Low-Sodium Salt Composition

Abstract

Low-sodium salt compositions/substitutes, Modified Potassium Chlorides (MPCs) and methods of making the same. The salt compositions/substitutes preferably include NaCl, KCl and a modifier(s), preferably a cereal flour such as rice flour. A food grade acidulant is preferably included. The composition/substitute will preferably have a Na/K ratio of from about 0.1 to about 9.0, most preferably about 1.0. MPCs preferably include KCl and a modifier(s), preferably a cereal flour such as rice flour. A food grade acidulant is preferably included. The salt compositions/substitutes and MPCs are preferably made by drum drying, extrusion cooking or agglomeration procedures. The MPC is preferably blended and/or co-ground with unmodified NaCl in any desired ratio, preferably 50/50, which gives a Na/K ratio of about 1 (i.e. 20% sodium and 20% potassium), to cost-effectively provide a salt substitute without modifying the NaCl.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seasoning agent comprising:
 a modified potassium chloride composition including:
 from about 2 to about 80 percent by weight of cereal flour; and 
 from about 10 to about 60 percent by weight of potassium chloride; 
 wherein the cereal flour provides a matrix in which the potassium chloride is dispersed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The seasoning agent of  claim 1 , further comprising about 10 to about 60 percent by weight sodium chloride. 
     
     
         3 . The seasoning agent of  claim 2 , wherein the sodium chloride is blended with the modified potassium chloride composition. 
     
     
         4 . The seasoning agent of  claim 1 , wherein the modified potassium chloride includes a food grade acidulant, the food grade acidulant being substantially dispersed within the matrix. 
     
     
         5 . The seasoning agent of  claim 4 , wherein the food grade acidulant is citric acid. 
     
     
         6 . The seasoning agent of  claim 1 , wherein the cereal flour includes rice flour. 
     
     
         7 . A seasoning agent comprising:
 modified potassium chloride composition derived from a plasticized mass of potassium chloride and a cereal flour; wherein the plasticized mass is an aqueous mixture of from about 2 to about 80 percent by weight of cereal flour and from about 10 to about 60 percent by weight of potassium chloride, which is heat processed and dried such that the potassium atoms and the chloride atoms of the potassium chloride are substantially associated with the cereal flour within a cereal flour matrix.   
     
     
         8 . The seasoning agent of  claim 7 , further comprising about 10 to about 60 percent by weight sodium chloride. 
     
     
         9 . The seasoning agent of  claim 8 , wherein the sodium chloride is blended with the modified potassium chloride composition. 
     
     
         10 . The seasoning agent of  claim 7 , wherein the modified potassium chloride includes a food grade acidulant, the food grade acidulant being substantially dispersed within the matrix. 
     
     
         11 . The seasoning agent of  claim 10 , wherein the food grade acidulant is citric acid. 
     
     
         12 . The seasoning agent of  claim 11 , wherein the pH of the aqueous mixture is from about 3.0 to about 5.0. 
     
     
         13 . The seasoning agent of  claim 7 , wherein the cereal flour includes rice flour. 
     
     
         14 . A seasoning agent comprising:
 a modified potassium chloride composition including cereal flour that has been heat and moisture processed with potassium chloride such that the potassium chloride is associated with the cereal flour within a cereal flour matrix; the modified potassium chloride composition including from about 2 to about 80 percent by weight of cereal flour and from about 10 to about 60 percent by weight of potassium chloride.   
     
     
         15 . The seasoning agent of  claim 14 , further comprising about 10 to about 60 percent by weight sodium chloride. 
     
     
         16 . The seasoning agent of  claim 15 , wherein the sodium chloride is blended with the modified potassium chloride composition. 
     
     
         17 . The seasoning agent of  claim 14 , wherein the modified potassium chloride includes a food grade acidulant, the food grade acidulant being substantially dispersed within the matrix. 
     
     
         18 . The seasoning agent of  claim 17 , wherein the food grade acidulant is citric acid. 
     
     
         19 . The seasoning agent of  claim 14 , wherein the cereal flour includes rice flour.