Patent ID: 6399141
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: A23L

Abstract:
A method for the production of a granular, free-flowing, non-dusting food acid composition having a preselected taste profile which can be used as a citric acid replacement in a foodstuff, the method including the steps ofa) combining fumaric acid with an organic acidic material selected from the group consisting of malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, lactic acid and ascorbic acid, or mixtures of any two or more thereof, in an aqueous medium to produce a mixture; and b) granulating the mixture to produce a food acid comprising a granular product containing the fumaric acid and the organic acidic material, the quantity of the fumaric acid and the quantities of the organic acidic material being selected so that the fumaric acid makes up between 5% and 95% of the granular product, the combining of step a) being selected from one of grinding the fumaric acid in an aqueous solution of the organic acidic material to produce a slurry; and grinding the fumaric acid in an aqueous medium to produce a milled fumaric acid slurry and then adding the organic acidic material to the milled fumaric acid slurry; the granulating of step b) being a spray granulating which is controlled so that the granular product is free-flowing and has a particle size of 20-60 mesh.