CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is related to, claims priority to, and incorporates by reference herein for all purposes U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/914,768, filed October 14, 2019.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Particulate suspension in beverages is a technical challenge that has long challenged food scientists in the beverage industry. Historically, surface modification of the particles themselves has been one option explored for addressing this issue, but surface modification has significant drawbacks, including expense.

[0003] One additional complication is particles that are not spherical. Non-spherical particles can be uniquely difficult to maintain in suspension. One particularly challenging non-spherical particle is a mica based pearlescent pigment, which is a substantially planar particle. Another particularly challenging non-spherical particle is a fruit pulp particle, which can have a distribution of particle shapes, from a juice-filled particle having the rough shape of a rugby ball to an empty particle having a substantially planar shape. Suspending these sorts of particles is challenging due to the directionally-specific forces that are felt by the particles (i.e., a planar particle experiences a different force if you push on one of the planar faces versus pushing on an edge).

[0004] Another additional complication is suspending particles in carbonated beverages. The particles tend to aggregate within or near carbonation bubbles.

[0005] A need exists for beverage and gelatin (at pre-gelling phase) formulations that overcome the difficulty in maintaining non-surface-modified particles in suspension. A further need exists for beverage formulations that overcome the particular difficulty in maintaining non- spherical particles, such as pearlescent pigment particles or fruit pulp particles, in suspension. A need also exists for beverage formulations that maintain particles in suspension within carbonated beverages without those particles aggregating within or near carbonation bubbles or being driven to the surface of the beverage by rising carbonation bubbles.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0006] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a beverage. The beverage includes a low- acyl gellan gum, a gelation inducing agent, insoluble particles, and water. The low-acyl gellan gum is present in an amount by weight of between 0.001% and 0.15%. The low-acyl gellan gum has at least 50% fewer acyl-containing groups when compared to native gellan gum. The gelation inducing agent is present in an amount by weight of between 0.001% and 0.5%. The low-acyl gellan gum has undergone a gel transition that exceeds a minimum gelation threshold and does not exceed a maximum gelation threshold. The minimum gelation threshold is a gelation above which a first proportion of the insoluble particles are suspended within the top 90% of the volume of the beverage after a first predetermined length of time without agitation. The first proportion is at least 50%. The first predetermined length of time is 24 hours. The maximum gelation threshold is a gelation above which a second proportion of the insoluble particles within the beverage and/or a gelled portion of the low-acyl gellan gum rise to the top 10% of the volume of the beverage by way of rising bubbles traveling upward through the beverage for a second predetermined length of time. The second proportion is at most 50%. The second predetermined length of time is 60 minutes.

[0007] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of making a beverage with particle suspension stability. The method includes: a) dissolving a low-acyl gellan gum in a first solution, the first solution optionally comprising one or more non-gelation-inducing salts; b) mixing the first solution with a second solution, the first solution and the second solution optionally substantially lacking a gelation inducing agent that induces gelation of the low-acyl gellan gum, the mixing producing a third solution, the first solution, the second solution, and/or the third solution including insoluble particles; c) lowering pH of the third solution, thereby optionally producing the beverage; and d) in response to the second solution substantially lacking the gelation inducing agent, optionally adding the gelation inducing agent to the third solution following step c), thereby optionally producing the beverage. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] Before the present invention is described in further detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. The scope of the present invention will be limited only by the claims. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural embodiments unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0009] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many additional modifications beside those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts. In interpreting this disclosure, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. Variations of the term "comprising", "including", or "having" should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, so the referenced elements, components, or steps may be combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Embodiments referenced as "comprising", "including", or "having" certain elements are also contemplated as "consisting essentially of and "consisting of those elements, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It should be appreciated that aspects of the disclosure that are described with respect to a system are applicable to the methods, and vice versa, unless the context explicitly dictates otherwise.

[0010] Numeric ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of their endpoints. For example, a numeric range of between 1 and 10 includes the values 1 and 10. When a series of numeric ranges are disclosed for a given value, the present disclosure expressly contemplates ranges including all combinations of the upper and lower bounds of those ranges. For example, a numeric range of between 1 and 10 or between 2 and 9 is intended to include the numeric ranges of between 1 and 9 and between 2 and 10.

[0011] As used herein, a "beverage" refers to a human-consumable liquid that includes solely ingredients that are recognized by one or more agency with the United States government or within the European Union or the government of any European Union nation (including the United Kingdom) as being safe for human consumption. Beverages can include liquids that are being used to prepare non-liquid compositions, such as pre-gelation liquids that are used to form gelatin. [0012] As used herein, "insoluble particle" refers to any particle that does not completely dissolve in within 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, 7 days, or 14 days.

[0013] The present disclosure provides a beverage including insoluble particles and a low- acyl gellan gum, where the insoluble particles are retained in suspension with improved longevity of suspending the particles. The beverage typically includes a gelation inducing agent, though it should be appreciated that the gelation inducing agent can undergo a chemical transformation when it is used, such that the resulting beverage includes the gelation inducing agent in a different form than the form in which it was introduced into the beverage. The beverage can have a degree of gelation of the low-acyl gellan gum that is sufficient to provide the improved suspension property. In some cases, the degree of gelation is below a gelation threshold above which a portion of the insoluble particles and/or a gelled portion of the low-acyl gellan gum rise to a surface of the beverage by way of rising bubbles traveling upward through the beverage (e.g., carbonation bubbles or a reasonable facsimile thereof).

[0014] In an aspect, the beverage includes a low-acyl gellan gum, a gelation inducing agent, insoluble particles, and water. The beverage can further include other components that are frequently present in beverages, such as sweeteners, alcohol, caffeine, flavorants, non-particular colorants (e.g., dyes), pH adjusters, and other beverage components understood by those having ordinary skill in the art to be useful in beverages, so long as they do not negatively impact the particle suspension properties described herein (e.g., one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that including massive quantities of glycerol in a carbonated beverage would increase the viscosity and likely cause the insoluble particles to aggregate at the surface of the beverage by way of the carbon dioxide bubbles rising to the surface - this is just one example and those having ordinary skill in the beverage chemistry arts would recognize the existence of others). In some cases, the beverage can optionally include one or more non-gelation-inducing salts.

[0015] The low-acyl gellan gum is a gellan gum that has been modified to contain fewer acyl-containing groups when compared with native gellan gum. In some cases, the low-acyl gellan gum has at least 50% fewer acyl-containing groups when compared with native gellan gum, including but not limited to, at least at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 99% fewer acyl- containing groups when compared with native gellan gum. In some cases, the low-acyl gellan gum is substantially free of acyl-containing groups. The low-acyl gellan gum can be present in the beverage in an amount by weight of at least 0.001%, at least 0.005%, at least 0.010%, or at least 0.020%. The low-acyl gellan gum can be present in the beverage in an amount by weight of at most 0.15%, at most 0.1%, at most 0.075%, at most 0.05%, or at most 0.025%. An example of a suitable commercially-available low-acyl gellan gum is Kelcogel® F Gellan Gum, available commercially from CP Kelco, Atlanta, GA.

[0016] The gelation inducing agent can be any of the known agents capable of inducing gelation of low-acyl gellan gum. Typically, the gelation inducing agent is a salt and/or an acid. In some cases, the gelation inducing agent can be a metal halide. In some cases, the gelation inducing agent can be selected from the group consisting of a calcium salt, a potassium salt, a magnesium salt, a sodium salt, and combinations thereof. In some cases, the gelation inducing agent can be selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, and combinations thereof. In some cases, the gelation inducing agent is calcium chloride. The gelation inducing agent can be present in an amount suitable for inducing gelation at the levels described elsewhere herein. The gelation inducing agent can be present in the beverage in an amount by weight of at least 0.001%, at least 0.005%, at least 0.01%, at least 0.02%, or at least 0.03%. The gelation inducing agent can be present in the beverage in an amount by weight of at most 0.5%, at most 0.1%, at most 0.075%, at most 0.05%, or at most 0.04%.

[0017] The insoluble particles can be any particles that are desirable in a beverage and which have some difficulties associated with maintaining suspension. In some cases, the insoluble particles can be pigment particles, such as pearlescent pigment particles, tri-calcium phosphate particles, titanium dioxide particles, calcium carbonate particles, or iron oxide particles. Suitable pearlescent pigment particles are commercially available under the trade name Sensipearl™ and are available from Sensient Technologies, Milwaukee, WI or a subsidiary thereof. In some cases, the insoluble particles can be fruit pulp particles. Generally, the particles can be any consumable particles. In some cases, the insoluble particles are non- spherical. Non-spherical particles can be particularly difficult to maintain in suspension owing to their geometry. In some cases, the insoluble particles have a planar shape. In some cases, the insoluble particles are not surface- modified for enhanced suspension in aqueous environments. Previous approaches to improving particle suspension in liquids utilized surface-modification to provide a more hydrophilic surface for greater suspension stability, but that approach requires significant cost in processing the particles. In the present disclosure, no such surface modification is required (although, it should be appreciated that including surface modification does not deviate from various aspects of the present disclosure). The insoluble particles can be present in the beverage in an amount by weight of at least 0.0001%, at least 0.0025%, at least 0.005%, at least 0.00075%, or at least 0.01%. The insoluble particles can be present in the beverage in an amount by weight of at most 0.1%, at most 0.075%, at most 0.05%, or at most 0.025%. The insoluble particles can have an average diameter of at least 1 pm, at least 5 pm, at least 10 pm, at least 25 pm, at least 50 pm, at least 100 pm, at least 150 pm, at least 200 pm, at least 250 pm, at least 500 pm, at least 750 pm, at least 1 mm, at least 5 mm, at least 10 mm, at least 25 mm, at least 50 mm, at least 100 mm, at least 250 mm, at least 500 mm, or at least 750 mm. The insoluble particles can have an average diameter of at most 1 cm, at most 750 mm, at most 500 mm, at most 250 mm, at most 100 mm, at most 75 mm, at most 50 mm, at most 25 mm, at most 10 mm, at most 5 mm, at most 1 mm, at most 750 pm, at most 500 pm, at most 400 pm, at most 300 pm, at most 250 pm, at most 200 pm, at most 150 pm, at most 100 pm, at most 75 pm, or at most 50 pm. For non-spherical particles, the diameter can be whatever the "longest" dimension of the object is (i.e., for a planar particle, the diameter is the longest dimension within the plane of the planar shape).

[0018] The water can be present in the beverage in an amount by weight of at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90%. The water can be present in the beverage in an amount by weight of at most 99.99%, at most 99.95%, at most 99.9%, at most 99%, at most 98%, at most 95%, at most 90%, at most 85%, at most 80%, at most 75%, or at most 50%. The other components of the beverage, including sweeteners, alcohol, caffeine, flavorants, non-particular colorants (e.g., dyes), pH adjusters, and other beverage components understood by those having ordinary skill in the art to be useful in beverages can make up the remainder of the beverage.

[0019] The one or more non-gelation-inducing salts can be selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, sodium benzoate, and combinations thereof.

[0020] The beverage can be a carbonated beverage, such as soda, beer, seltzer, champagne, sparkling wine, or other similar carbonated beverages. The carbonated beverage can include carbon dioxide in an amount of at least 1 g/L, at least 2 g/L, at least 3 g/L, at least 4 g/L, at least 5 g/L, at least 6 g/L, at least 7 g/L, at least 8 g/L, at least 9 g/L, or at least 10 g/L. The carbonated beverage can include carbon dioxide in an amount of at most 20 g/L, at most 17 g/L, at most 15 g/L, at most 13 g/L, at most 11 g/L, at most 10 g/L, at most 9 g/L, at most 8 g/L, at most 7 g/L, at most 6 g/L, or at most 5 g/L. Carbonation content can be measured using a Zahm CO2 tester, as is understood by those having ordinary skill in the art.

[0021] Two tests are used in the present disclosure to define the quality of suspension achieved by the beverages described herein. One test relates to the ability to keep particles from falling out of suspension within the beverage and the other relates to the ability to keep particles (and other gelled solids) from rising to the top of the beverage when bubbles rise through the beverage.

[0022] The first test is rather simple and involves decanting or otherwise removing (e.g., by suction removal) the top 90% of the volume of the beverage and isolating the particles from the top 90% and the bottom 10%. Comparison of the relative proportions of particles in the top 90% and the bottom 10% gives a suspension value.

[0023] The second test is equally simple with carbonated beverages and somewhat more complicated in non-carbonated beverages. For carbonated beverages, the second test involves decanting or otherwise removing the top 10% of the volume of the beverage and isolating the particles from the top 10% and the bottom 90%. For non-carbonated beverages, the second text involves introducing bubbles into the bottom of the beverage in a size and concentration that mimics the bubbles of a carbonated beverage.

[0024] In some cases, these tests can both be performed at the same time by isolating the top 10%, the middle 80%, and the bottom 10%. Simple math can then be used to compute the amount of particles in the top or bottom 90%. In each case, for accurate testing, the portions ought to be removed with minimal additional agitation to the system, as would be understood by those having ordinary skill in the analytical arts. Each of the tests can be performed in a roughly cylindrical container, such as a beaker, a pint glass, a true cylinder, or the like, where the height of the container (or a depth of the liquid) is equal to a greater than the diameter of the container. These shapes should be understood as describing the interior volume of the container or the shape that the liquid holds when occupying the interior volume of the container. The container can be glass, metal (e.g., aluminum), plastic, or another material understood to be suitable for holding a beverage without substantially impacting the particle suspending properties of the beverage. The volume of the testing beverage can be between 8 fluid ounces and 144 fluid ounces, including 12 fluid ounces, 16 fluid ounces, or 20 fluid ounces.

[0025] In order to achieve the improved suspension properties discussed herein, without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the low-acyl gellan gum has undergone a gel transition that exceeds a minimum gelation threshold and does not exceed a maximum gelation threshold.

[0026] The minimum gelation threshold is a gelation above which a first proportion of insoluble particles are suspended within the beverage after a first predetermined length of time without agitation. As discussed above, this can be measured by measuring the relative proportions of insoluble particles within the top 90% of the volume of the beverage following the first predetermined length of time without agitation. In other words, when the beverage is above the minimum gelation threshold, a first proportion of the insoluble particles do not fall out of suspension after a first predetermined length of time without agitation. The first proportion can be at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95%, or higher. The first predetermined length of time can be 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 96 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks, 24 weeks, 36 weeks, 48 weeks, or 52 weeks, or longer.

[0027] The maximum gelation threshold is a gelation above which a second proportion of insoluble particles and/or a gelled portion of the low-acyl gellan gum rise to the top 10% of the volume of the beverage by way of rising bubbles traveling upward through the beverage for a second predetermined length of time. In other words, when the beverage is above the maximum gelation threshold, a second proportion of the insoluble particles are elevated to a surface of the beverage via rising bubbles or a solid or semi-solid gel formed by the low-acyl gellan gum itself can rise to the surface via the rising bubbles. In carbonated beverages, the carbonation from the beverage serves as the bubbles, so simply allowing the carbonation from the beverage to evolve can cause the second proportion of insoluble particles and/or the gelled portion of the low-acyl gellan gum to rise to the surface of the beverage. The second proportion can be at most 50%, at most 45%, at most 40%, at most 35%, at most 30%, at most 25%, at most 20%, at most 15%, or at most 10%. The second predetermine length of time can be 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, or more.

[0028] It should be appreciated that this disclosure is describing aspects of the present beverage in terms that are primarily functional and less compositional, because other components within the beverage can impact the compositional needs required to achieve the desired functional property. Similarly, a beverage requires certain particle suspending shortcomings in order to even consider using the invention described herein. As one example, egg nog is adequately thick that it does not have any difficulty maintaining particles in suspension, so the invention described herein would not be used with egg nog or a beverage having similar properties to egg nog.

[0029] Aside from the particle suspension properties described herein, the beverage of the present disclosure has other properties that are very similar to the properties of a nearly identical beverage that is the same as the beverage but lacks only the low-acyl gellan gum. Examples of these properties include, but are not limited to, transparency, light scattering, color, mouthfeel, taste, and the like. In addition, the viscosity will also be similar, though one having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the gelation discussed herein will increase the viscosity to some degree.

[0030] The present disclosure also provides a method of making a beverage with the particle suspension stability described herein. The method can include: a) dissolving a low-acyl gellan gum in a first solution, the first solution optionally comprising one or more non-gelation- inducing salts; b) mixing the first solution with a second solution, the first solution and the second solution optionally substantially lacking a gelation inducing agent that induces gelation of the low-acyl gellan gum, the mixing producing a third solution, the first solution, the second solution, and/or the third solution including insoluble particles; c) lowering pH of the third solution, thereby optionally producing the beverage; and d) in response to the second solution substantially lacking the gelation inducing agent, optionally adding the gelation inducing agent to the third solution following step c), thereby optionally producing the beverage.

[0031] The method can include: a) dissolving a low-acyl gellan gum in a first solution, the first solution optionally comprising one or more non-gelation-inducing salts; b) mixing the first solution with a second solution to produce a third solution; c) lowering pH of the third solution; and d) adding a gelation inducing agent to the third solution following the lowering pH of step c), thereby producing the beverage. The first solution, the second solution substantially lack the gelation inducing agent (i.e., gelation does not commence prior to lowering the pH of the third solution). Insoluble particles are present in the first solution or the second solution, or they are added to the third solution following the mixing of step b).

[0032] The method can include: a) dissolving the low-acyl gellan gum in the first solution, the first solution optionally comprising the one or more non-gelation-inducing salts; b) mixing the first solution with the second solution, the second solution comprising the gelation inducing agent that induces gelation of the low-acyl gellan gum, the mixing producing a third solution, the first solution, the second solution, and/or the third solution including the insoluble particles; and c) lowering pH of the third solution, thereby producing the beverage.

[0033] The method can include: a) dissolving the low-acyl gellan gum in the first solution, the first solution optionally comprising the one or more non-gelation-inducing salts; b) mixing the first solution with the second solution, the second solution comprising the insoluble particles and the gelation inducing agent that induces gelation of the low-acyl gellan gum; and c) lowering pH of the third solution, thereby producing the beverage.

[0034] In some cases, the first solution contains only the low-acyl gellan gum and water and the second solution contains the other components of the eventual beverage, except the gelation inducing agent.

[0035] The pH can be lowered to 6 or below, 5 or below, 4 or below, or 3 or below. The pH can be lowered to 3 or above.

[0036] In some cases, the method can take the form of a hot process, where the dissolving of step a) is performed at elevated temperature. The elevated temperature can be at least 35 °C, at least 40 °C, at least 45 °C, at least 50 °C, at least 55 °C, at least 60 °C, at least 65 °C, at least 70 °C, or at least 80 °C. The elevated temperature can be at most 100 °C, at most 95 °C, at most 90 °C, at most 85 °C, at most 80 °C, at most 75 °C, at most 70 °C, at most 65 °C, at most 60 °C, at most 55 °C, at most 50 °C, at most 45 °C, or at most 40 °C. In some cases, the hot process method can be useful with higher low-acyl gellan gum concentrations when compared with the cold process method described below. In the hot process method, the method can further include cooling the first solution following step a) and prior to step b). [0037] In some cases, the method can take the form of a cold process, wherein the dissolving of step a) is performed a temperature closer to room temperature or lower. This temperature can be at least 0 °C, at least 5 °C, at least 10 °C, at least 15 °C, at least 20 °C, or at least 25 °C. This temperature can be at most 35 °C, at most 30 °C, at most 25 °C, at most 20 °C, at most 15 °C, or at most 10 °C.

[0038] In some cases, the method does not include adding salt to induce gelation. In these cases, the acid can be added in an amount sufficient to induce gelation and produce the beverage. In some cases, the acid is present in the underlying beverage itself (for example, in a fruit juice) and a hydrated low-acyl gellan gum can be added to that underlying beverage to induce gelation of the gum.

[0039] In most cases, the general methods described herein involve hydrating the low-acyl gellan gum first, then inducing gelation.

[0040] The first solution, second solution, third solution and all method steps can have components in the proper amounts to result in the final proportions for the beverage described herein.

[0041] The following examples represent two successfully prepared beverages in accordance with the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that these two successes were accompanied by a host of unsuccessful efforts to improve particle suspension in beverages. While the unsuccessful efforts are not emphasized here, it should be clear to those of ordinary skill in the formulation chemistry arts/beverage formulation arts that certain levels of failure are expected when first developing such products and that any given concept of what will be effective is generally unlikely to succeed without some evidence to suggest that a given approach is likely.

In other words, even starting with the broad goal of improving suspension and knowledge of all of the ingredients that were used in the following formulations, the majority of efforts were unsuccessful, so one of ordinary skill in the art would not find these formulations likely to succeed in absence of strong evidence that they do in fact succeed.

[0042] In addition to the positive results described below, some other observations were made throughout the process of making the successful formulations. With the same basic process as described in the following examples, it was discovered that adjusting the pH while the solution is still hot prevents effective setting of the gum, whereas the process below that cools the solution before adjusting pH achieved the improved suspension properties. In the working examples below, lowering the pH as the last step was effective.

[0043] Example 1.

[0044] A beverage having the composition of Formula 1 was made according to a hot process beverage method. A first solution was made by adding the low-acyl gellan gum to half of the water at a temperature of 80 °C. The first solution was mixed well until all of the gum was dissolved and the solution temperature naturally cooled to below 35 °C. The rest of the ingredients (including the other half of the water), except the CaCb and the citric acid solution were mixed to form a second solution. The second solution was slowly added to the first solution and the resulting third solution was mixed well. The 10% citric acid solution was added slowly to the third solution and mixed well for 20 minutes. The CaCb was added and the resulting beverage was mixed well.

[0045] After the beverage was finished, the beverage was placed in refrigeration for at least 8 hours to lower the temperature to roughly 4 °C, after which the beverage was carbonated using a 3 to 1 volume ratio of carbonation and bottled. The pearlescent pigment particles remained suspended while the beverage was in the bottle. Upon opening, the pearlescent pigment particles remained suspended for at least 24 hours.

Formula 1

[0046] Example 2.

[0047] A beverage having a composition of Formula 2 was made using a cold fill method. A first solution was made by adding the low-acyl gellan gum to half of the water at room temperature. The first solution was mixed well for at least 20 minutes until all of the gum was dissolved. The rest of the process is the same as Example 1. The resulting beverage achieved the same suspension capabilities as beverage in Example 1.

Formula 2

[0048] The particular aspects disclosed above are illustrative only, as the technology may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular aspects disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the technology. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.