Patent ID: 7994157
Filing Date: 2011-08-09
Classification: A23C,A23L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for dispersing plant sterol, comprising the steps of: thermally melting an admixture consisting of plant sterol and at least one sucrose fatty acid ester emulsifier at 60-200° C., said sucrose fatty acid ester emulsifier having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value of 10 to 16; combining the molten mixture with an aqueous beverage or an emulsifier-containing aqueous beverage; and stirring the combination at a speed of 5,000 to 10,000 rpm to give a dispersion of plant sterol in the beverage, wherein when said aqueous beverage is water, said dispersion has a transmittance at 700 nm of 80.0% or greater, whereby the plant sterol is dispersed into particles, wherein 90% or more of the particles have a size of 300 nanometers or less.