Patent ID: 8632833

Claim:
A method of forming a food product, the method comprising: heating a food composition comprising nutritional food factors and a heat-settable gum binder to a solubilization temperature at which the heat-settable gum solubilizes within the food composition, wherein the solubilization temperature ranges from about 108° F. to about 212° F., and wherein the heat-settable gum binder is not a homopolysaccharide comprised of glucose monomers, the gum being less than about 15 percent by weight of the food composition; and extruding the heated food composition through an extruder having a screw within a barrel, wherein the solubilized heat-settable gum binder remains at least at the solubilization temperature prior to exiting the extruder and cools to form a gel upon exiting the extruder and binds the food composition, the heat-settable gum binder substantially distributed throughout the food composition once the food composition exits the extruder.