Novel freezer-adapted beverages and food products

Abstract

The invention comprises novel and highly useful and especially freezer adapted beverages for human, as well as animal consumption which can be stored as desired and/or needed under commercial or household freezer conditions and which will rapidly defrost for consumption under normal ambient temperature conditions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A freeze-altering additive for foods and beverages consisting essentially of (1) at least one carbohydrate, (2) glycerol, or propylene glycol and (3) a sugar alcohol.  
     
     
         2 . A portable, packaged food product for consumption and especially adapted for freezing and defrosting prior to consumption which contains as added ingredients thereof, in addition to conventional ingredients, effective amounts of(1) at least one carbohydrate, (2) glycerol, or propylene glycol and (3) a sugar alcohol.  
     
     
         3 . The food product of  claim 3 , which is an aqueous, non-alcoholic beverage adapted for human consumption and contains effective amounts of glucose, sorbitol and glycerol.  
     
     
         4 . The beverage of  claim 3 , in which the glucose is present in at least 8% by weight of said beverage.  
     
     
         5 . The beverage of  claim 3 , in which the sorbitol is present in at least 1% by weight of said beverage.  
     
     
         6 . The beverage of  claim 3 , in which the glycerine is present in at least 1% by weight of said beverage.  
     
     
         7 . The food product of  claim 2 , which is especially adapted for human consumption.  
     
     
         8 . The food product of  claim 2 , which is especially adapted for animal consumption.  
     
     
         9 . A freezer compatible non-alcoholic, aqueous beverage suitable for human consumption which contains in addition to conventional ingredients from 3% to 60% by weight, of glucose, from 0.25% to 20% by weight, of sorbitol and from 0.5% to 20% by volume of glycerol.  
     
     
         10 . The freezer compatible beverage for human consumption of  claim 9  which contains in addition, as an additive an effective amount of at least one portable amino acid.  
     
     
         11 . The freezer compatible beverage for human consumption of  claim 9  which contains in addition, as an additive or effective amount of at least one portable salt.  
     
     
         12 . The freezer compatible beverage for human consumption of  claim 11 , in which the portable salt is a citrate.  
     
     
         13 . The freezer compatible beverage for human consumption of  claim 9  which contains, in addition, as additives an effective amount of at least one portable amino acid and an effective amount of at least one portable salt.  
     
     
         14 . The freezer compatible beverage for human consumption of  claim 13  in which the portable salt is a citrate.  
     
     
         15 . A process for preparing a beverage of  claim 9 , which comprises the steps of adding glucose, sorbitol and glycerol to water-containing beverage composition prior to packaging said beverage in a container and prior to subjecting the thus packaged beverage to freezing condition.  
     
     
         16 . A method of consuming a beverage comprising (1) providing a packaged beverage product containing a non-alcoholic, aqueous beverage for human consumption, said beverage consisting essentially of (a) at least one carbohydrate, (b) glycerol, or propylene glycol and (c) a sugar alcohol, (2) storing said packaged beverage product under freezing conditions and (3) defrosting said packaged beverage product prior to consumption.