Reduced sugar syrups and methods of making reduced sugar syrups

Abstract

A reduced sugar syrup having an advantageously low viscosity is prepared by hydrolysis of starch or starchy material using a particular type of alpha amylase enzyme which yields a saccharide distribution having a low DP1-2 and low DP11+ content. The DP4 content of the syrup may be favorably increased by using a maltotetragenic alpha amylase enzyme in combination with the aforementioned alpha amylase enzyme. The syrup is useful in the production of food, beverage, animal feed, animal health and nutrition, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic compositions and may be combined with a high intensity sweetener to provide a composition capable of being substituted for conventional corn syrups.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The syrup of  claim 22 , wherein the syrup has a viscosity of less than about 1500 poise at 20° C. when the syrup has a dry solids content of 80%. 
     
     
         15 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A syrup comprising water and saccharides, the saccharides having a saccharide distribution of DP1 1-4%; DP2 10-15%; DP3 9-13%; DP4 7-11%; DP5 6-10%; DP6 13-19%; DP7 12-17%; DP8 4-7%; DP9 3-7%; DP10 2-6%; DP11 7-15%; DP11+ 0-4%, the total equaling 100%. 
     
     
         23 . A food, beverage, animal feed, animal health and nutrition, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic product comprising the syrup of  claim 22  and at least one food, beverage, animal feed, animal health and nutrition, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic ingredient. 
     
     
         24 . A sweetener product comprising the syrup of  claim 22  and at least one high intensity sweetener. 
     
     
         25 . The sweetener product of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one high intensity sweetener is selected from the group consisting of natural high intensity sweeteners. 
     
     
         26 . The sweetener product of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one high intensity sweetener is selected from the group consisting of mogrosides and steviol glycosides. 
     
     
         27 . The sweetener product of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one high intensity sweetener is selected from the group consisting of synthetic high intensity sweeteners. 
     
     
         28 . The sweetener product of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one high intensity sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, acesulfame potassium, neotame and aspartame. 
     
     
         29 . The syrup of  claim 22 , wherein the syrup has a polydispersity of not more than 2. 
     
     
         30 . The syrup of  claim 22 , wherein the syrup has a polydispersity of not more than 1.8. 
     
     
         31 . The syrup of  claim 22 , wherein the syrup has a polydispersity of not more than 1.6. 
     
     
         32 . The syrup of  claim 22 , wherein the syrup has a dry solids content of from about 60 weight % to about 80 weight %. 
     
     
         33 . The syrup of  claim 22 , wherein the syrup is clear and liquid at 20-25° C. 
     
     
         34 . The syrup of  claim 22 , wherein the syrup is clear and liquid at 20-25° C., has a dry solids content of from about 60 weight % to about 80 weight %, has a polydispersity of not more than 1.6, and has a viscosity of less than about 1500 poise at 20° C. when the syrup has a dry solids content of 80%. 
     
     
         35 . The food, beverage, animal feed, animal health and nutrition, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic product of  claim 23 , wherein the food, beverage, animal feed, animal health and nutrition, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic product is a product selected from the group consisting of beverages, baked goods, confectioneries, frozen dairy products, meats, breakfast cereals, dairy products, condiments, snack bars, soups, dressings, mixes, prepared foods, baby foods, diet preparations, peanut butter, syrups, sweeteners, food coatings, pet foods, animal feed, animal health and nutrition products, dried fruit, sauces, gravies, jams and jellies. 
     
     
         36 . The food, beverage, animal feed, animal health and nutrition, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic product of  claim 23 , wherein the food, beverage, animal feed, animal health and nutrition, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic product is a food product having the syrup applied thereon as a coating or layer. 
     
     
         37 . The food, beverage, animal feed, animal health and nutrition, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic product of  claim 36 , wherein a sweet topping comprising the syrup is formed on a surface of a baked good, doughnut, snack bar, cookie or dry cereal. 
     
     
         38 . The food, beverage, animal feed, animal health and nutrition, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic product of  claim 23 , wherein the food, beverage, animal feed, animal health and nutrition, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic product is a food product having a layer comprised of the syrup present therein and interposed between two other layers.