Food articles with delivery devices and methods for the preparation thereof

Abstract

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

1 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A method of preparing a baby food, comprising:
 a) mixing baby food ingredients with a microcapsule; and then   b) processing the mixture of step a) by cooking, heating, pasteurizing, or homogenizing; and then   c) packaging the mixture of step b) into a container,   
       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, wherein the agglomeration is encapsulated by an outer shell, and where the primary and outer shell comprising a complex coacervate. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the primary shell and the outer shell 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. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the primary shell and the outer shell comprise gelatin, polyphosphate, polysaccharide, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the primary shell and the outer shell comprise fish gelatin or pork gelatin. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the primary shell and the outer shell comprise a gelatin with a Bloom number of from about 0 to about 50. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the primary shell and the outer shell comprise a gelatin with a Bloom number of from about 51 to about 300. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the primary shell and the outer shell comprise a gelatin with a Bloom number of about 0, about 210, about 220, or about 240. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the primary shell and the outer shell comprise a complex coacervate of gelatin and polyphosphate. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the outer shell has an average diameter of from about 1 μm to about 2,000 μm. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the primary shell has an average diameter of from about 40 nm to about 10 μm. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the primary shell, the outer shell, or both the primary and outer shells comprises an antioxidant. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 67 , 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. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the loading substance comprises one or more oils chosen from a microbial oil, algal oil, fungal oil, and plant oil. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the loading substance comprises fish oil. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the loading substance comprises an omega-3 fatty acid, and ester of an omega-3 fatty acid, and/or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , 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. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 67 , 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. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the loading substance further comprises a preservative, antimicrobial, chelating agent, thickener, flavoring, diluent, emulsifier, dispersing aid, binder or any mixture thereof. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the loading substance is from about 20% to about 90% by weight of the microcapsule. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the primary shell and the outer shell is formed from the same complex coacervate.