Easily dispersible dietary fiber product and method for producing the same

Abstract

A modified dry dietary fiber product which is readily dispersible in liquids such as water, comprises a dry dietary fiber product coated with from 0.5 to 20% by weight of the food grade emulsifier. Process for producing coated dietary fiber products comprises blending these dietary fiber product materials with the mixture of a non-toxic solvent in a food grade emulsifier followed by removing the solvent. The questions raised in reexamination request No. 90/001,032, filed May 22, 1986, have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration .[.comprising.]. .Iadd.consisting essentially of .Iaddend.from about 80 to 99.95% by weight of at least one dietary fiber .Iadd.having laxative properties and .Iaddend.subject to agglomeration upon mixing with liquids, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of a food grade emulsifier wherein the emulsifier substantially coats the powder to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids. 
     
     
       2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the dietary fiber is selected from the group consisting of psyllium, dietary bran, wheat germ and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of distilled propylene glycol monoglycerides, distilled monoglycerides and sodium stearyl lactylate hydrophylic ethoxylated sorbitan monoesters, malto dextran, lecithin, monoglycerides, diglycerides, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the composition comprises from about 90 to 99.95% by weight dietary fiber, and from 0.05 to 10% by weight emulsifier. 
     
     
       5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of distilled propylene glycol monoglycerides, distilled monoglycerides and sodium stearyl lactylate hydrophyllic ethoxylated sorbitan monoesters, malto dextran, lecithin, monoglycerides, diglycerides, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       6. The composition of claim 5 wherein the hydrophyllic ethoxylated sorbitan monoesters are selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monostearate plus 20 moles of ethylene oxide, soriban monoleate plus 20 moles of ethylene oxide and mixtures therein. 
     
     
       7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises from about 90 to 99.95% by weight dietary fiber, and from 0.05 to 10% by weight emulsifier. 
     
     
       8. The composition of claim 1 wherein said dietary fiber is a mixture of psyllium, cellulose derivatives and cereal bran. 
     
     
       9. The composition of claim 8 wherein said mixture comprises from 30 to 99% by weight psyllium and from 1 to 70% by weight bran. 
     
     
       10. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises from about 95 to 99.95% by weight dietary fiber and from about 0.05 to 5% by weight of the emulsifer. 
     
     
       11. The composition of claim 1 wherein the emulsifier is sorbitan monostearate plus 20 moles of ethylene oxide. 
     
     
       12. A process for producing a modified dietary fiber which .[.comprises.]. .Iadd.consists essentially of .Iaddend.mixing a dietary fiber .Iadd.having laxative properties and .Iaddend.subject to agglomeration upon mixing with liquids, with about 0.05 to 20% by weight of .[.an.]. .Iadd.a food grade .Iaddend.emulsifier and about 0.5 to 40% of a non-toxic solvent; and removing the solvent to form a dry, free-flowing product. 
     
     
       13. The process of claim 12 wherein the dietary fiber is selected from the group consisting of psyllium, dietary bran, wheat germ, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       14. The process of claim 12 wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of distilled propylene glycol monoglycerides, distilled monoglycerides and sodium stearyl lactylate, hydrophylic ethoxylated sorbitan monoesters, malto dextran, lecithin, monoglycerides, diglycerides, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       15. The process of claim 12 wherein the dietary fiber is a mixture of psyllium, cellulose derivatives and cereal bran. 
     
     
       16. The process of claim 15 wherein said mixture comprises from 99 to 30% by weight psyllium and 1 to 70% by weight bran. 
     
     
       17. The process of claim 14 wherein the hydrophyllic ethoxylated sorbitan monoesters are selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monoleate plus 20 moles of ethylene oxide, sorbitan monostearate plus 20 moles of ethylene oxide and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       18. The process of claim 12 wherein the emulsifier is sorbitan monostearate plus 20 moles of ethylene oxide. 
     
     
       19. The process of claim 12 wherein the emulsifier is present in an amount of from 0.05 to 10% by weight. 
     
     
       20. The process of claim 12 wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethyl alcohol, water, mixtures of ethyl alcohol and ethyl acetate and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       21. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration .[.comprising.]. .Iadd.consisting essentially of .Iaddend.from about 80 to 99.95% by weight of psyllium .Iadd.having laxative properties, .Iaddend.and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of a mixture of distilled propylene glycol monoglycerides, distilled monoglycerides and sodium stearyl lactylate, wherein said mixture substantially coats the psyllium to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids. .Iadd.22. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.5% by weight of psyllium having laxative properties, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of sorbitan monostearate plus 20 moles of ethylene oxide, wherein said sorbitan monostearate plus 20 moles of ethylene oxide substantially coats the psyllium to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids..Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.5% by weight of psyllium having laxative properties, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of sorbitan monooleate plus 20 moles of ethylene oxide, wherein said sorbitan monooleate plus 20 moles of ethylene oxide substantially coats the psyllium to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids..Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.5% by weight of psyllium having laxative properties, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of lecithin, wherein said lecithin substantially coats the psyllium to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids..Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.95% by weight of at least one dietary fiber having laxative properties and subject to agglomeration upon mixing with liquids, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of a food grade emulsifier selected from the group consisting of a mixture of distilled propylene glycol monoglycerides, distilled monoglycerides and sodium stearyl lactylate, hydrophilic ethoxylated sorbitan monoesters, lecithin, monoglycerides, diglycerides, and mixtures thereof, wherein the emulsifier substantially coats the fiber to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids..Iaddend. .Iadd.26. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.95% by weight of at least one dietary fiber having laxative properties and subject to agglomeration upon mixing with liquids, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of a food grade emulsifier which is at least one hydrophilic ethoxylated sorbitan monoester, wherein the emulsifier substantially coats the fiber to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids..Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.95% by weight of at least one dietary fiber having laxative properties and subject to agglomeration upon mixing with liquids, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of a food grade emulsifier which is lecithin, wherein the emulsifier substantially coats the fiber to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids..Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.95% by weight of at least one dietary fiber having laxative properties and subject to agglomeration upon mixing with liquids, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of a food grade emulsifier selected from the group consisting of monoglycerides, diglycerides and mixtures thereof, wherein the emulsifier substantially coats the fiber to prevent agglomeration when 
     
     
        added to liquids..Iaddend. .Iadd.29.  A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.95% by weight of at least one dietary fiber having laxative properties and subject to agglomeration upon mixing with liquids and selected from the group consisting of psyllium, bran, cellulose derivatives and mixtures thereof, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of a food grade emulsifier selected from the group consisting of a mixture of distilled propylene glycol monoglycerides, distilled monoglycerides and sodium stearyl lactylate, hydrophilic ethoxylated sorbitan monoesters, lecithin, monoglycerides, diglycerides, and mixtures thereof, wherein the emulsifier substantially coats the fiber to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids..Iaddend. .Iadd.30. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.95% by weight of at least one dietary fiber having laxative properties and subject to agglomeration upon mixing with liquids and selected from the group consisting of psyllium, bran, cellulose derivatives and mixtures thereof, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of a food grade emulsifier which is at least one hydrophilic ethoxylated sorbitan monoester, wherein the emulsifier substantially coats the fiber to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids..Iaddend. .Iadd.31. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.95% by weight of at least one dietary fiber having laxative properties and subject to agglomeration upon mixing with liquids and selected from the group consisting of psyllium, bran, cellulose derivatives and mixtures thereof, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of a food grade emulsifier which is lecithin, wherein the emulsifier substantially coats the fiber to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids..Iaddend. .Iadd.32. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.95% by weight of at least one dietary fiber having laxative properties and subject to agglomeration upon mixing with liquids and selected from the group consisting of psyllium, bran, cellulose derivatives and mixtures thereof, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of a food grade emulsifier selected from the group consisting of monoglycerides, diglycerides and mixtures thereof, wherein the emulsifier substantially coats the fiber to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids..Iaddend. .Iadd.33. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.95% by weight of psyllium having laxative properties, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of a food grade emulsifier selected from the group of consisting of a mixture of distilled propylene glycol monoglycerides, distilled monoglycerides and sodium stearyl lactylate, hydrophilic ethoxylated sorbitan monoesters, lecithin, monoglycerides, diglycerides, and mixtures thereof, wherein the emulsifier substantially coats the fiber to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids..Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.34.  A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.95% by weight of psyllium having laxative properties, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of a food grade emulsifier which is at least one hydrophilic ethoxylated sorbitan monoester, wherein the emulsifier substantially coats the fiber to prevent agglomeration when added to liquids..Iaddend. .Iadd.35. A coated dietary fiber which is readily dispersible in liquids without agglomeration consisting essentially of from about 80 to 99.95% by weight of psyllium having laxative properties, and from about 0.05 to 20% by weight of a food grade emulsifier selected from the group consisting of monoglycerides, diglycerides and mixtures thereof, wherein the emulsifier substantially coats the fiber to prevent agglomeration when added to 
     
     
        liquids..Iaddend. .Iadd.36.  The coated dietary fiber according to anyone of claims 25-35, wherein the emulsifier is present from about 0.05 to 1.0% by weight..Iaddend.