THEREOF

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLCIATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/282,771, filed November 24, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates generally to fat compositions, including methods of making and uses thereof.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Fat plays an important and multi-functional role in bakery products. The fat imparts structure development, richness, and tenderness to the product, which improves the eating qualities of the products. For some products like cake and icing, the fat helps provide aeration. For Danish or puff pastry, fat can help provide for the development of flakiness in the product or for other products it can lubricate the gluten. Fat is extremely important in the creaming process (e.g., the combining of fat with other ingredients into a batter or dough), because it helps entrap air which leads to a leavening effect in cakes or a desired volume in icings. Liquid oil does not function the same way and cannot be used in all bakery products. The structure provided from a more solid fat is necessary' to deliver on expected quality of bakery' products.

[0004] Various approaches have been developed to make bakery shortenings without using palm oil. One approach is to use tropical or exotic fats such as cocoa butter, coconut oil, shea butter; however, those alternatives are very expensive and can require supply chain development. Another approach is the use of oleogels, which contains gelators (e.g., materials such as vegetable waxes, emulsifiers, polymers or starch) to add structure to liquid oil. Unfortunately, in general, oleogels lack functionality and are very difficult to be produced at large scale, and usually the materials used (gelators) are not label-friendly. SUMMARY

[0005] The present technology provides a composition that includes a fat blend, wherein the fat blend comprises cottonseed stearin, wherein the fat blend has a solid fat content (SFC) at 20 °C of about 40% to about 99%, a SFC at 30 °C of about 30% to about 99%, and a SFC at 40 °C of 20% to about 99%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 10 °C of about 55% to about 99.5%.

[0006] In any aspect, the fat blend may be an interesterified fat blend. In any aspect, the fat blend may be homogenous.

[0007] The present technology also provides a food item that includes the composition disclosed herein.

[0008] In another aspect, the technology provides a method of making the composition disclosed herein, the method including combining cottonseed stearin and other edible components to form a homogenous mixture. In some aspects, the method may further include interesterifying the homogenous mixture.

[0009] The present technology provides certain advantages over other alternative fat compositions and food items including the same. For example, there is a clear demand from the food industry to the oil and fat producers to develop alternatives for palm oil, especially for sustainability reasons. Often, the composition or food item of the present technology is substantially free of palm oil, which is beneficial for sustainability purposes.

[0010] The mechanical properties and physical structure of a fat are responsible for its functionality and affect the quality of food items made therewith. The composition of the present technology has properties and structure (e.g., properties and structure similar to palm oil-based fat products) such that it can be utilized as an alternative fat in a wide variety of food items.

[0011] In some aspects, the composition of the present technology provides a composition, preferably a substantially palm oil-free composition, that does not rely on the addition of synthesized additives (e.g., emulsifiers, waxes, and the like) or non-lipid materials (e.g., starch, protein, ethyl cellulose, and the like) to provide the properties and structure needed for functionality of the fat replacement and for the quality of food items made therewith. In some aspects, the composition of the present technology is an alternative fat that is preferably not palm, not hydrogenated, not exotic or tropical, is pure lipid-based, and is provided from a well-established and sustainable supply chain. [0012] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, aspects and features described above, further aspects, aspects and features will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols ty pically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative aspects described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other aspects may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

[0014] The follow ing terms are used throughout as defined below. All other terms and phrases used herein have their ordinary meanings as one of skill in the art would understand.

[0015] As used herein and in the appended claims, singular articles such as “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the elements (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context.

[0016] As used herein, “about” will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art and will vary ⁷ to some extent depending upon the context in which it is used. If there are uses of the term which are not clear to persons of ordinary skill in the art, given the context in which it is used, “about” will mean up to plus or minus 10% of the particular term.

[0017] As used herein, “substantially free” refers to less than about 2 wt% of the specified component based on the total weight of the composition. In any aspect, the composition may include less than about 1 wt%, less than about 0.5 wt%, or less than about 0. 1 wt% of the specified component. In any aspect, the composition may free of the specified component.

[0018] As used herein, “homogenous” refers to a mixture that is substantially uniform or uniform.

[0019] As used herein, the term “solid fat” or “solid fat content” or “SFC” refers to the percent of crystalized solid fat present over a defined temperature scale. SFC may be measured by methods known to persons of ordinary skill in the art; for example, the SFC may be determined via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (See AMERICAN OIL CHEMIST SOCIETY Official Methods and Recommended Practices, 6 ^th ed., 2008, AOCS Official Method cd-16b-93, which is incorporated herein by reference).

[0020] As used herein, “triglyceride” refers to a molecule having a glycerol moiety that is linked to three fatty acid residues via ester bonds. A “fatty acid residue” is a fatty acid in its acyl or esterified form. The term “fatty acid” as used herein can refer to a molecule comprising a hydrocarbon chain and a terminal carboxylic acid group. Alternatively, the carboxylic acid group may be in the free fatty acid or salt form (i.e., COO' or COOH). The ‘tail’ or hydrocarbon chain of a fatty acid may also be referred to as a fatty acid chain, fatty acid sidechain, or fatty chain. The hydrocarbon chain of a fatty acid will typically be a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group. A fatty acid having n number of carbons, will typically have a fatty acid side chain having n-1 carbons. Non-limiting examples of fatty acids include C8, CIO, C12, C14, C16 (e.g., C16:0, C16:l), C18 (e.g., C18:0, C18: 1, C18:2, C 18:3, C18:4), C20, and/or C22 fatty acids. For example, the fatty acids can be caprylic (8:0), capric (10:0), lauric (12:0), myristic (14:0), palmitic (16:0), stearic (18:0), oleic (18: 1), linoleic (18:2), linolenic (18:3) acid, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0021] As used herein, the term “edible component(s)” refers to fats, oils, and/or additives (e.g, antioxidants, color, flavors, emulsifiers, etc.) that are suitable for human consumption.

[0022] As used herein, the term “flaked fat” refers to a fat with the properties that allow it to be flaked, but it not necessarily in a flaked form. To flake a fat, a fat blend is melted at about 10-15 °F above the fat’s melting point and distributed on a stainless steel belt or drum cooled by glycol. As the fat is moved down the belt or over the drum, it is crystalized into a hardened form. The fat is then scrapped off the belt or drum and broken into smaller pieces (i.e.. fat flakes). A flaked fat behaves as a solid at room temperature. When added to a food item, a flaked fat can help in lamination and crispness of the product. [0023] The present technology provides a composition that includes a fat blend, wherein the fat blend comprises cottonseed stearin, wherein the fat blend has a solid fat content (SFC) at 20 °C of about 40% to about 99%, a SFC at 30 °C of about 30% to about 99%, and a SFC at 40 °C of 20% to about 99%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 10 °C of about 55% to about 99.5%.

[0024] In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 10 °C of about 60% to about 95%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 10 °C of 65% to about 85%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 10 °C of about 70% to about 80%. [0025] In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 20 °C of 45% to about 95%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 20 °C of 50% to about 85%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 20 °C of 55% to about 80%.

[0026] In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 30 °C of 35% to about 95%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 30 °C of about 35% to about 85%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 30 °C of about 35% to about 75%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 30 °C of about 40% to about 70%.

[0027] In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 40 °C of at least 20%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 40 °C of 20% to about 95%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 40 °C of 20% to about 90%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 40 °C of 20% to about 75%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 40 °C of 20% to about 65%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 40 °C of 25% to about 95%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 40 °C of 25% to about 90%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 40 °C of 25% to about 75%. In any aspect, the fat blend may have a SFC at 40 °C of 25% to about 65%.

[0028] In any aspect, the SFC percent may decrease as the temperature increases.

[0029] Cottonseed stearin is the solid component of cottonseed oil that can be separated from the cottonseed oil. Cottonseed includes components that melt at higher temperatures (the stearin) and lower temperatures (the olein). Herein, the cottonseed stearin can be any suitable cottonseed stearin. In any aspect, the cottonseed stearin may be cottonseed stearin from a first fractionation, cottonseed stearin from a second fractionation, cottonseed stearin from more than a second fractionation, cottonseed stearin from one or more winterization fractionations, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0030] In some aspects, the fat blend may be a non-interesterified fat blend.

[0031] In some aspects, the fat blend may be an interesterified fat blend.

Interesterification is a method of rearranging and redistributing the fatty acid on the glycerol fragment of an oil molecule. The rearrangement and redistribution does not change the overall composition of the fatty acids on the starting materials.

[0032] In any aspect, the interesterified fat blend may be chemically interesterified. Chemical interesterification is a process by which fatty acids are randomly redistributed across the glycerol backbone of the triglyceride. This process is carried out by drying the starting material and adding an interestenfication catalyst, such as sodium methoxide, or another acid or base catalyst. When the reaction is complete, the catalyst is neutralized. The rearranged product can be washed, bleached, and/or deodorized. The rearranged product can have different physical -chemical properties than the starting material.

[0033] In any aspect, the interesterified fat blend may be enzymatically interesterified. Enzymatic interesterification is another means by which oils and fats can be modified. This process uses most commonly, immobilized lipases to rearrange the fatty acids on the glycerol backbone of the triglyceride. There are immobilized lipases that can target fatty acids at specific positions on the glycerol backbone, therefore, the rearrangement of fatty acids during such an enzymatic interesterification can be less random than with chemical interesterification. After interesterification, the material may be deodorized to make finished interesterified material. Enzymatic interesterification has gained popularity over the last decades due to the flexibility of the process and reduced capital process input. [0034] The interesterifi cation can be performed to any suitable extent between the arrangement and distribution of the fatty acids in the starting materials versus the steady-state arrangement and distribution of the fatty acids obtained when the interesterification is allowed to run to substantial completion. In various aspects, the interesterified fat blend may be a fat blend that has been chemically interesterified to substantial completion at which point it has reached a relatively steady-state arrangement and distribution of the fatty acids on the glycerol units of the material.

[0035] Any suitable proportion of the composition can be the fat blend, such as 0.01 wt% to 100 wt% including about 25 wt% to about 99 wt%, or about 0.01 wt% or more but less than or equal to 100 wt%, or 0.01 wt% to 100 wt% and less than, equal to, or greater than 0.05 wt%, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99.9 wt%, or 99.99 wt% or less of the composition, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values.

[0036] Any suitable proportion of the fat blend can be the cottonseed stearin, such as 0.01 wt% to 100 wt% including about 25 wt% to about 99 wt%, about 25 wt% to about 75 wt%, about 25 wt% to about 45 wt%, about 40 wt% to about 60 wt%, about 55 wt% to about 75 wt%, or about 0.01 wt% or more but less than or equal to 100 wt%, or 0.01 wt% to 100 wt% and less than, equal to, or greater than 0.05 wt%, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99.9 wt%, 99.99 wt% or less of the fat blend, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values. [0037] The composition or fat blend can be substantially free of palm oil including a fraction thereof, a high oleic version thereof, a hydrogenated oil formed therefrom, an interesterified oil formed therefrom, or a combination thereof. For example, the composition or fat blend can include 0 wt% palm oil, or less than 5 wt% palm oil, or less than 4.5%, 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.8, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05 wt%, or less than 0.01 wt% palm oil, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values.

[0038] In any aspect, the composition or fat blend can include one or more fully hydrogenated oils. As used herein, a fully hydrogenated oil is an oil having an iodine value equal to or less than 4. For example, the composition of fat blend can include more than 0 wt% fully hydrogenated oils, or more than 5 wt% fully hydrogenated oils, or more than 8%, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 48 wt%, or more than 50 wt% fully hydrogenated oils, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values. For example, the composition of fat blend can include less than 100 wt% fully hydrogenated oils, or less than 99.9 wt% fully hydrogenated oils, or less than 99.5%, 99, 98, 96, 94, 92, 90, 88, 86, 84, 82, 80, 78, 76, 74, 72, 70, 68, 66, 64, 62, 60, 58, 56, 55, 54, 53, 52, 51, 50, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37 wt%, or less than 36 wt% fully hydrogenated oils, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values.

[0039] In other aspects, the composition or fat blend may include a fully hydrogenated oil (e.g., a fully hydrogenated cottonseed oil having an iodine value equal to or less than 4).

[0040] In some aspects, the composition or fat blend may include one or more plantbased oils in addition to the cottonseed stearin. Plant-based oils other than the cottonseed stearin may be any suitable plant-based oil, such as coconut oil, com oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, palm oil, peanut oil, rapeseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, mango butter, babassu oil, cupuassu oil, macauba oil, bacuri oil, tucuma oil, kokum oil, ucuuba oil, licuri oil, pequi oil, jojoba oil, Illipe oil, a fraction thereof, a middle or high oleic version thereof, a low linolenic version thereof, a low saturated version thereof, a hydrogenated oil formed therefrom (e.g. partially or fully hydrogenated), an interesterified oil formed therefrom, or a combination thereof. The one or more plant-based oils other than the cottonseed stearin can form any suitable proportion of the fat blend, such as 0.01 wt% to 99.99 wt% of the fat blend, 10 wt% to 90 wt%, or 0.01 wt% or more but less than or equal to 99.99 wt%, or 0.01 wt% to 99.99 wt% and less than, equal to, or greater than 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99.9 vrt%, 99.99 wt%%, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values.

[0041] In some aspects, the composition or fat blend can be substantially free of emulsifiers, non-cotonseed waxes, starch, protein, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, plantbased oils other than cotonseed stearin, or a combination of two or more thereof. For example, the composition or fat blend can include 0 wt% of any one or more of these components, or less than 5 wt%, or less than 4.5%, 4, 3.5, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1, 0.8, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05 wt%, or less than 0.01 wt% of any one or more of these components, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values. In other aspects, the composition or fat blend can include emulsifiers, non-cotonseed waxes, starch, protein, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, plant-based oils other than cotonseed stearin, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0042] In some aspects, the composition or fat blend can include an emulsifier, a wax (e.g., a non-cotonseed stearin derived wax, or a cotonseed stearin derived wax), a carbohydrate (e.g., starch), a protein, cellulose, a cellulose derivative (e.g, ethyl cellulose), a food coloring, a filler (e.g., fibers), a flavoring, a plant-based oil other than interesterified cotonseed stearin, an animal-based oil (e.g, lard, tallow, milk fat, and the like), or a combination of two or more thereof. The composition or fat blend can include an interesterified oil other than cotonseed stearin (e.g., interesterified plant-based oils other than the cotonseed stearin), a fully hydrogenated oil (e.g., fully hydrogenated cotonseed oil), a polysorbate, a monoglyceride, a diglycende, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0043] In any aspect, the fat blend may include at least about 40 wt% saturated fat. In any aspect, the fat blend may include at least about 50 wt% saturated fat. In any aspect, the fat blend may include at least about 53 wt% saturated fat. In any aspect, the fat blend may include at least about 55 wt% saturated fat. In any aspect, the fat blend may include no more than about 95 wt% saturated fat. In any aspect, the fat blend may include no more than about 90 wt% saturated fat. In any aspect, the fat blend may include no more than about 85 wt% saturated fat. In any aspect, the fat blend may include no more than about 80 wt% saturated fat. For example, in any aspect herein, the fat blend may include any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values.

[0044] In any aspect, the composition may include one or more animal-based oils.

[0045] In any aspect, the fat blend may include 0 wt% to about 5 wt% C12:0 fatty acid, about 20 wt% to about 60 wt% C16:0 fatty acid, 0 wt% to about 60 wt% Cl 8:0 fatty acid, 0 wt% to about 20 wt% Cl 8: 1 fatty acid, about 5 wt% to about 40 wt% Cl 8:2 fatty acid, 0 wt% to about 5 wt% C18:3 fatty acid, or a combination of two or more thereof. In any aspect, the fat blend may include 0 wt% to about 1 wt% Cl 2:0 fatty acid, about 25 wt% to about 50 wt% Cl 6:0 fatty acid, 20 wt% to about 50 wt% or about 1 wt% to about 5 wt% Cl 8:0 fatty acid, about 5 wt% to about 15 wt% Cl 8:1 fatty acid, about 15 wt% to about 35 wt% C18:2 fatty acid, about 0.1 wt% to about 0.5 wt% Cl 8:3 fatty acid, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0046] Any suitable proportion of the fat blend can be C16:0 fatty acid esters (i.e., proportion of the total fatty acids on glycerol units) that are C16:0 fatty acids, such as 20 wt% to 50 wt%, 25 wt% to 45 wt%, or 20 wt% or more but less than or equal to 50 wt%, or 20 wt% to 50 wt% and less than, equal to, or greater than 36 wt%, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48 wt%, 50 wt%, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values.

[0047] Any suitable proportion of the fat blend can be Cl 8: 1 fatty acid esters, such as 5 wt% to 25 wt%, 11 wt% to 20wt%, or 5 wt% or more but less than or equal to 25 wt%, or 5 wt% to 25 wt% and less than, equal to, or greater than 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24 wt%, 25 wt%, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values.

[0048] Any suitable proportion of the fat blend can be Cl 8:2 fatty acid esters, such as 30 wt% to 60 wt%, 37 wt% to 55 wt%, or 30 wt% or more but less than or equal to 60 wt%, or 30 wt% to 60 wt% and less than, equal to, or greater than 35 wt%, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 50, 55 wt%, 60 wt%, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values.

[0049] Any suitable proportion of the fat blend can be saturated fatty acid esters, such as 25 wt% to 60 wt%, 30 wt% to 50 wt%, or 30 wt% or more but less than or equal to 60 wt%, or 30 wt% to 60 wt% and less than, equal to, or greater than 35 wt%, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 55 wt%, 60 wt%, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values.

[0050] The composition or fat blend can have suitable properties for replacing other fats in food items or in the preparation of food items, such as providing appropriate structure (e.g., hardness) and/or other functionality to enable production of a food item of comparable or improved quality to a food item prepared from conventional or palm oil-based fats.

[0051] In any aspect, the composition or fat blend can have any suitable melting point, such as about 20 °C to about 60 °C, about 25 °C to about 50 °C, or about 20 °C or more but less than or equal to about 60 °C, or about 25 °C to about 60 °C and less than, equal to, or greater than about 26 °C, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 °C, 60 °C, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values.

[0052] In any aspect, the composition or fat blend can have any suitable main melting point, such as equal to or above about 40 °C, or equal to or above about 41 °C, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50 °C, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values. In any aspect, the composition or fat blend can have any suitable main melting point, such as below about 90 °C, or below about 80 °C, 75, 70, 69, 68, 67, 66, 65, 64, 63, 62, 61, or 60 °C, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values.

[0053] In any aspect, the composition or fat blend can have any suitable onset crystallization point as determined via DSC, such as 20 °C to about 60 °C, about 25 °C to about 60 °C, 30 °C to about 60 °C, or above about 31 °C, 32, 33, or 34 °C, or below about 55 °C, 50, 49, 48, 47, 46, or 45 °C, or any range including and/or in between any two of the preceding values.

[0054] In any aspect, the fat blend may be homogenous.

[0055] In any aspect, the composition may be a flaked fat.

[0056] In any aspect, the composition may be a frying fat.

[0057] In any aspect, the composition may be a biscuit filling, an icing, a frosting, a confectionary item, a bonbon filling, a chocolate or nut spreads, a margarine or spread (water in oil emulsion), bouillon, or a combination thereof. In any aspect, the composition may be a shortening, an all-purpose shortening, an icing shortening, a filling fat, a frying fat, a pumpable shortening, a cookie shortening, a cake shortening, a pastry shortening, a pie shortening, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0058] In any aspect, the composition can be any suitable composition for replacing fat used in a food item and/or for replacing fat used in preparing a food item.

[0059] In any aspect, the composition can be used to partially or completely replace other fats in food items. In any aspect, the composition can provide the properties and structure needed to replace other fats in a wide variety of food items.

[0060] The present technology also provides a food item that includes the composition disclosed herein. The food item can be any suitable food item that includes the composition, such as a food item including the fat composition as a partial or complete replacement for another fat composition (e.g., a palm oil-based fat composition). In any aspect, the food item can include a fried food item, a bakery food item, a biscuit filling, an icing, a frosting, a confectionary item, a bonbon filling, an ice-cream coating, a chocolate or nut spreads, a margarine or spread (water in oil emulsion), bouillon, or a combination thereof. In any aspect, the food item can include a potato chip, a French fry, a fried-chicken product, a tempura product, a biscuit, a cookie, a pie, a cake, a wafer, a filling, a dough, a glaze, a pastry, a donut, an icing, a frosting, a pizza crust, an American style biscuit, a chewing gum, a meat alternative, a dairy analog product (e.g., a non-dairy or reduced-dairy substitute product for a dairy product), ice cream, toffee, caramel or a combination of two or more thereof. In any aspect, the food item may include a bakery food item, a confectionary item, ice cream, an ice-cream coating, glaze, toffee, caramel, a stabilizer (e.g., a stabilizer to delay the separation of a product and/or a heat stabilizer for increasing the melting point of a fat or composition), emulsifiers (e.g., can be used as a substitute for or used in addition to a palm stearin or palm super stearin emulsifier), a chocolate or nut spread, a margarine or spread (water in oil emulsion), bouillon, or a combination of two or more thereof. In any aspect, the food item may include a pie crust, a pizza crust, an American sty le biscuit, a chewing gum, a meat alternative, a chocolate or nut spreads, margarine and spreads, bouillon, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0061] In some aspects, the food item can be substantially free of palm oil (/ ., both the composition herein and the remainder of the food item are substantially free of palm oil). In other aspects, the composition, the remainder of the food item, or a combination thereof, may include at least some palm oil.

[0062] In any aspect, the food item can include about 0.01 wt% to about 99 wt% of the composition provided herein. In any aspect, the food item can include about 0. 1 wt% to about 90 wt% of the composition, 1 wt% to 90 wt%, or 0.01 wt% or more but less than or equal to 99 wt%, and less than, equal to, or greater than 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99.9 wt%, or 99.99 wt%.

[0063] In another aspect, the present technology provides a method of making the composition provided herein, the method including combining cottonseed stearin and other edible components to form a homogenous mixture. The combining can be performed in any suitable way. The combining can include melting the cottonseed stearin and blending the other edible components therewith.

[0064] In some aspects, the method may include interesterifying the homogenous mixture. In some aspects, the method may include further processing such as hydrogenation and/or fractionation. In some aspects, the method may include cry stallizing the homogenous mixture. In some aspects, the method may include mechanical working such as kneading the crystallized mixture.

[0065] The present technology also provides a method of making a food item that includes the composition provided herein. The method can be any suitable method that forms a food item including the composition.

[0066] In another aspect, the present technology provides a use of the composition provided herein in partial or complete replacement of a fat in a food item and/or to form the food item. In any aspect, the use can be to form a food item.

[0067] Among others at least some of the advantages of the composition of the present technology resides in it providing a viable non-palm alternative for a food item. The thus produced food item has the right consistency. In can provide a viable non-palm alternative that can be flaked.

[0068] The examples herein are provided to illustrate advantages of the present technology and to further assist a person of ordinary skill in the art with preparing or using the compositions of the present technology. The examples herein are also presented in order to more fully illustrate the preferred aspects of the present technology. The examples should in no way be construed as limiting the scope of the present technology, as defined by the appended claims. The examples can include or incorporate any of the variations or aspects of the present technology described above. The variations or aspects described above may also further each include or incorporate the variations of any or all other variations or aspects of the present technology.

Examples

Example 1: Fat blends

[0069] Cotton stearin (CS), double fractionated cotton stearin (DFCS), fully hydrogenated cottonseed oil (FHCO), and coconut oil (CO) were used in the exemplary fat blends. CS, DFCS, FHCO, and CO have the characteristics provided in Table 1.

Table 1 -Solid fat content (SFC). melting point, fatty acid profile (FAP), and saturated fatty acid of CS. DFCS. FHCO. and CO

[0070] CS, DFCS, FHCO, and/or CO were combined to provide fat blends 1, 2, and 5 in Table 2. For each fat blend, the respective fat(s) were heated to 10-15 °F above their melting point, the respective oil(s) were added, and the mixture was blended until homogenous. Fat blends 1 and 2 were then interesterified following the same method to provide fat blends 3 and 4 in Table 2. To interesterify a fat blend, the initial fat blend was dried under vacuum (200 mbar, 110 °C, 30 min under agitation). The vacuum was broken to add a catalytic amount (0.1% w/w) of sodium methoxide (anhydrous). Next, the reaction was started under vacuum (100 mbar) and continued for 30 min. The vacuum was released, followed by the addition of a 50% citric acid solution to inactivate the sodium methoxide (5- 10 min of agitation). The mixture was then post bleached with 1.25% activated bleaching clay (200 mbar, 110 °C, 30 min under agitation). The bleaching clay was removed by filtration over a preheated Buchner filter. After bleaching, the interesterified fat mixture was deodorized. Deodorization was completed by initially heating the material to 240 °C under vacuum (<1 torr). Once the target temperature was achieved, steam stripping via a heated water addition flask was conducted for 1 hour (5% water addition to generate steam for 1 hour). The water feed to the steam flask was then stopped and the interesterified fat mixture was cooled to 110 °C under vacuum. After reaching target temperature, a nitrogen overlay was added as vacuum was released and the interesterified fat blend was pulled from the reactor flask. [0071] The crystallization and melting profiles were determined for fat blends 1-5 as provided in Table 3.

Table 2 - Solid fat content (SFC). melting point, fatty acid profile (FAP), and saturated fatty acid content of fat blends

Table 3 - Crystallization and melting profiles of fat blends determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)

Example 2; Use of fat blends in a flaked fat

[0072] Fat blends 2, 4, and 5 were used to make a non-palm flaked fat containing cotton stearin (CS or DFCS). The fat blend was melted and distributed on a stainless steel belt or drum that was cooled by glycol. As the fat moved down the belt or over the drum, it was crystalized into a hardened form. The fat was then scrapped off the belt or drum and broken into smaller pieces (z.e., fat flakes).

[0073] The flaked fat was used to make American style biscuits and pizza crust using the compositions in Tables 4.

Table 4 - American style biscuits and pizza crust formulations

[0074] To make the biscuits, all of the dry ingredients were added into a 12 quart mixing bowl and mixed on low for 1 minute with a paddle attachment. The bowl and paddle were scraped. Fat flakes were put into the mixing bowl and mixed for 30 seconds while streaming in the first amount of water. The second amount of water was added to the bowl and mixed for 30 seconds. The mixture was stopped and the bowl and paddle were scraped down. The dough was flipped in the bowl and mixed another 15 seconds on low. The dough was taken out of the mixer and placed onto a floured bench and pressed down to 1.0- 1.5 inch thickness. Flour was lightly spread on top of the dough. The dough was rolled into !4 inch thickness using rods as a guide and a rolling pin. The flour was brushed off the dough and then the dough was folded into thirds. The dough was rotated 90 degrees then rolled again so that it did not exceed 1 inch. Dough was cut into 2.25 inch circles using a biscuit cutter. The cut biscuits were placed on half sheet pan with 2 inches between them and baked in a preheated oven at 375 °F for 11.5 minutes.

[0075] To make the pizza crust, all ingredients were combined into a 12 quart McDuffy bowl and mixed on low for 2 minutes. The mixing speed was increased to medium for 7-8 minutes until dough was well developed. The dough was rolled into a ball and allowed to rest covered for 10 minutes. The dough was divided into 250 gram portions and sheeted into a 10 inch disk on a reversible sheeter. One side of the dough was docked. Dough rounds were pressed using a heated dough press for 7 seconds at 375 °F. The dough was removed from the press and allowed to cool for 10 minutes and immediately frozen. The following week, the pizza dough was baked at 400 °F for 12 minutes.

Example 3; Use of fat blends in a spread

[0076] Fat blend 1 was used as a hardstock to make a non-palm table spread. The hardstock (fat blend 1) was combined with a semi-solid fat and liquid oil to form the oil phase of the table spread. The table spread contained 60% of fats and oils. Following the table spread formulation in Table 5. The table spread was prepared by the following procedure:

1. Preparing the water phase by dissolving salt, citric acid and potassium sorbate in the water under agitation;

2. Maintained water phase at 35-45°C and stored it;

3. Melted the hardstock, semi-solid fat, liquid oil and mono-diglyceride at a temperature of 67-72°C, which was between about 5 to 10°C above the hardstock melting point;

4. Fat phase was completely melted under agitation;

5. The fat phase was cooled to approximately 55-60°C under agitation;

6. The water phase was added into the fat phase slowly under constant agitation, and agitation speed was increased while the emulsion was formed. The agitation was maintained for at least 10 min after the water phase was added to guaranty the emulsion was homogeneous;

7. The emulsion was crystallized using a scraped surface heat exchanger (SSHE) with a target outlet temperature of 8-10°C

8. The spread (crystallized emulsion) was packed and stored under refrigeration.

Table 5 - Non-palm 60% fat table spread formulation

Example 4: Use of fat in cookie formulation.

[0077] Fat blend 4 was used in a molded cookie dough. To make the cookie dough, fat blend 4, sugar, oil, and lecithin were combined in a bowl and mixed at low speed setting for 30 s. The mixer was adjusted to second speed setting and mixed for 2 min. Liquid ingredients (water, com syrup, vanilla) were added to the mixture and mixed at low speed setting for 1 min. The mixer was adjusted to second speed setting and mixed for 30 s. The bowl was scraped, and the remaining dry ingredients (flour, soda, non-fat dry milk, salt) were added to the mixture. The mixture was mixed at low speed setting for 1 min, and the mixer was adjusted to second speed setting and mixed for 30 s. The bowl was scraped. The dough was removed and pressed out into the desired shape. The shaped dough was baked at 370°F for approximately 10 min. Filling was added to one cookie and pressed on second cookie.

Table 6 - Cookie formulation.

[0078] Exemplary Aspects

[0079] The following exemplary aspects are provided, the numbering of which not to be construed as designating levels of importance:

[0080] Para. A. A composition comprising a fat blend, wherein the fat blend comprises cottonseed stearin, wherein the composition has a solid fat content (SFC) at 20 °C of about 40% to about 99%, a SFC at 30 °C of about 30% to about 99%, and a SFC at 40 °C of 20% to about 99%.

[0081] Para. B. The composition of Para. A, wherein the fat blend has a SFC at 20 °C of 45% to about 95%, and a SFC at 30 °C of 35% to about 90%, a SFC at 40 °C of 20% to about 90%.

[0082] Para. C. The composition of Para. A or Para. B. wherein the fat blend has a SFC at 10 °C of about 55% to about 99.5%.

[0083] Para. D. The composition of any one of Paras. A-C, wherein the fat blend has a solid fat content (SFC) at 10 °C of 60% to about 95%.

[0084] Para. E. The composition of any one of Paras. A-D, wherein the cottonseed stearin comprises cottonseed stearin from a first fractionation, cottonseed stearin from a second fractionation, cottonseed stearin from more than a second fractionation, cottonseed stearin from one or more winterization fractionations, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0085] Para. F. The composition of any one of Paras. A-E, wherein the fat blend is an interesterified fat blend.

[0086] Para. G. The composition of any one of Paras. A-F, wherein the interesterified fat blend is chemically interesterified.

[0087] Para. H. The composition of any one of Paras. A-G, wherein the interesterified fat blend is enzymatically interesterified.

[0088] Para. I. The composition of any one of Paras. A-H, wherein the composition is substantially free of palm oil.

[0089] Para. J. The composition of any one of Paras. A-I, wherein the fat blend has a main melting temperature equal to or above 40 °C.

[0090] Para. K. The composition of any one of Paras. A- J, wherein the fat blend comprises about 25 wt% to about 75 wt% of cottonseed stearin based on total weight of the fat blend.

[0091] Para. L. The composition of any one of Paras. A-J, wherein the fat blend comprises about 25 wt% to about 45 wt% of cottonseed stearin based on total weight of the fat blend.

[0092] Para. M. The composition of any one of Paras. A-J, wherein the fat blend comprises about 40 wt% to about 60 wt% of cottonseed stearin based on total weight of the fat blend. [0093] Para. N. The composition of any one of Paras. A- J, wherein the fat blend comprises about 55 wt% to about 75 wt% of cottonseed stearin based on total weight of the fat blend.

[0094] Para. O. The composition of any one of Paras. A-N, wherein about 0.01 wt% to 100 wt% of the composition is the fat blend.

[0095] Para. P. The composition of any one of Paras. A-O, wherein the fat blend further comprises a plant-based oil other than cottonseed stearin.

[0096] Para. Q. The composition of any one of Paras. A-P, wherein the plant-based oils other than the cottonseed stearin comprise coconut oil, com oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, peanut oil, rapeseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, mango butter, babassu oil, cupuassu oil, macauba oil, bacuri oil, tucuma oil, kokum oil, ucuuba oil, licuri oil, pequi oil, Illipe oil, a fraction thereof, a middle or high oleic version thereof, a low linolenic version thereof, a low saturated version thereof, a hydrogenated oil formed therefrom, an interesterified oil formed therefrom, or a combination or two or more thereof.

[0097] Para. R. The composition of any one of Paras. A-Q, wherein the plant-based oil other than cottonseed stearin is present in an amount from 0.01 wt% to 99 wt% based on total weight of the fat blend.

[0098] Para. S. The composition of any one of Paras. A-R, wherein the composition is substantially free of emulsifiers, non-cottonseed waxes, starch, protein, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, plant-based oils other than the cottonseed stearin, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0099] Para. T. The composition of any one of Paras. A-S further comprises an emulsifier, a wax, a carbohydrate, a protein, cellulose, a cellulose derivative, a food coloring, a filler, a flavoring, an animal-based oil, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0100] Para. U. The composition of any one of Paras. A-T, wherein the fat blend comprises at least 40 wt% saturated fat.

[0101] Para. V. The composition of any one of Paras. A-U, wherein the fat blend comprises at least 50 wt% saturated fat.

[0102] Para. W. The composition of any one of Paras. A-V, wherein the fat blend comprises 0 wt% to about 5 wt% C12:0 fatty acid, about 20 wt% to about 60 wt% Cl 6:0 Tatty acid, 0 wt% to about 60 wt% Cl 8:0 fatty acid, 0 wt% to about 20 wt% Cl 8:1 fatty acid, about 5 wt% to about 40 wt% Cl 8:2 fatty acid, 0 wt% to about 5 wt% Cl 8:3 fatty acid, or a combination of two or more thereof. [0103] Para. X. The composition of any one of Paras. A-W, wherein the fat blend is homogenous.

[0104] Para. Y. The composition of any one of Paras. A-X, wherein the composition is a flaked fat.

[0105] Para. Z. A food item comprising the composition of any one of Paras. A-Y. [0106] Para. AA. The food item of Para. Z, wherein the food item comprises a bakery food item a confectionary item, an ice-cream coating, a heat stabilizer, emulsifiers, a chocolate or nut spread, a margarine or spread (water in oil emulsion), bouillon, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0107] Para. AB. The food item of Para. Z or Para. AA, wherein the food item comprises a potato chip, a French fry, a fried-chicken product, a tempura product, a biscuit, a cookie, a pie, a cake, a wafer, a filling, a dough, a glaze, a pastry, a donut, an icing, a frosting, a pizza crust, an American style biscuit, a chewing gum, a meat alternative, a dairy analog product, ice cream, toffee, caramel, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0108] Para. AC. A method of making the composition of any one of Paras. A-Y, the method comprising combining cottonseed stearin and other edible components to form a homogenous mixture.

[0109] Para. AD. The method of Para. AC further comprising interesterifying the homogenous mixture.

[0110] Para. AE. Use of the composition of any one of Paras. A-Y in partial or complete replacement of a fat in a food item and/or to form the food item.

EQUIVALENTS

[oni] While certain aspects have been illustrated and described, a person with ordinary skill in the art, after reading the foregoing specification, can effect changes, substitutions of equivalents and other types of alterations to the nanoparticles of the present technology or derivatives, prodrugs, or pharmaceutical compositions thereof as set forth herein. Each aspect and aspect described above can also have included or incorporated therewith such variations or aspects as disclosed in regard to any or all of the other aspects and aspects.

[0112] The present technology is also not to be limited in terms of the particular aspects described herein, which are intended as single illustrations of individual aspects of the present technology. Many modifications and variations of this present technology can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods within the scope of the present technology, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is to be understood that this present technology is not limited to particular methods, conjugates, reagents, compounds, compositions, labeled compounds or biological systems, which can, of course, vary. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to be limiting. Thus, it is intended that the specification be considered as exemplary only with the breadth, scope and spirit of the present technology indicated only by the appended claims, definitions therein and any equivalents thereof. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential.

[0113] The aspects, illustratively described herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations, not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” etc. shall be read expansively and without limitation. Additionally, the terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claimed technology. Likewise, the use of the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” etc. shall be understood to disclose aspects using the terms “consisting essentially of’ and “consisting of’ and vice versa. The phrase “consisting essentially of’ will be understood to include those elements specifically recited and those additional elements that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed technology. The phrase “consisting of’ excludes any element not specified.

[0114] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group. Each of the narrower species and subgeneric groupings falling within the generic disclosure also form part of the technology. This includes the generic description of the technology with a proviso or negative limitation removing any subject matter from the genus, regardless of whether or not the excised material is specifically recited herein. [0115] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken dow n into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” and the like, include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

[0116] All publications, patent applications, issued patents, and other documents (for example, journals, articles and/or textbooks) referred to in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent application, issued patent, or other document was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety. Definitions that are contained in text incorporated by reference are excluded to the extent that they contradict definitions in this disclosure.

[0117] Other aspects are set forth in the following claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.