Food Articles With Delivery Devices and Methods for the Preparation Thereof

Abstract

Disclosed are food articles comprising delivery devices. Methods of preparing such food articles are also disclosed.

1 . A food article comprising a microcapsule, wherein the microcapsule comprises an agglomeration of primary microcapsules and a loading substance, each individual primary microcapsule having a primary shell, wherein the loading substance is encapsulated by the primary shell, and wherein the agglomeration is encapsulated by an outer shell. 
   
   
       2 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the primary shell, the outer shell, or both the primary and outer shells comprise a surfactant, gelatin, polyphosphate, polysaccharide, or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the primary shell, the outer shell, or both the primary and outer shells comprise gelatin type A, gelatin type B, polyphosphate, gum arabic, alginate, chitosan, carrageenan, pectin, starch, modified starch, alfa-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobumin, ovalbumin, polysorbiton, maltodextrin, cyclodextrin, cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydropropylmethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, milk protein, whey protein, soy protein, canola protein, albumin, kosher gelatin, non-kosher gelatin, Halal gelatin, non-Halal gelatin, or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the primary shell, the outer shell, or both the primary and outer shells comprise fish gelatin. 
   
   
       5 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the primary shell, the outer shell, or both the primary and outer shells comprise pork gelatin. 
   
   
       6 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the primary shell, the outer shell, or both the primary and outer shells comprise a gelatin with a Bloom number of from about 0 to about 50. 
   
   
       7 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the primary shell, the outer shell, or both the primary and outer shells comprise a gelatin with a Bloom number of from about 51 to about 300. 
   
   
       8 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the primary shell, the outer shell, or both the primary and outer shells comprise a gelatin with a Bloom number of about 0, about 210, about 220, or about 240. 
   
   
       9 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the primary shell, the outer shell, or both the primary and outer shells comprise a complex coacervate. 
   
   
       10 . The food article of  claim 9 , wherein the complex coacervate is a complex coacervate of gelatin and polyphosphate. 
   
   
       11 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell has an average diameter of from about 1 μm to about 2,000 μm. 
   
   
       12 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the primary shell has an average diameter of from about 40 nm to about 10 μm. 
   
   
       13 . The food article  claim 1 , wherein the primary shell, the outer shell, or both the primary and outer shells comprises an antioxidant. 
   
   
       14 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the loading substance comprises a biologically active substance, a nutritional supplement, a flavoring substance, a vitamin, a mineral, a carbohydrate, a steroid, a trace element, a protein, or any mixture thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the loading substance comprises one or more oils chosen from a microbial oil, algal oil, fungal oil, and plant oil. 
   
   
       16 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the loading substance comprises fish oil. 
   
   
       17 . The food article of  claim 16 , wherein the fish oil comprises an Atlantic fish oil, Pacific fish oil, Mediterranean fish oil, light pressed fish oil, alkaline treated fish oil, heat treated fish oil, light and heavy brown fish oil, bonito oil, pilchard oil, tuna oil, sea bass oil, halibut oil, spearfish oil, barracuda oil, cod oil, menhaden oil, sardine oil, anchovy oil, capelin oil, Atlantic cod oil, Atlantic herring oil, Atlantic mackerel oil, Atlantic menhaden oil, salmonid oil, or shark oil. 
   
   
       18 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the loading substance comprises an omega-3 fatty acid, and ester of an omega-3 fatty acid, and/or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       19 . The food article of  claim 18 , wherein the ester of an omega-3 fatty acid comprises an alkyl ester of an omega-3 fatty acid, a monoglyceride of an omega-3 fatty acid, a diglyceride of an omega-3 fatty acid, a triglyceride ester of an omega-3 fatty acid, a phytosterol ester of an omega-3 fatty acid, an ester of an omega-3 fatty acid and an antioxidant, a furanoid ester of an omega-3 fatty acid, and/or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       20 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the loading substance comprises docosahexaenoic acid and/or eicosapentaenoic acid, a C 1 -C 6  alkyl ester thereof, a triglyceride ester thereof, a phytosterol ester thereof, and/or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       21 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the loading substance further comprises a preservative, antimicrobial, chelating agent, thickener, flavoring, diluent, emulsifier, dispersing aid, binder or any mixture thereof. 
   
   
       22 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the loading substance is from about 20% to about 90% by weight of the microcapsule. 
   
   
       23 - 34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a wet soup. 
   
   
       36 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a dehydrated and culinary food. 
   
   
       37 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a beverage. 
   
   
       38 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a frozen food. 
   
   
       39 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a seasoning. 
   
   
       40 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is apple sauce. 
   
   
       41 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is baby food. 
   
   
       42 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a breaded meat. 
   
   
       43 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a pasteurized process cheese food. 
   
   
       44 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a granola bar or cereal bar. 
   
   
       45 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a bread, cereal, or waffle. 
   
   
       46 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is soymilk. 
   
   
       47 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a gummy candy. 
   
   
       48 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a pasta or pasta sauce. 
   
   
       49 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a tomato sauce. 
   
   
       50 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is orange juice. 
   
   
       51 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a snack food. 
   
   
       52 . The food article of  claim 51 , wherein the snack food is a potato chip, corn chip, or tortilla chip. 
   
   
       53 . The food article of  claim 1 , wherein the food article is a chip and the loading substance comprises an omega-3 fatty acid. 
   
   
       54 . The food article of  claim 53 , wherein the microcapsule is present at less than or equal to about 6% by weight, based on the total weight of the chip. 
   
   
       55 . The food article of  claim 53 , wherein the microcapsule is present at less than or equal to about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the chip. 
   
   
       56 . The food article of  claim 53 , wherein the microcapsule is present at from about 1% to about 4% by weight, based on the total weight of the chip. 
   
   
       57 . The food article of  claim 1 , further comprising a probiotic. 
   
   
       58 . A method of delivering a loading substance to a subject, comprising administering to the subject the food article of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       59 - 66 . (canceled)