Patent ID: 7550171

Claim:
A process for preparing simulated cylindrical olive products with a hollow central core comprising extruding an aqueous alginate sol or aqueous low-methoxy pectate sol containing dispersed olive flesh through a nozzle inclined at not more than +/−30° to the horizontal which nozzle contains an inner nozzle and simultaneously extruding a stream of an aqueous solution containing dissolved calcium ions through the inner core of the nozzle, into a bath of an aqueous solution containing dissolved calcium ions, and gelling the aqueous alginate sol or aqueous low-methoxy pectate sol by diffusion of the calcium ions from the co-extruded stream of the aqueous solution containing dissolved calcium ions and from the aqueous solution containing dissolved calcium ions in the bath, thereby forming a cylindrical tube of gelled alginate or gelled low-methoxy pectate containing dispersed olive flesh with a hollow core.