Mineral fortification systems

Abstract

A mineral-fortification system that has a bottle cap, a pouch and a pouch opener. A powder is contained within the pouch, and the powder contains at least one mineral and a redox modulating compound. When the cap is secured onto the opening of a bottle containing a liquid and when the pouch opener is activated, the powder is released from the pouch and mixes with the liquid to form a mineral fortified liquid composition that is fortified with at least one mineral and has a pH between about 2.5 and 9.5.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 367,006, filed Feb. 14, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to mineral fortification systems comprising a powdered mineral fortification composition contained within a cap that can be attached to a bottle of liquid. After the cap is attached, the minerals can be released from the cap allowing the minerals to mix with and fortify the bottled liquid. The mineral used in the present fortification systems include minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, iodine, magnesium, and mixtures thereof, or mixtures of two or more of these compounds that have excellent bioavailability. The resulting fortified liquid containing the minerals, especially iron and zinc compounds, does not have an off-flavor / aftertaste, is stable, and overcomes the problem of discoloration, precipitation and / or poor bioavailability ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023] In a yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a mineral-fortification system comprising a bottle cap comprising a pouch and a pouch opener wherein the pouch opener comprises a blade that cuts into and opens the pouch when the cap is twisted onto a bottle. In another aspect the pouch opener comprises a plunger that opens the pouch when it is pressed down and through the pouch. Preferably, the cap further comprises a removable retaining ring that protects the pouch from being opened prematurely.

[0029] A system has been developed that incorporates the present redox modulation technology for stabilizing minerals in liquid compositions into a delivery system that allows the composition to be mixed and consumed fresh. This system is superior to other mineral fortification systems in that the consumer can prepare the fortified liquid by simply combining the cap, and mineral containing pouch with a bottle of liquid. The convenient pouch opener is used to open the pouch dispersing the mineral powder into the liquid. With a slight amount of agitation, the mineral-fortified liquid composition is made and ready to drink. The resulting liquid composition contains minerals but at the same time has acceptable taste and leaves no undesirable aftertaste while the stability and bioavailability of the mineral is uncompromised. This invention has also been found to make liquid compositions that contain particular mineral sources having substantially clear and colorless appearance.

Problems solved by technology

In many countries, the average diet does not contain sufficient levels of necessary minerals and nutrients, such as, iron, zinc, iodine, vitamin A or the B vitamins.

Usually, in countries where the people suffer from these deficiencies, the economy is such that providing minerals and vitamins as a supplement is expensive and presents significant distribution logistics problems.

In addition, compliance, i.e., having the people take the vitamin and mineral supplements on a daily basis, is a serious problem.

Although substantial progress has been made in reducing iron deficiency by fortifying products such as infant formulas, breakfast cereals and chocolate drink powders, the formulations require milk that is often not available or affordable.

There are well-recognized problems associated with adding both vitamins and minerals to beverages.

Zinc supplements tend to have an objectionable taste, cause distortion of taste and cause mouth irritation, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,528 (Godfrey), issued Aug. 4, 1987.

Iron supplements tend to discolor foodstuff, or to be organoleptically unsuitable.

Moreover, it is particularly difficult to formulate products containing minerals and, in particular, mixtures of bioavailable iron and zinc.

These minerals not only affects the organoleptic and aesthetic properties of beverages, but also undesirably affects the nutritional bioavailability of the minerals themselves and the stability of vitamins and flavors.

Several problems exist with delivering a mixture of iron and zinc with or without vitamins in a beverage mix.

A few of the problems are choosing iron and zinc compounds which are organoleptically acceptable, bioavailable, cost effective and safe.

For example, the water soluble iron and zinc compounds, which are the most bioavailable cause unacceptable metallic aftertaste and flavor changes.

In addition, the soluble iron complexes often cause unacceptable color changes.

This makes formulating a dry powder that has a uniform color distribution in the mix more difficult.

Often the reconstituted beverage does not have a suitable color identifiable with the flavoring agent.

Many iron sources that have been successful commercially, have been found to be unsatisfactory for use herein.

While this supplement may produce an acceptable taste in certain fruit flavored beverages, the supplement causes discoloration and consumer detectable differences in some colored beverages.

Iron sources typically used to fortify chocolate milk were also found undesirable due to color problems and / or flavor problems.

Unfortunately, it has also been found that FERROCHEL, when added to water or other aqueous solutions, imparts relatively quickly a deep rusty yellow color.

In the case of many foods and beverages, this color change would be unacceptable.

It has been found that FERROCHEL causes unacceptable off-color development in various foods and beverages by interacting with dietary components such as the polyphenols and flavonoids.

Furthermore, by accelerating the oxidative rancidity of fats and oils, FERROCHEL (like ferrous sulfate) has been found to cause off-flavor in foods and beverages.

An even greater challenge has been faced in providing a mineral fortified drinking water that contains a bioavailable source of iron or zinc mineral.

Fortification of drinking water with soluble, stable and bioavailable minerals (e.g., iron, zinc) has been a challenge.

Subsequently, the ferric iron combines with hydroxide ions to form iron hydroxide (yellow colored), which later converts to ferric oxide, a red, powdery precipitate called “rust.” Thus, it is well known fact that natural water not only oxidizes iron from ferrous to ferric moieties, but also causes (a) the development of undesirable color (yellowish-rusty), (b) poor solubility demonstrated by precipitation and increased turbidity, (c) compromised bioavailability and (b) co-precipitation of other minerals (e.g., zinc, magnesium, calcium) and phosphate.

Thus, it favors poor solubility, off-color development and compromised bioavailability and stability.

Hence, there is a tendency for iron to turn rusty and precipitate as a result of the oxidizing nature of the water, and to develop a metallic off-taste that is attributed to free iron ions in the water.

Since drinking waters should not have perceptible flavors or colors, the development of unacceptable iron coloration, poor solubility, or metallic taste in a drinking water cannot be masked over.

Attempts to provide an iron-containing drinking water in the past have shown limited success.

The benefits provided by mineral fortified liquid compositions are clear, but providing these compositions to consumers presents many problems.

Specifically, it is often not desirable or economical to prepare, bottle, ship, store and sell a fortified liquid.

One such problem is that the minerals and other nutrients can promote the growth of undesirable bacteria and other microbials.

But preservatives add cost and are often viewed by consumers as unnatural and therefore contradictory to the concept of drinking a healthy beverage.

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