Food And Beverage Products Containing 1,3-Propanediol And Methods Of Modifying Flavor Release Using 1,3-Propanediol

Abstract

Food or beverages prepared using 1,3-propanediol have shown to have modified flavor profiles, including modified flavor release, relative to an otherwise identical food product or beverage that does not include 1,3-propanediol. Inclusion of 1,3-propanediol uniquely modifies the flavor profile of these products or food ingredients in these products even when 1,3-propanediol is included in such low amounts that it does not itself contribute flavor to the product. 1,3-propanediol may be included in the food or beverage products to effect this modified flavor release, such as about 0.1 to about 2 weight percent, or in specific ratios relative to one or more flavor compounds in the product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for modifying flavor release in a food or beverage, the method comprising preparing a food or beverage comprising 1,3-propanediol in an amount effective to provide a ratio of 1,3-propanediol to a flavor compound in the food or beverage of about 0.005:100 to about 15:100 to modify release of the flavor compound from the food or beverage. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein modifying release of the flavor compound is suppression of release of the flavor compound by at least 10 percent as determined by PTR-MS as compared to an otherwise identical food or beverage comprising propylene glycol instead of 1,3-propanediol in the same ratio to the flavor compound, and wherein percent suppression is calculated according to formula I,
   (I Z -I PG )/I PG ×100,   (formula I)
   where I is peak height, Z is 1,3-propanediol, and PG is propylene glycol.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein 1,3-propanediol is included in an amount effective to provide a ratio of 1,3-propanediol to flavor compound of about 0.01:100 to about 5:100. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein 1,3-propanediol is included in an amount effective to provide a ratio of 1,3-propanediol to flavor compound of about 0.05:100 to about 5:100. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the flavor compound is selected from the group consisting of unsaturated and saturated aldehydes (C2-C12), saturated and unsaturated acids (C6-C12), saturated and unsaturated alcohols (C6-C12), ketones (C7-C10), ethyl esters, butyl esters, and aromatic hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the flavor compound is selected from the group consisting of decanoic acid, caprylic acid, caproic acid, propionic acid, acetaldehyde, butyraldehyde, propionaldehyde, hexanal, hexenal, heptanal, heptenal, octanal, citral, ethyl butyrate, ethyl caprate, ethyl propionate, methyl butyrate, ethyl methyl butyrate, butyl butyrate, ethanol, octanol, hexanol, hexenol, heptenol, decanol, benzaldehyde, nonanone, octanone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the food or beverage is selected from the group consisting of dairy product, pasta, cracker, nut, biscuit, gum, dessert, candy, condiment, beverage, powdered beverage, and beverage concentrate. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the food or beverage is a beverage concentrate. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein 1,3-propanediol is included in an amount of about 0.1 to about 2 percent by weight of the food or beverage. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein 1,3-propanediol is included in an amount of about 0.1 to about 1 percent by weight of the food or beverage. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein 1,3-propanediol is included in an amount of about 0.1 to about 0.5 percent by weight of the food or beverage. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the modification to flavor release is suppression of flavor release by at least 20 percent. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the modification to flavor release is suppression of flavor release by at least 30 percent. 
     
     
         14 . A food or beverage product comprising 1,3-propanediol and at least one flavor compound, the 1,3-propanediol and flavor compound included in amounts effective to provide a ratio of 1,3-propanediol to flavor compound of about 0.005:100 to about 15:100 and the amount of 1,3-propanediol effective to modify the release of the flavor. 
     
     
         15 . The food or beverage product according to  claim 14 , wherein 1,3-propanediol and flavor compound are included in amounts effective to provide a ratio of 1,3-propanediol to flavor compound of about 0.01:100 to about 5:100. 
     
     
         16 . The food or beverage product according to  claim 14 , wherein 1,3-propanediol is and flavor compound are included in amounts effective to provide a ratio of 1,3-propanediol to flavor compound of about 0.05:100 to about 5:100. 
     
     
         17 . The food or beverage product according to  claim 14 , wherein the flavor compound is selected from the group consisting of unsaturated and saturated aldehydes (C2-C12), saturated and unsaturated acids (C6-C12), saturated and unsaturated alcohols (C6-C12), ketones (C7-C10), ethyl esters, butyl esters, and aromatic hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         18 . The food or beverage product according to  claim 14 , wherein the flavor compound is selected from the group consisting of decanoic acid, caprylic acid, caproic acid, propionic acid, acetaldehyde, butyraldehyde, propionaldehyde, hexanal, hexenal, heptanal, heptenal, octanal, citral, ethyl butyrate, ethyl caprate, ethyl propionate, methyl butyrate, ethyl methyl butyrate, butyl butyrate, ethanol, octanol, hexanol, hexenol, heptenol, decanol, benzaldehyde, nonanone, octanone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The food or beverage product according to  claim 14 , wherein the food or beverage is selected from the group consisting of dairy product, pasta, cracker, nut, biscuit, gum, dessert, candy, condiment, beverage, powdered beverage, and beverage concentrate. 
     
     
         20 . The food or beverage product according to  claim 19 , wherein the food or beverage is a beverage concentrate.