteins
  • A23C11/04—Milk substitutes, e.g. coffee whitener compositions containing at least one non-milk component as source of fats or proteins containing non-milk fats but no non-milk proteins
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23D—EDIBLE OILS OR FATS, e.g. MARGARINES, SHORTENINGS, COOKING OILS
  • A23D7/00—Edible oil or fat compositions containing an aqueous phase, e.g. margarines
  • A23D7/001—Spread compositions
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23D—EDIBLE OILS OR FATS, e.g. MARGARINES, SHORTENINGS, COOKING OILS
  • A23D7/00—Edible oil or fat compositions containing an aqueous phase, e.g. margarines
  • A23D7/003—Compositions other than spreads
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
  • A23L33/00—Modifying nutritive qualities of foods; Dietetic products; Preparation or treatment thereof
  • A23L33/10—Modifying nutritive qualities of foods; Dietetic products; Preparation or treatment thereof using additives
  • A23L33/115—Fatty acids or derivatives thereof; Fats or oils
  • A23L33/12—Fatty acids or derivatives thereof

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a composition
• a composition comprising a milk or aqueous portion, a protecting oil, or a protecting oil and one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), to an emulsion product containing such composition, to food products comprising such composition or emulsion and to a method of producing such an emulsion product.
• the composition, as well as the emulsion product and/or food product based thereon, is free from any offensive flavour, especially any smell or taste of fish and any cooked taste or smell.
• PUFAs Polyunsaturated fatty acids play a critical role in maintaining good health and ensuring normal development in humans as well as other animals.
• PUFAs are made up of hydro carbon chains that differ in length and the number and position of double bonds. These differences determine PUFAs' biological properties.
• a variety of unsaturated fatty acids can be formed in the organism by a combination of elongation and unsaturation reactions.
• mammals lack the enzymes to endo- geneously synthesise linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid.
• Linoleic acid and alpha- linolenic acid are the 'essential' fatty acids, which have to be furnished by the diet. They are converted into other PUFAs by way of unsaturation and elongation.
• Highly unsaturated omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids can be made, in this way, in the body as well as other important compounds, such as eicosanoids.
• Molecules with the first double bond between the sixth and the seventh carbon atom from the methyl end are called omega-6 or n-6 fatty acids, an example of such an acid being (the essential n-6 PUFA) linoleic acid.
• Molecules with the first double bond between the third and the fourth carbon atom, counted from the methyl end are called omega-3 or n-3 fatty acids, an example of such an acid being (the essential n-3 PUFA,) alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
• ALA is elongated and un- saturated in the human body into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and further to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
• EPA eicosapentaenoic acid
• DHA docosahexaenoic acid
• Omega-3 fatty acids have antiinfiammatory, antithrombotic, antiarrhythmic, hypolipidemic, and vasodilatory properties (Simopoulos AP J Nutr, 1989; 119:521- 8). These beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown in the prevention of coronary heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and, in some patients with renal disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Simopoulos AP, Am J Clin Nutr, 1999; 70:560-569). Furthermore, it is well known that the omega-3 PUFAs play an important role during pregnancy and lactation for the development of infants (Makrides & Gibson, Am J Clin Nutr, 2000; 71 :307-311).
• omega-3 PUFAs The primary sources of long chain omega-3 PUFAs are fatty fish and fish oil or fish oil concentrates. Other sources are oils from certain micro algae and phyto- plankton (Simpoloulos, Am J Clin Nutr, 1999; 70:560-569). Fish (oil) consumption is rather low in most western countries; as a result, the n-3 PUFA status in western populations is also low. It may be too low in certain risk groups like pregnant women, neonates, elderly persons, diabetic patients, sportsmen, etc. Besides preg- nant women are today advised against eating fish, due to environmental poison. Omega-6 fatty acids are present in many vegetable oils.
• Omega-6 One important member of the Omega-6 family is linoleic acid, which is present for example, in olive oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil and linseed oil, but also in margarine. Linoleic acid is metabolized in the human body to gamma-linolenic acid (C18:3/ ⁇ - 6), dihomagamma-linolenic acid (20:3/ ⁇ -6) and arachidonic acid (C20:4/ ⁇ -6). Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in the omega-3 series of fatty acids occurs in green leafy vegetables and is, for example, also main constituent of linseed oil.
• gamma-linolenic acid C18:3/ ⁇ - 6
• dihomagamma-linolenic acid (20:3/ ⁇ -6) dihomagamma-linolenic acid (20:3/ ⁇ -6)
• arachidonic acid C20:4/ ⁇ -6.
• Alpha-linolenic acid can be converted in the body, by means of special enzymes, to eicosapentaenoic acid C20:5 (EPA) and dococahexaenoic acid C22:6 (DHA) (Fig. 3).
• EPA eicosapentaenoic acid
• DHA dococahexaenoic acid
• omega-3 fatty acids The most important sources of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are fatty, cold-water ocean fish which feed on the phytoplankton that are abundant in northern seas.
• the cell membranes of these tiny plants must be particularly "fluid” so they can survive in the ice-cold water; they achieve this by incorporating omega-3 fatty acids with a low solidification point.
• Fish with particularly high levels of omega -3 fatty acids include mackerel, herring, tuna, sardines, salmon, pollack, sturgeon, anchovies, sprats and halibut.
• the high concentration of polyene fatty acids makes the cell membranes of these fish more "fluid” and allows them to adapt to the low water temperatures; this therefore constitutes a biological precondition for survival in ice-cold water [P. Singer"Was Sind, wie ssen Omega-3-Fettsa ⁇ ren?", Umschau Zeitschriftenverlag (1995)].
• the fats and liver oils of these cold-water fish consist predominantly of triacylglycerols with a relatively high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Particularly characteristics are highly unsaturated C20 and C22 fatty acids with five and six double bonds, i.e EPA and DHA. The higher the fat concentration in the cold-water fish, the more omega-3 fatty acids are present in its flesh. Most natural fish oils have a concentration of omega-3 fatty acids of between 30 and 40%.
• CN 1135290 and CN 1108891 both describe milk products, especially milk powders, containing omega-3 PUFA.
• EP 893 064 describes a liquid milk comprising DHA for infant use and CN
• 1200241 describe a milk based drinking liquid comprising DHA.
• US 5 976 606 describes a process for producing DHA-containing tofu or soybean milk drink, comprising the use of soybean milk as both base and emul- gation agent.
• ordinary used emulgation agents have a negative influence on tofu.
• the soybean milk is said to, mask to a certain extent the fish smell.
• the present invention provides a composition
• a composition comprising a) a milk portion or an aqueous portion, one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or a mixture thereof, a protecting oil and optionally one or more additives, or b) a milk portion, which is sterilised/high temperature treated or to be sterilised/high temperature treated, a protecting oil and optionally one or more additives, or c) a milk portion, which is sterilised/high temperature treated or to be sterilised/high temperature treated, a protecting oil, one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or a mixture thereof and optionally one or more additives; the composition being substantially free from any off-flavour resulting either from chemical reactions of the PUFAs) or a mixture thereof and optionally one or more additives; the composition being substantially free from any off-flavour resulting either from chemical reactions of the PUFAs) or a mixture thereof and optionally one or more additives; the composition
• polyunsaturated fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) of the omega-3 series of PUFAs.
• protecting oil is oat oil.
• the invention also provides emulsion products comprising said composition and food products prepared from said emulsion products.
• the invention provides a process for the production of said emulsion product, the process comprising the steps of I: a) providing a milk portion; b) adding to the milk portion a protecting oil, or a protecting oil and one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or a mixture thereof and optionally one or more additives to form a milk portion-oil mixture; and c) emulsifying the milk portion-oil mixture to form an emulsion; wherein the emulsifying is taken place in immediate connection with the addition of the protecting oil or protecting oil and one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or a mixture thereof to the milk portion, or II: a) providing an aqueous portion; b) adding to the aqueous portion a protecting oil, or a protecting oil and one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or a mixture thereof, one or more emulsifiers and optionally one or more additives to form a aqueous portion-
• the invention provides a method of preventing an off-flavour in a food product comprising the steps of providing a milk portion or an aqueous portion and adding to the milk or aqueous portion an amount of a protecting oil sufficient enough to prevent any off-flavour.
• Fig 1 and 2 is a schematic view showing one embodiment of a process for the production of an emulsion product according to the invention.
• Fig 3 is a schematic view showing the metabolism of omega-6 and omega-3 PUFAs.
• milk is in this context intended to mean animal milk, such as milk from cows, horses and goats, and milk-like products based on vegetable sources, such as oat milk, soy milk and coconut milk.
• PUFA is in this context intended to mean a polyunsaturated fatty acid in general terms. Specifically contemplated are the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) having at least a C lg -carbon chain.
• PUFA oil is in this context intended to mean an oil in general terms, which is extractable from sources such as fish, algae, phytoplankton, fungi or plants by conventional methods, or being synthetically or biogenetically produced and which is composed mainly of triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides or more polar lipids, such as phospholipids, glycolipids, galactolipids or the like containing polyunsaturated fatty acids as defined under "PUFA" above.
• protecting oil is in this context intended to mean an oil which has a protecting effect on the chemical reactions, such as degradation reactions resulting in an off-flavour.
• chemical reactions of PUFAs such as oxidation reactions, and chemical reactions resulting from sterilisation or high temperature treatment of a milk product giving a cooked taste.
• any off-flavour such as the fish taste and fish smell resulting from chemical degradation, e.g. oxidation of the omega-3 series of PUFAs, is prevented, reduced or substantially eliminated.
• emulsion product is in this context intended to mean an emulsified product comprising a milk or aqueous portion and a protecting oil or a pro- ecting oil and one or more PUFAs and/or PUFA oils as defined above.
• emulsion product may be included in food compositions or functional food pre- parations with or without additives as defined below.
• off- flavour is in this context intended to mean any peculiar taste or smell resulting from chemical reactions, such as degradation reactions of PUFAs and PUFA oils, specifically the taste and smell of fish coming from products of omega-3 series of PUFAs and PUFA oils or the chemical reaction leading to a cooked taste and smell in milk.
• aqueous portion is in this context intended to mean water or any composition partly comprising water.
• additive(s) is in this context intended to mean any added compound suitable for use in a food product.
• sterilisation is in this context intended to mean generally known and accepted sterilisation conditions within food industry.
• high temperature treatment is in this context intended to mean any heat treatment known within food industry from low pasteurisation up to sterilisation.
• the present invention provides a solution to the problem with unpleasant off- flavours either resulting from sterilisation or high temperature treatment of milk products, such as the cooked taste of milk, or resulting from oxidation reactions or the creation of degradation products of PUFAs.
• the degradation reactions of PUFAs lead in general to an unpleasant taste and smell of fish.
• the above mentioned cooked taste may be explained as follows. When heat treatments in excess of those employed for pasteurisation are used in the processing of milk, varying degrees of flavour change may be noted. At or about 74°C a distinct cooked flavour commences to develop. This flavour arises from the -SH groups activated by heat denaturation of ⁇ -lactoglobulin and proteins of the fat globule membrane. The flavour is specifically due to volatile sulfides, and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) in particular. The precise mechanism of H 2 S formation from the -SH groups in these proteins is unknown. In general oxidising conditions inhibit and reducing conditions favour sulfide formation.
• the polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFAs suitable for the invention are any
• PUFAs but preferably PUFAs having a carbon chain of at least 18 carbon atoms, i.e. having at least a C 18 -carbon chain, such as a C ⁇ 8 -, C 20 -, or C 2 - carbon chain.
• the PUFAs are preferably added in the form of an oil comprised mainly of triglycerides, diglycerider, monoglycerides or more polar lipids containing these polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• polar lipids are phospholipids, glycolipids and galactolipids.
• the fatty acids may also be added in the form of other fatty acid containing compounds, such as esters.
• PUFAs considered to be useful in the present application are PUFAs from the n-6 and the n-3 series, such as linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid or any of their natural metabolites (See fig.3).
• PUFAs of the omega-3 series such as ALA (alpha-linolenic acid, 18:3) EPA (eicospentaenoic acid, 20:5) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6).
• the preferred PUFA to be used according to the present invention is DHA or a mixture of PUFAs comprising DHA or a PUFA oil comprising DHA.
• PUFA oil preferably contains at least 10 % by weight of one or more PUFAs, specifically 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 % by weight. In one embodiment of the invention the PUFA oil contains 10-50 % by weight of DHA and 0-20 % by weight of EPA.
• the PUFAs or the PUFA oil according to the invention may be extracted from fish, plants, phytoplankton or algae, such as micro algae, or extracted from any other appropriate source.
• Examples of preferred PUFA oils according to the invention are fish oils, such as oil from tuna fish, shark, salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, pollack, sturgeon, anchovies, sprats, and halibut and oils from a marine vegetable micro algae.
• Examples of plant oils are linseed oil from linseed and Perilla oil derived from Asian Beefsteak plant.
• a micro algae oil is MARTEK DHASCO®.
• the PUFA oil contains 25 - 45 % by weight of DHA and 0- 10 % by weight of EPA.
• the extraction may be performed by conventional methods, or the PUFAs may be synthetically or biogenetically produced.
• a DHA containing PUFA oil extracted from fish oil or micro algae is used.
• the oil may be used in non-purified, purified or highly purified form, concentrated or non-concentrated. Examples are DHA containing oils from tuna fish or marine micro algaes. Alternatively it may be synthetically produced.
• the protecting oil according to the invention is an oil having the effect of reducing or substantially eliminating chemical reactions resulting in off- flavour degradation products.
• PUFAs oxidation reactions
• PUFAs oxidation reactions
• oils examples include oils from any of the cereals like wheat, barley, oat, rye, rice, maize, sesame seeds and corn, including oils from whole grain, bran, germs or other parts of the seed, such as oat bran oil, oat oil, rice bran oil and rice oil.
• oat oil and oat bran oil or any oil having substantially a similar content as regards antioxidants and polar lipids are included in oat oil.
• oat oil is an ethanol extracted oat bran oil provided by Swedish Oat Products AB, Bua hamn, Narobacka, Sweden.
• Oat oil has a very specific mixture of antioxidants, such as avenantramides and tocopherols, and polar lipids, such as digalactodiacylglycerol (DGDG). Oat oil has in the present invention shown to give very favourable results. Specifically contemplated protecting oils are oils having a similar mixture of polar lipids and antioxidants as oat oil.
• antioxidants such as avenantramides and tocopherols
• polar lipids such as digalactodiacylglycerol (DGDG).
• DGDGDG digalactodiacylglycerol
• Specifically contemplated protecting oils are oils having a similar mixture of polar lipids and antioxidants as oat oil.
• the milk may be any portion of animal milk, such as milk from cows, horses and goats, and other milk-like products based on vegetable sources, such as oat milk, soy milk and coconut milk.
• animal milk such as milk from cows, horses and goats
• milk-like products based on vegetable sources such as oat milk, soy milk and coconut milk.
• milk portions suitable to be used in the present invention are cow milk and cream based on cow milk.
• Contemplated is milk from natural sources as well as synthetically prepared, milk products having different fat content, infant milk etc.
• composition of the invention com- prises a milk portion or an aqueous portion, a protecting oil and one or more
• Oat bran oil is a preferred protecting oil.
• the protecting oil may be mixed with a PUFA oil in a ratio (protecting oil : PUFA oil) within any range; such as from 0.1 : 1 to 100: 1. Specifically from 0.2: 1 to 4: 1, more specifically 0.5: 1 to 2: 1 and even more specifically in the ratio of 1 : 1.
• the composition of the invention comprises a milk portion, which is sterilised/high temperature treated or to be sterilised/high temperature treated, a protecting oil and possibly one or more additives.
• the amount of protecting oil added is the same as above.
• the composition of the invention comprises a milk portion, which is sterilised/high temperature treated or to be sterilised/high temperature treated, a protecting oil, one or more PUFAs, as defined above, or a mixture thereof, and possibly one or more additives.
• the invention refers to emulsions comprising the above composition.
• the emulsion of the invention comprises a milk portion or an aqueous portion and on or more PUFAs, as defined above, or a mixture thereof in combination with a protecting oil and possibly one or more addi- tives.
• Oat bran oil is the most preferred protecting oil.
• the protecting oil may be mixed with a PUFA oil in a ratio (protecting oil : PUFA oil) within any range; such as from 0.1 :1 to 100: 1. Specifically from 0.2:1 to 4:1, more specifically 0.5:1 to 2: 1 and even more specifically in the ratio of 1 : 1.
• the emulsion of the invention com- prises a milk portion, which is sterilised/high temperature treated or to be sterilised/high temperature treated, a protecting oil and possibly one or more additives.
• a protecting oil and possibly one or more additives.
• the amount of protecting oil added is the same as above.
• the emulsion of the invention comprises a milk portion, which is sterilised/high temperature treated or to be steri- lised/high temperature treated, a protecting oil, one or more PUFAs, as defined above, or a mixture thereof, and possibly one or more additives.
• composition or emulsion product preferably includes PUFAs, as defined above, in a range corresponding to the intake of PUFAs recommended by the Nordic Health authorities, in "Nordiska naringsreumbledationer, Nord 1996:28". Nord 1996:28 specifically recommends, for adults and children above the age of 3, the amount of the sum of omega-6 and omega-3 PUFAs to be at least 3 % of the energy intake (E%), of which omega-3 PUFAs are at least 0.5 E%.
• the recommended daily dose of e.g. DHA is around 220 mg/day/adult, for pregnant and lactating women at least 300 mg/day (J.Am.Coll of Nutr. 1999, 18:5, 487-489
• Contemplated are additives acceptable for food products, as well as additives acceptable for use in functional foods.
• Further examples of acceptable additives are colouring agents, sugars, buffers, disintegrating agents, suspending agents, solubilising agents, emulsifiers and enhancers.
• emulsifiers which may be used according to the invention are Na-caseinate, Ca-caseinate, lecithin, for instance produced from egg yolk or soy bean oil, or any other accepted food emulsifier.
• the emulsifying step of the invention may be performed by any conventional emulsifying process known to the skilled man in the art or by means of one of the specific processes described below.
• a 30 wt % emulsion of a triglyceride oil such as a mixture of PUFA oil and protecting oil
• a triglyceride oil such as a mixture of PUFA oil and protecting oil
• water or an aqueous solution is prepared by adding an emulsifier to the triglyceride oil.
• the oil phase as well as the aqueous phase are preheated and then the oil phase is added to the aqueous phase under high-shear mixing to prepare a pre-emulsion.
• the pre- emulsion is then subjected to high-pressure homogenisation.
• the oil mixture such as a mixture of PUFA oil and protecting oil
• milk in close connection to a homogenizer is added to a homogenizer.
• composition or emulsion product may be presented in the form of a liquid composition or in the form of a dry powder.
• a dry powder may be formed by conventional methods, such as freeze-drying, spray-drying or vacuum- drying. According to the invention there is provided a process for producing an emulsion product.
• the process (process I) comprises the steps of a) providing a milk portion; b) adding to the milk portion a protecting oil, or a protecting oil and one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or a mixture thereof and optionally one or more additives to form a milk portion-oil mixture; and c) emulsifying the milk portion-oil mixture to form an emulsion; wherein the emulsifying is taken place in immediate connection with the addition of the protecting oil or protecting oil and one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or a mixture thereof to the milk portion.
• PUFAs polyunsaturated fatty acids
• Process I for producing a emulsion product according to the invention is described with reference to one embodiment as shown in figs 1 and 2, wherein the process is performed as a two main step process. It is within the scope of the invention to modify the processes shown in figs 1 and 2, and such modifications are easily realised by the skilled man in the art.
• the PUFA containing oil is mixed, as shown in fig 1 at 4, with the oat bran oil to produce an oil mixture or lipid composition.
• the ratio of PUFA containing oil to oat bran oil may be 0.5:1 to 2: 1, the preferred range being 1 : 1.
• the oil mixture is added to the milk portion, in this case cow milk, through a bypass in a pipe in close connection to a homogenizer, as shown in fig 1 at 5.
• the addition of oil mixture to the milk may be performed in other ways.
• the oil mixture and the milk is then homogenized to emulsify the fat in the aqueous phase in the homogenizer at a pressure, such as between 100-200 mbar and subsequently the emulsion produced is pasteurised.
• the step of adding the oil mixture to the milk and subsequent emulgation is an important step and the addition is preferably made in close connection to the homogenisation/emulgation.
• the emulsion should preferably be established rapidly after addition of the oil mixture; i.e. the time between the addition of oil mixture to the milk and the emulgation should be as short as possible.
• the emulsion is, according to the embodiment shown in fig 2, sterilised by direct steam injection. Other sterilisation processes may be used.
• the product from step 1 is taken directly or preheated, if necessary, and thereafter sterilised through steam injection at a temperature of above 100 °C, such as 140 °C, at a time of 2- 5 seconds.
• the sterile product is then introduced into a vacuum chamber (as shown in fig 2 at 14) and is optionally further homogenized (as shown in fig 2 at 15).
• the vacuum treatment is of importance for removing volatile compounds, which may give an off-flavour.
• the product is cooled, stored and packaged. This process has shown to be particularly beneficial when mixing an omega-3 con- taining PUFA oil with oat oil and and adding said oil mixture to milk.
• step 1 the product from step 1 may be used directly, without the sterilisation step.
• the process results in a product being substantially free from any fish taste and also being mainly free from the cooked taste normally encountered in sterilised milk products.
• the emulsion from step 1 or 2 may further be used for the production of other products, such as cheese, ice cream and margarine.
• the composition of the present invention may be included in products, such as cheese, ice cream and margarine, during the ordinary and conventional processes for their production.
• a process (process II) for producing an emulsion according to the invention comprising the steps of a) providing a aqueous portion; b) adding to the aqueous portion a protecting oil, or a protecting oil and one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or a mixture thereof, one or more emulsifiers and optionally one or more additives to form a aqueous portion-oil mixture; c) emulsifying the aqueous portion-oil mixture to form an emulsion; wherein the emulsifying is taken place in immediate connection with the addition of the pro- tecting oil or the protecting oil and one or more polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or a mixture thereof to the aqueous portion, and d) adding the emulsion to a milk portion.
• PUFAs polyunsaturated fatty acids
• the emulsion may be added to the milk portion at (6) in Figure 1.
• the emulsion may be sterilised separately and added aseptically to milk at (15) in Figure 2.
• the aqueous portion used in the process may be water, saline, milk from animal or vegetable sources, juice and syrup based on fruits, vegetables etc., optionally including additives such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, flavouring agents, nutrients and the like.
• the aqueous portion may in itself be part of an emulsion such as milk, cream, a vegetable or animal margarine or spread. It may be a water-in-oil emulsion or an oil-in- water emulsion.
• the emulsion in the process of the invention may prepared by mixing the aqueous portion and the oil mixture (PUFA and protecting oil) together with an emulsifier or mixing together the milk portion and oil mixture (PUFA and protecting oil).
• the mixing may be carried out by any con- ventional mixing method.
• the sterilisation and high temperature treatment according to the invention is performed under, within the art generally accepted, sterilisation and high temperature treatment conditions.
• High temperature treatments include temperature treatments from low pasteurisation (e.g. 72 ° C, 15 seconds) to sterilisation.
• the present invention also refers to food products including the composition or the emulsion product as described above. Examples of such products are milk and milk based products, cream and cream based products, juice, fruit soups, cheese, ice cream, ice cream soda, spreads, butter, sausage, pates, such as pate from liver, dried powders or grains, etc.
• the amount of PUFA in the food product depends i.a. on the actual type of food product.
• the PUFAs included correspond to the recommended daily intake, as referred to above.
• the PUFA is DHA
• the dose given through the food product is calculated to at least a recommended daily dose of around 220 mg/day/adult.
• the preferred protecting oil to be used in the present invention is oat bran oil.
• Oat bran oil contains around 25% polar lipids, including both phospholipids and galactolipids. Moreover, oat bran oil has a high concentration of different antioxidants, e.g. avenantramines. Such an oat bran oil may be provided by Swedish Oat Products.
• a specific example of a food product according to the invention is an oat milk product including an oil mixture of a protecting oil, such as oat oil, and an omega-3 PUFA, such as DHA or a combination of DHA and EPA.
• a food product according to the invention is a fruit juice, a milk product or a product being a combination of a fruit juice and a milk product including an oil mixture of a protecting oil, such as oat oil, and an omega-3 PUFA, such as DHA or a combination of DHA and EPA.
• a protecting oil such as oat oil
• an omega-3 PUFA such as DHA or a combination of DHA and EPA.
• the oat bran oil is mixed with a PUFA oil DHA, e.g. containing 25-40 % by weight of DHA and this oil mixture is added to cow milk to produce an emulgated milk product.
• a PUFA oil DHA e.g. containing 25-40 % by weight of DHA
• this oil mixture is added to cow milk to produce an emulgated milk product.
• a milk pro- duct is produced according to the preferred process as described above and according to example 1.
• the invention refers to a method of preventing an off-flavour in a food product comprising the steps of providing a milk portion or an aqueous portion and adding to the milk or aqueous portion an amount of a protecting oil sufficient enough to prevent any off-flavour.
• the protecting oil is an oat oil, such as oat bran oil, in a mixture with milk.
• oat oil such as oat bran oil
• the resulting milk product is substantially free from the off-flavour of cooked taste. This is surprising since all sterilised milk based products generally have a very distinct cooked taste.
• the protecting oil is an oat oil, such as oat bran oil, which is added to a PUFA oil, such as omega-3 PUFAs, e.g. a mixture of DHA and EPA.
• a PUFA oil such as omega-3 PUFAs, e.g. a mixture of DHA and EPA.
• the mixture of oat oil and PUFA is then added to a milk portion or an aqueous portion.
• the addition of PUFAs to milk or aqueous portions generally gives a taste of fish, but when used according to the invention in connection with a protecting oil, such as oat oil, the resulting product is substantially free from any such taste. When such product is sterilised it is also free of any off- flavour of cooked taste, when produced according to the present invention.
• Omega-3 PUFAs and especially, DHA and EPA have recently attracted attention as having a wide variety of physiological activities. They are known to have an antithrombogenic activity, an anti-inflammatory acitivity, an antiallergic activity and an antitumor activity. Moreover, they are known to be important in developing and maintaining nerve tissue of brain, retina and the like. They are especially important to pregnant and milk feeding women.
• composition and the emulsion according to the present invention may be used in the form of a functional food preparation for preventing thrombo- genic, inflammatory, allergic and tumour disorders or diseases, such as arteriosclerosis, cerebral embolism, myocardic infarction, cardio-cerebral vascular diseases. They may also be used to enhance the body immune system.
• the functional food preparation may be in any suitable oral form.
• suitable oral forms are syrups, emulsions, solutions and suspensions. It may be combined with any additives acceptable for use in functional food preparations, such as those mentioned above.
• food products being substantially free from any off-flavour either resulting from chemical reactions of the added PUFAs or from chemical reactions from the sterilisation/high temperature treatment of the milk portion, or free from a combination of such off-flavour.
• the effect of the protecting oil is substantially to prevent chemical reactions, like oxidation of the PUFAs, which may result in an off-flavour when in contact with a milk portion, such as milk or an aqueous portion, such as fruit juice.
• This adjusted milk product is then pasteurised (8) at 77 °C and 16 sec. (Alfa Laval H10). Finally (9 and 10) the pasteurised milk product is cooled to a temperature of 6 °C and stored.
• a second main step (fig.2) the milk was sterilised (APV UH Palarisator) by direct steam injection.
• the milk product from main step 1 was preheated to 75 °C in a Alfa Laval HI 0(12).
• the preheated milk was then sterilised in an APN UH Palarisator by direct steam injection at 140 °C during 3 seconds (13) followed by vacuum treatment (14) at 74 °C, homogenisation at 100-150 bar and cooling (16) to 20 °C.
• the resulting milk product is then transferred to a sterile tank (17) and packed (18) in 1 dm packages.
• the milk product produced had no taste or smell of fish and moreover it did not have a cooked taste, which is often the case after sterilisation. Furthermore the product had a good shelf life of > 6 months at both ⁇ TP and cold storage condi- tions.
• Example 1 was repeated, but with no addition of DHA, in order to examine the existence of any off- flavour of cooked taste. The same conditions as in example 1 were applied.
• the resulting milk showed no off-flavour of cooked taste.
• milk portion at stage 7 may be adjusted to other fat contents, such as a fat content of 3-12 % by weight.
• Example 3 Compositions 3 different compositions according to the invention was prepared as follows:
• Arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4 n-6), 38-44 % (380-420 mg/g)
• Tuna fish oil was mixed with 50 g oat bran oil.
• the oil mixture was added to 10 dm 3 skimmed milk and directly homogenized. 625 mg DHA and 300 mg EPA per dm 3 milk.
• compositions were tested as regards any taste or smell of fish, as well as any cooked taste or smell of milk. They were all found to be free of such taste or smell.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Mycology (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Nutrition Science (AREA)
• Dairy Products (AREA)
• Edible Oils And Fats (AREA)
• Coloring Foods And Improving Nutritive Qualities (AREA)
• Fats And Perfumes (AREA)
• General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)

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• 2000
  • 2000-04-26 SE SE0001494A patent/SE523211C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2001
  • 2001-04-26 EP EP01924069A patent/EP1286597B1/en not_active Revoked
  • 2001-04-26 AU AU2001250731A patent/AU2001250731B2/en not_active Ceased
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  • 2001-04-26 WO PCT/SE2001/000887 patent/WO2001080656A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2001-04-26 ES ES01924069T patent/ES2401956T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2002
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