Antimicrobial powders for the preparation of bakery products

Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for making dough-based bakery foods, such as bread having extended mold-free shelf-lives, using new antimicrobial powders comprising an antimicrobial agent dispersed in a carrier. The invention is also directed to methods and compositions for preparing dough-based bakery products, such as bread, having long mold-free shelf-lives, by treating the surface of the dough with the antimicrobial powder. Further, the invention is concerned with bakery products having long, mold-free and anti-staling shelf-lives.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An antimicrobial powder comprising an antimicrobial agent dispersed in a carrier powder, wherein said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of sorbic acid, natamycin, fumaric acid, citric acid, polylysine, sodium benzoate, cinnamon, fermented carbohydrates, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 1 , said antimicrobial powder consisting essentially of said antimicrobial agent dispersed in said carrier powder. 
     
     
         3 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of from about 5% to about 20% sorbic acid, from about 0.5% to about 5% natamycin, from about 5% to about 30% fumaric acid, from about 0.5% to about 40% polylysine, from about 10% to about 30% sodium benzoate, from about 5% to about 30% fermented carbohydrates, from about 5% to about 30% by weight citric acid, from about 5% to about 30% by weight cinnamon, and combinations thereof, based on the total weight of the antimicrobial powder taken as 100%. 
     
     
         4 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 1 , wherein said carrier powder is selected from the group consisting of flours, calcium sulfate, silica, starches, fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 1 , wherein said antimicrobial powder comprises less than about 1% by weight fat or oil, based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial powder taken as 100% by weight. 
     
     
         6 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 1 , wherein said antimicrobial powder has a moisture content of less than about 20% by weight, based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial powder taken as 100% by weight. 
     
     
         7 . An antimicrobial powder comprising an antimicrobial agent dispersed in a carrier powder, said antimicrobial powder comprising less than 2% by weight salt, based upon the total weight of the powder taken as 100% by weight. 
     
     
         8 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 7 , wherein said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of sorbic acid, natamycin, sodium diacetate, calcium propionate, sodium propionate, potassium sorbate, propionic acid, fumaric acid, citric acid, polylysine, sodium benzoate, cinnamon, fermented carbohydrates, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 7 , wherein said carrier powder is selected from the group consisting of flours, calcium sulfate, silica, starches, fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 6 , wherein said antimicrobial powder has a moisture content of less than about 20% by weight, based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial powder taken as 100% by weight. 
     
     
         11 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 6 , wherein said antimicrobial powder comprises less than about 1% by weight fat or oil, based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial powder taken as 100% by weight. 
     
     
         12 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 8 , wherein the amount of said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of from about 5% to about 20% sorbic acid, from about 0.5% to about 5% natamycin, from about 5% to about 30% fumaric acid, from about 0.5% to about 40% polylysine, from about 10% to about 30% sodium benzoate, from about 5% to about 30% fermented carbohydrates, from about 5% to about 30% by weight citric acid, from about 5% to about 30% by weight cinnamon, from about 5% to about 30% by weight sodium diacetate, from about 5% to about 30% by weight calcium propionate, from about 5% to about 30% by weight sodium propionate from about 5% to about 30% by weight, from about 5% to about 30% by weight potassium sorbate, and combinations thereof, based on the total weight of the antimicrobial powder taken as 100%. 
     
     
         13 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 7 , said antimicrobial powder consisting essentially of said antimicrobial agent dispersed in said carrier powder. 
     
     
         14 . An antimicrobial powder comprising an antimicrobial agent dispersed in a carrier powder, said antimicrobial powder being free of calcium propionate, sodium propionate, potassium sorbate, sodium diacetate, ascorbic acid, and propionic acid. 
     
     
         15 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 14 , wherein said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of sorbic acid, natamycin, fumaric acid, citric acid, polylysine, sodium benzoate, cinnamon, fermented carbohydrates, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 15 , wherein said antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of from about 5% to about 20% sorbic acid, from about 0.5% to about 5% natamycin, from about 5% to about 30% fumaric acid, from about 0.5% to about 40% polylysine, from about 10% to about 30% sodium benzoate, from about 5% to about 30% fermented carbohydrates, from about 5% to about 30% by weight citric acid, and from about 5% to about 30% by weight cinnamon. 
     
     
         17 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 14 , said antimicrobial powder consisting essentially of said antimicrobial agent dispersed in said carrier powder. 
     
     
         18 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 14 , wherein said carrier powder is selected from the group consisting of flours, calcium sulfate, silica, starches, fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 14 , wherein said antimicrobial powder comprises less than about 1% by weight fat or oil, based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial powder taken as 100% by weight. 
     
     
         20 . The antimicrobial powder of  claim 14 , wherein said antimicrobial powder has a moisture content of less than about 20% by weight, based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial powder taken as 100% by weight. 
     
     
         21 . The combination of:
 a food product having an outer surface; and   a coating of antimicrobial powder adjacent said outer surface, said antimicrobial powder comprising an antimicrobial agent and a carrier powder selected from the group consisting of flours, calcium sulfate, silica, starches, fibers, and combinations thereof, wherein said antimicrobial powder comprises less than 2% by weight salt, based upon the total weight of the antimicrobial powder taken as 100% by weight.   
     
     
         22 . The combination of  claim 21 , wherein said food product is a dough-based baked product selected from the group breads, buns, rolls, bagels, and sandwich thins. 
     
     
         23 . The combination of  claim 21 , wherein said antimicrobial powder is substantially salt-free.