Packaged food and drink

Abstract

To provide food and drink in a container in which quality of contents such as color, flavor and palate feeling of a product is maintained while reducing transportation cost and manufacturing cost.SOLUTION: A packaged food or drink comprising a packaging container having a content storage space, and a powder for food or drink filled in the packaging container, wherein the packaging container is formed of a flexible material having gas barrier properties, and the packaging container has a front part and a back part facing each other, and further has a bottom part or a pair of side parts connecting the front part and the back part, or has a shape in which the front part and the back part are joined to each other at their peripheral edges, A check valve 16 is disposed on a front face part or a back face part of the packaging container, and a gas content represented by v / V is 40% or less, where V is a volume of the powder for food and drink present in the storage space and v is a volume of gas present in the storage space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaged food or drink. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, powdered foods and drinks are transported sealed in packaging containers.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a product for the baking industry comprising a container and a powdered composition, wherein the powdered composition comprises an improver composition and active yeast, the head space of the container is at least 5% of the total volume of the container after sealing, and the product is characterized by being made of an inert atmosphere. The document also describes that this configuration ensures stable rise during bread production even after long-term storage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2006 / 000065 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the container described in Patent Document 1 requires high transportation costs, nitrogen substitution costs, etc., and no consideration has been given to reducing these costs while maintaining the quality of the contents, such as the color, flavor, and texture of the product. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a packaged food or drink product that maintains the quality of the contents, such as the color, flavor, and texture of the product, while reducing transportation costs and production costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides the following configurations. <1> A container-packaged food or beverage having a packaging container having a storage space for contents and a powder for food or beverage filled in the packaging container, The packaging container is made of a flexible material having gas barrier properties, The packaging container has a front portion and a back portion facing each other, and further has a bottom portion or a pair of side portions connecting the front portion and the back portion, or has a shape in which the front portion and the back portion are joined to each other at their peripheral portions, A check valve is arranged on the front or rear surface of the packaging container, A containerized food or beverage in which the gas content expressed as v / V is 40% or less, where v is the volume of gas present in the storage space and V is the volume of the edible powder present in the storage space.

[0007] <2> The powder for consumption has an average particle size of 10 to 800 μm. <1> A food or drink in a container as described above.

[0008] <3> The powder for consumption has a packed bulk density of 0.01 to 1.0 g / ml. <1> or <2> A food or drink in a container as described above.

[0009] <4> The powder for consumption has a moisture content of 1 to 10% by mass. <1> ~ <3> A containerized food or drink according to any one of the preceding items.

[0010] <5> The powder for consumption is a powdered drink; <1> ~ <4> A containerized food or drink according to any one of the preceding items.

[0011] <6> The edible powder includes a green leaf powder or a protein powder; <1> ~ <5> A containerized food or drink according to any one of the preceding items. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide containerized food and drink products that maintain the quality of the contents, such as the color, flavor, and texture of the product, while reducing transportation costs and production costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a container according to the present invention as seen from the front side, where (a) shows the state before degassing and (b) shows the state after degassing. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the check valve of the container in FIG. 1(a) and its vicinity (the area surrounded by the chain line frame in FIG. 1(a)). [Figure 3] 3(a) to 3(c) are schematic diagrams showing examples of the positions of check valves in containers. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective side view of the container shown in FIG. 1, where (a) shows the state before degassing and (b) shows the state after degassing. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the degassing step in producing the container of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the containers after degassing shown in FIG. 1(b) and FIG. 4(b) packed in a box. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic front view of a food / drink container showing yet another embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows the state before degassing and (b) shows the state after degassing. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the container shown in FIG. 7 placed in a mailing box, where (a) shows the state before degassing and (b) shows the state after degassing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention will be described below based on its preferred embodiments.

[0015] A food and drink container 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. As shown in Figure 1, the food and beverage container 10 of this embodiment has a packaging container 12 (hereinafter simply referred to as "container 12") having a storage space for the contents, and food and beverage powder filled into the packaging container 12. The container 12 is made of a flexible material with gas barrier properties. A flexible material is a material that can be easily bent without breaking. Gas barrier properties refer to poor permeability to oxygen and the like. In particular, the flexible material preferably has poor oxygen permeability and poor water vapor permeability. In particular, the container 12 used in the present invention preferably has poor oxygen permeability, poor water vapor permeability, and poor light permeability. In this specification, "poor permeability" also includes impermeability.

[0016] From the above viewpoint, suitable materials for the container 12 used in the present invention include metallized films, laminated sheets of metallized films and synthetic resins, and laminated sheets of metal foil and synthetic resins. Metallized films are preferably synthetic resin films on which metal is vapor-deposited. Metallized films are films in which metal is vapor-deposited on the surface of a film such as polyester or polyamide. Examples of metals in metal-deposited films and metal foils include aluminum, gold, silver, iron, steel, copper, nickel, and alloys containing these as the main component (for example, a total of 60 mass % or more, more preferably 90 mass % or more of these metals). Aluminum is preferred as the metal in metal-deposited films and metal foils.

[0017] As the synthetic resin in a laminate sheet of a metallized film and a synthetic resin or a laminate sheet of a metal foil and a synthetic resin, a thermoplastic resin is preferred from the viewpoint of heat sealing properties. Examples of thermoplastic resins include polyolefin-based resins. Examples of polyolefin-based resins include polyethylene (PE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-ethyl (meth)acrylate copolymer, ethylene-(meth)acrylic acid copolymer, and ethylene-propylene copolymer. Among these, polyethylene-based resins or polypropylene-based resins are preferred. A polyethylene-based resin refers to a resin in which 60% by mass or more of its constituent monomers are ethylene monomers, and the same applies to polypropylene-based resins. In the laminated sheet of a metallized film and a thermoplastic resin and the laminated sheet of a metal foil and a thermoplastic resin, the thermoplastic resin layer is preferably disposed as an inner layer for heat sealing.

[0018] Furthermore, in a metallized film, a laminated sheet of a metallized film and a synthetic resin, or a laminated sheet of a metal foil and a synthetic resin, another layer may be laminated on the outer layer side of the metallized film or metal foil. Suitable examples of such an outer layer (e.g., the outermost layer) include a thermoplastic resin film selected from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), biaxially oriented polypropylene (OPP), polyamide, and nylon (ONY). By laminating such an outer resin layer on the metallized film or metal foil, the gas barrier properties can be further improved.

[0019] The flexible material constituting the container 12 preferably has a thickness of 50 μm to 110 μm, more preferably 60 μm to 100 μm, and particularly preferably 70 to 90 μm. In this specification, the thickness of the flexible material refers to the sum of the thicknesses of the multiple layers (total thickness) when the flexible material is a laminate of multiple layers.

[0020] The food / drink container 10 is a single-layer container in which the outer surface of the container film that forms the inner wall of the storage space in which the contents are stored is exposed to the outside of the container. However, the container 10 may be a double-layer container.

[0021] 1 and 4, the container 12 of this embodiment has at least a front portion 13A and a back portion 13B facing each other, and further has a pair of side portions 14, 14 connecting the front portion 13A and the back portion 13B, and a bottom portion 15. The front portion 13A, the back portion 13B, and the bottom portion 15 are preferably flat in an unfolded state, which will be described later. In the examples of Figures 1 and 4, the container 12 stands upright so that the sealing portion 17 is located at the upper side of the front portion 13A and the back portion 13B. The sealing portion 17 is a sealed opening for introducing edible powder when producing the container-packaged food or beverage 10. Sealing is usually performed by heat sealing or the like. In the example shown in Figure 4, the bottom portion 15 is located on the opposite side of the sealing portion 17 when the front portion 13A and the back portion 13B are stretched in the vertical direction Y'. Figures 3(a) to 3(c) show examples of containers used in the present invention, showing schematic front views of the container in an unfolded state, with Figure 3(a) corresponding to the container shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3(a), the front portion 13A has a shape that is elongated in one direction, and it is preferable that the direction from the bottom portion 15 toward the sealing portion 17 is the longitudinal direction Y of the front portion 13A from the viewpoint of ease of use of the container 12. Although not shown, in this embodiment, the rear portion 13B is also elongated in one direction like the front portion 13A, with the longitudinal direction extending from the bottom portion 15 toward the sealing portion 17. In the examples shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, the front portion 13A and the rear portion 13B are identically rectangular, specifically rectangular. The longitudinal direction Y and the shape here are determined when the powder for consumption is removed from the container and the front portion 13A and the rear portion 13B are unfolded to maximize their area (hereinafter also referred to as the "unfolded state").

[0022] In the example shown in Figures 1 and 4, a pair of opposing side portions 14, 14 are continuous with the front portion 13A and the back portion 13B to form side walls surrounding the bottom portion 15 of the container 12. The bottom portion 15 is continuous with the front portion 13A, the back portion 13B, and the side portions 14, 14 while being surrounded by them. When the powder for food or drink is sealed inside the container 12, it is preferable that the bottom portion 15 has a flat shape rather than a downwardly convex shape, as this makes it easier to degas the inside of the container 12 and adjust it to a suitable gas content, as described below. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 4, the bottom portion 15 is rectangular in plan view, specifically, oblong.

[0023] The pair of front portion 13A and rear portion 13B are joined together at their upper ends, thereby forming a sealing portion 17. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the side portions 14, 14 have a shape that narrows toward the sealing portion 17 in the longitudinal direction Y. As shown in the figure, the front portion 13A and the rear portion 13B are joined and sealed at their upper end surfaces facing each other, thereby forming the sealing portion 17. Alternatively, the side portions 14, 14 may have a rectangular shape in a side view. In this case, for example, an upper surface portion parallel to the bottom surface portion 15 is provided between the front portion 13A and the rear portion 13B.

[0024] In this embodiment, the area of ​​the front portion 13A and the area of ​​the back portion 13B are both larger than the area of ​​the side portion 14 and the area of ​​the bottom portion 15. The areas referred to here refer to the areas in the unfolded state.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, a check valve 16 is disposed on the front portion 13A of the container 12. In the example shown in Figure 2, the check valve 16 is disposed on the outer surface side of the front portion 13A, but it may also be disposed on the inner surface side. Furthermore, the check valve 16 is formed in a substantially circular shape in a plan view as shown in Figure 2, but it may also have another shape such as a rectangular shape. The check valve 16 may also be disposed on the rear portion 13B instead of or in addition to being disposed on the front portion 13A. The container shown in FIG. 1 is preferably made of a soft material, so that when the air inside is released and the volume is reduced, the sealing portion 17 will fold with the back portion 13B facing inward, even without any fold lines being provided in advance.

[0026] The check valve 16 is provided in a through-hole (not shown) in the front portion 13A. Although not shown, the check valve 16 may be composed of, for example, a filter plate made of nonwoven fabric covering the through-hole in the front portion 13A; an annular base plate laminated and fixed to the filter plate on the outside of the container; an annular spacer plate laminated and fixed to the base plate on the outside of the container and having a through-hole with a larger diameter than the base plate; a diaphragm formed with a smaller diameter than the spacer plate and attached to the outside of the container on the base plate by a sealing fluid layer such as silicone oil or silicone adhesive so as to be able to open and close the through-hole in the base plate; and a surface plate having a hole with a smaller diameter than the hole in the spacer plate, adhesively fixed to the outside of the container on the spacer plate, and having a convex portion on the inside surface of the container that supports the peripheral edge of the diaphragm on the outside surface of the container. The base plate, spacer plate, and surface plate can all be made of plastic film. The size of the outer shape of the check valve 16 when viewed from above may be, for example, a circle equivalent diameter of 19 mm to 21 mm. In this type of check valve 16, when suction is applied from outside the container 12, the suction pressure acts on the diaphragm through the through opening. When the suction pressure on the container 12 exceeds a predetermined pressure and the pressure acting on the diaphragm through the through opening increases, the seal between the base plate and the diaphragm by the sealing fluid layer is partially released, forming a gas flow path between the gap between the base plate and the diaphragm and the through opening. Gas inside the container 12 is discharged to the outside through this flow path. Thereafter, when the suction pressure on the container 12 falls below the predetermined pressure, the gap between the base plate and the diaphragm is again sealed by the sealing fluid layer. In other words, air is blocked from entering the container 12 from the outside. According to the check valve 16 of this embodiment, the through opening is covered with a filter plate made of nonwoven fabric. Therefore, even if a gas flow from the inside of the container 12 toward the diaphragm occurs due to back pressure outside the container 12 and the food powder inside the container 12 is carried by the gas flow, the powder can be selectively captured by the filter plate. This prevents the food powder from passing through the through opening and reaching the diaphragm side.

[0027] 3(a) to 3(c) show examples of the deployed state of the front part 13A. As shown in FIG. 3, the check valve 16 is preferably provided in the central region of the front part 13A where the check valve 16 is provided. The central region is the area between the end E on the sealing part 17 side and the length L in the longitudinal direction Y when the front part 13A or the back part 13B where the check valve 16 is provided is viewed from the outer surface side. U The ratio (L1 / L) of the length L1 in the same direction Y from the check valve 16 to the width W in the width direction X is in the range of 30 to 70%, and the width direction left end E L The ratio (W1 / W) of the distance W1 from the front edge to the width direction X is 40 to 60%. The width direction X refers to a direction parallel to the front face portion 13A in the unfolded state described above and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Y. As described above, an example of the front face portion 13A corresponding to Figs. 1 and 4 is Fig. 3(a).

[0028] If the check valve 16 is located in the central region, when a suction device is attached to the check valve 16 and suction pressure is applied around the check valve 16 inside the container 12 to remove the air, the density of the food and beverage powder around the check valve 16 inside the container 12 can be easily maintained at an appropriate level, so air can be removed more easily than at other positions, and as a result, the thickness of the food and beverage powder (thickness in the Z direction in Figure 4) can be made more uniform, improving transportability. In addition, by making the thickness of the food and beverage powder more uniform, the area of ​​the food and beverage powder that comes into contact with air can be made smaller, making it easier to maintain quality. Furthermore, for example, compared to when the check valve is located at the top of the container near the removal point, when a suction device is attached to the check valve and suction is applied, the containers do not stick to each other, making degassing easier and improving production efficiency. Also, compared to when the check valve is located closer to the side of the container, when a suction device is attached to the check valve, pressure can be applied around the check valve to hold the container down evenly, making it less likely that the thickness of the container will be uneven after degassing, making it easier to store in a mailing box and improving its appearance.

[0029] In manufacturing container 10, food or beverage is placed into container 12 through the opening of container 12 while container 12 is still in an open state (not shown) with sealing portion 17 unsealed, and then heat sealing or the like is used to seal sealing portion 17. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, sealed container 10 is laid down with the face portion of front portion 13A or back portion 13B on which check valve 16 is not provided (back portion 13B in the example of FIG. 5) facing downwards, and an aspirator 26 is attached to check valve 16 with check valve 16 facing upward, and the interior of container 10 is degassed through check valve 16 by suction pressure from outside container 10. As shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable to attach aspirator 26 to check valve 16 while container 10 before degassing is held down from above by holding portion 25, and to suck air upward from check valve 16 to prevent displacement during or after suction. Examples of holding portion 25 include a plate-like member made of plastic or the like. In this embodiment, the container 12 (FIGS. 1(a) and 4(a)) before degassing is degassed by such degassing treatment to become the container 12 (FIGS. 1(b) and 4(b)) according to the present invention.

[0030] The suction device 26 is not particularly limited as long as it can suck air through the check valve 16 and achieve a gas content that produces the effects of the present invention, and examples thereof include a vacuum pump. Specific examples of vacuum pumps include an oil-sealed rotary vacuum pump, a Kinney vacuum pump, a rotary vane vacuum pump, a Teflon (registered trademark) diaphragm dry vacuum pump, a water-sealed vacuum pump, a mechanical booster pump, and an oil diffusion pump.

[0031] To further enhance the above-mentioned effects, in this embodiment, the ratio (L1 / L) in the central region is more preferably 35 to 65%, and particularly preferably 40 to 62.5%. Also, the ratio (W1 / W) is more preferably 45 to 55%, and particularly preferably 47.5 to 52.5%. Figures 3(a) to (c) satisfy the above-mentioned ranges.

[0032] The longitudinal length L of the front surface portion 13A is preferably 250 to 500 mm, more preferably 275 to 475 mm, and particularly preferably 290 to 450 mm. The width W is preferably 150 to 330 mm, more preferably 175 to 315 mm, and particularly preferably 190 to 300 mm. As shown in FIG. 4, when the container 12 has a bottom portion or a pair of side portions, the depth Z1 is preferably 50 to 120 mm, and more preferably 90 to 115 cm. Here, the depth Z1 refers to the length in the thickness direction (Z direction) of the container 12, and refers to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Y' (vertical direction) and the width direction X when the powder inside the container is removed and the container is filled with air to the maximum extent possible, with the longitudinal direction of the front surface portion aligned parallel to the vertical direction.

[0033] In the container 12, when the volume of the edible powder present in the storage space is V and the volume of the gas present in the storage space is v, the gas content v / V expressed as v / V is preferably 40% or less, more preferably 30% or less, even more preferably 25% or less, even more preferably 20% or less, particularly preferably 18% or less, especially preferably 15% or less, and of these, 12% or less is preferred. In container 12, the gas content v / V being below the upper limit is preferable in that it not only maintains the quality of the edible powder inside, such as color, flavor, texture, and solubility in water, but also has excellent volume reduction properties and effectively improves transportability.

[0034] Furthermore, the gas content v / V is preferably 0% or more, more preferably 0.01% or more, even more preferably 0.5% or more, even more preferably 0.6% or more, particularly preferably 0.7% or more, and particularly preferably 0.8% or more. Even when the gas content v / V is 0%, a small amount of air typically exists in the container, and the container is not a vacuum. Here, "not a vacuum" means that the pressure is not negative, i.e., atmospheric pressure or higher. By ensuring that the gas content v / V is equal to or greater than the lower limit, wrinkles on the container surface, which would impair the appearance, and the contents can be prevented from forming solidified portions. If solidified portions form, it will be necessary to break them up by hand or the like before using the contents. Furthermore, if the gas content v / V is above the lower limit, the edible powder can move slightly inside, making it easier to distribute the edible powder evenly in the container 12, and this is also preferable in that it makes the thickness in the Z direction (depth Z1) uniform, for example, thereby further improving the transportability of the containerized food and beverage 10.

[0035] As described above, the gas content v / V (%) in the container 12 is the ratio between the volume v of the gas in the storage space in the container 12 and the volume V of the edible powder that is the content in the storage space of the container 12 (hereinafter also referred to as the "internal volume"). The storage space is the internal space inside the container. When the container 10 has a front portion 13A and a back portion 13B facing each other, and further has a bottom portion 15 or a pair of side portions 14, 14 connecting the front portion 13A and the back portion 13B, the storage space is the space formed by the front portion 13A and the front portion 13A and the inner surfaces of the bottom portion 15 and / or the side portions 14, 14. Furthermore, when the container 10 has a shape in which the front portion 13A and the back portion 13B are joined to each other at their respective peripheral edges, the space is surrounded by the inner surfaces of the front portion 13A and the back portion 13B. The volume v of the gas in the container 12 is determined by sealing the check valve 16 in the container 12, inserting a syringe needle into the container so that there is no air leakage, and measuring the amount of gas removed by aspirating with the syringe until negative pressure is created inside the container and the plunger is pulled back. Specifically, it can be determined by the method described in the examples below. The inventors believe that the volume v of the gas present in the storage space does not include the amount of air present in the gaps between the edible powder contents. On the other hand, the volume V of the edible powder in the container 12 can be calculated from the amount (g) of the edible powder content and the packed bulk density (g / ml).

[0036] To further enhance the effect of the gas content v / V, the ratio Pw / Lv (g / L) of the mass Pw (g) of the edible powder per 1 L of the volume Lv in the container 12 is preferably 70 g / L to 300 g / L, and more preferably 80 g / L to 250 g / L. The volume Lv here refers to the maximum volume of the container 12. The maximum volume is the maximum internal volume when the container is sealed, and includes the volume of the food or drink if the container contains food or drink.

[0037] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of preventing caking and maintaining the quality of the powder for consumption or consumption, the volume v of the gas determined as described above is preferably 10 ml or more and 800 ml or less, more preferably 30 ml or more and 600 ml or less, and particularly preferably 60 ml or more and 200 ml or less.

[0038] The volume V of the powder for consumption in the container 12 is preferably 900 ml to 7000 ml, more preferably 950 ml to 6500 ml, even more preferably 1200 ml to 6500 ml, still more preferably 1600 ml to 6500 ml, and particularly preferably 3200 ml to 6000 ml.

[0039] The gas in the container 12 is preferably air. In the present invention, the quality of the powder for consumption or consumption can be maintained without replacing the gas in the container 12 with an inert gas such as nitrogen, and both production costs and quality maintenance can be achieved.

[0040] The powder for food or drink preferably has an average particle size of 10 to 800 μm. When the particle size of the powder for food or drink is within this range, the above-mentioned gas content is easily achieved, and the quality maintenance effect due to the above-mentioned gas content is even more excellent. From this viewpoint, the average particle size of the powder for food or drink is more preferably 20 to 600 μm, even more preferably 30 to 400 μm, and particularly preferably 60 to 200 μm. The average particle size of the powder for consumption is the volume cumulative particle size at 50% of the cumulative volume measured by a laser diffraction / scattering light particle size distribution measuring device.

[0041] The bulk density of the powder for consumption is preferably 0.01 to 0.9 g / ml. When the bulk density of the powder for consumption is within this range, the aforementioned gas content is easily achieved, and the quality maintenance effect due to the gas content is even more excellent. From this perspective, the bulk density of the powder for consumption is more preferably 0.05 to 0.8 g / ml. In particular, when the powder for consumption contains green leaf powder, the bulk density of the powder for consumption is particularly preferably 0.01 to 0.6 g / ml, and more preferably 0.1 to 0.5 g / ml. Furthermore, when the powder for consumption contains protein powder, the bulk density of the powder for consumption is particularly preferably 0.01 to 0.6 g / ml, and more preferably 0.1 to 0.5 g / ml. Bulk density is measured in accordance with JIS standard K6720.

[0042] When the bulk density (loose bulk density) of the powder for food and drink is D1 and the packed bulk density is D2, the compressibility (%) expressed by the formula: [(D2-D1) / D2] x 100 (%) is preferably 8% or more, more preferably 15% or more, even more preferably 17% or more, even more preferably 20% or more, and particularly preferably 30% or more. The compressibility is preferably 65% ​​or less, particularly preferably 60% or less, and even more preferably 55% or less. When the compressibility of the powder for food and drink is below the upper limit and / or above the lower limit, it is easier to achieve the above gas content, and the quality maintenance effect due to the gas content is even better.

[0043] The powder for consumption or drinking preferably has a packed bulk density of 0.1 to 1.0 g / ml. When the packed bulk density of the powder for consumption or drinking is within this range, the prevention of caking and the effect of maintaining quality due to the gas content are even more excellent. From this perspective, the packed bulk density of the powder for consumption or drinking is more preferably 0.2 to 0.7 g / ml. In particular, when the powder for consumption or drinking contains a protein powder, the packed bulk density of the powder for consumption or drinking is particularly preferably 0.2 to 1.0 g / ml, and more preferably 0.3 to 0.9 g / ml. Furthermore, when the powder for consumption or drinking contains a green leaf powder, the packed bulk density of the powder for consumption or drinking is particularly preferably 0.1 to 0.8 g / ml, and more preferably 0.2 to 0.6 g / ml.

[0044] The water content of the powder for food or drink is preferably 1.5 to 10% by mass. When the water content of the powder for food or drink is within this range, the prevention of caking and the effect of maintaining quality due to the gas content are even more excellent. From this viewpoint, the water content of the powder for food or drink is more preferably 1.5 to 8% by mass, and particularly preferably 1.5 to 6% by mass. The water content is measured using an infrared moisture meter.

[0045] To obtain a powder for consumption or consumption with the above parameters, commercially available green leaf powders or protein powders can be selected, or known granulation methods can be used. For example, barley green leaves can be harvested and blanched in hot water, dried until the moisture content is 5% by mass or less, coarsely crushed with a cutter, further heated at 110°C or higher, and finely crushed with a hammer mill to produce a barley leaf powder. To obtain the above-mentioned packed bulk density and bulk specific gravity, the size of the mesh screen can be adjusted as a crushing condition.

[0046] The form of the powder for consumption in the present invention may be granulated powder or non-granulated powder. Granulated powder refers to a powder that is a granulated product. Non-granulated powder refers to a powder that has not been granulated. Granulation methods for obtaining granulated powder include fluidized bed granulation, extrusion granulation, tumbling granulation, and stirring granulation.

[0047] The powdered beverage for consumption is preferably a powdered beverage, taking advantage of the anti-caking properties and quality-preserving properties of the specific gas content. Examples of powdered beverages include powdered plants or their derived substances, powdered animals or their derived substances, powdered bacteria such as lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, and yeast or their derived substances, powdered fungi or their derived substances, and powdered seaweed or their derived substances. Specific examples of powdered beverages include green juice, smoothies, protein, powdered milk, coffee (regular coffee, instant coffee, cafe au lait, etc.), tea (green tea, black tea, oolong tea, milk tea, etc.), cocoa, soup, miso soup, seasoning, sake, and oil. In particular, the powdered beverage for consumption preferably contains green leaf powder or protein powder. Green leaf powder is susceptible to deterioration due to heat, light, moisture, etc., and caking due to excessive compression can be a problem. Similarly, protein powders are susceptible to deterioration due to the effects of heat, light, moisture, etc., and caking due to excessive compression can be a problem. For this reason, the gas content of the present invention is particularly effective when the powder for consumption contains green leaf powder or protein powder.

[0048] In the present invention, when the powder for consumption contains protein, it is preferable to use a protein-containing powder containing a relatively high concentration of protein. Examples of such protein-containing powders include collagen powder, milk-derived protein powder, soybean-derived protein powder, seed-derived protein, and seafood-derived protein. Examples of milk-derived protein powders include whole milk powder, skim milk powder, buttermilk powder, whey protein (WPC: Whey Protein Concentrate, WPI: Whey Protein Isorate), milk protein (MPC: Milk Protein Concentrate, MPI: Milk Protein Isorate), and casein. Examples of soybean-derived protein powders include isolated soy protein, concentrated soy protein, and soy peptides. Concentrated soy protein is a powder obtained by concentrating and drying protein and soybean pulp from defatted soybeans. Isolated soy protein is a powder obtained by separating and drying protein from defatted soybeans. Soy protein isolates are obtained, for example, by adding acid to soy milk obtained by defatting soybeans and extracting them with water, which produces whey and curd, and the curd is separated by centrifugation or filtering, neutralized, dried, and pulverized. When these proteins are in the form of granules, the granulation process can be carried out using the various granulation methods listed above. In the present invention, it is particularly preferable to use a milk-derived protein powder as the protein source, since the specific gas content can be used to effectively maintain the quality of the product. Examples of milk-derived proteins include cow's milk-derived proteins.

[0049] When the powder for consumption contains a protein powder, it is preferable that the protein content in the powder for consumption is 10% by mass or more, since the above-mentioned effects of adopting a specific gas content are excellent. From this viewpoint, the protein content in the powder for consumption is preferably 25% by mass or more, more preferably 50% by mass or more, even more preferably 70% by mass or more, and particularly preferably 90% by mass or more.

[0050] When the powder for consumption or consumption contains ingredients other than green leaves or proteins, the other ingredients may include, for example, dietary fiber such as water-soluble dietary fiber and insoluble dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, plants or processed plant products, algae, microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria and yeast, etc. Furthermore, if necessary, ingredients commonly used in the food industry such as sugars such as dextrin and starch, oligosaccharides, sweeteners, acidulants, colorants, thickeners, glazing agents, excipients, nutritional supplements, binders, lubricants, stabilizers, diluents, bulking agents, emulsifiers, food additives, seasonings, etc. may also be added.

[0051] According to the present invention, the quality of the food powder can be effectively maintained in the container 10 containing the food or beverage whose volume has been reduced by degassing. This allows the container 12 to be mailed, for example, by non-standard mail (within the standard size) such as Yu-Pack (registered trademark), thereby reducing transportation costs. Furthermore, the container 12 can be easily reduced in volume and mailed, for example, by standard mail (non-standard size) such as Yu-Pack (registered trademark) in size 60 (total length, width, and thickness of 60 cm), thereby reducing transportation costs. Figure 6 shows how the reduced container 12 is placed in a box for mailing. For example, two standing pouches with a length L of 300 mm, a width W of 200 mm, and a depth Z1 of 100 mm can be placed in a box with a length of 200 mm, a width of 200 mm, and a depth of 200 mm.

[0052] 7 and 8 show another embodiment of the present invention. In the following example, differences from the above embodiment will be mainly described. Other points are the same as the above embodiment. In the containerized food and drink 110 shown in Figures 7 and 8, the container 112 does not have a flat bottom or side surface, but has a shape in which two front and back surfaces 13A, 13B are joined together at their edges. The container 112 before degassing (Figures 7(a) and 8(a)) is degassed from the check valve 16 with the front surface 13A with the check valve 16 facing upward, to become the container 112 according to the present invention (Figures 7(b) and 8(b)). In this embodiment, too, the check valve 16 is located in the central region of the front portion 13A of the container 112, and when a suction device is attached to the check valve 16 and suction pressure is applied around the check valve 16 inside the container 12 to remove air, it is easy to maintain an appropriate density of the edible powder around the check valve 16 inside the container 12, so air can be removed more easily than at other positions.As a result, it is easier to make the thickness of the edible powder (thickness in the Z direction in Figure 8) uniform, which improves transportability and makes it easier to maintain quality.

[0053] In the example shown in FIG. 7, the front portion 13A is rectangular, and an end E extending along the longitudinal direction Y is U , E V and an end E extending along the width direction X R , E L However, in the case of a three-sided sealed bag or the like, where a sheet of flexible material is folded once and then stacked in two to form the front portion 13A and the back portion 13B, one of the four edges can be the fold of the two sheets and does not need to be joined. The reduced volume of the container can be placed in a small box and mailed, as shown in Figure 8. For example, a three-sided zipper bag with a length L of 340 mm and a width W of 230 mm can be stored in a box with a length of 229 mm, a width of 338 mm, and a depth of 28 mm. [Example]

[0054] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to such examples. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, "%" means % by mass and "parts" means parts by mass. In the following examples, containers with the same container number have the same shape, material, and size.

[0055] (Method for measuring bulk density) The measurement was carried out using a Powder Tester® PT-X manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation in accordance with JIS standard K6720. Specifically, the measurement was carried out according to the following procedures a to d. a. Powder tester included, capacity 100cm 3 The weight of the cup was measured. b. Place the powder in the powder tester, vibrate for 30 seconds, with an amplitude of 1.5 mm, and drop the powder into a volume of 100 cm. 3 The powder was filled into a cup, and the powder was stopped from falling when it overflowed from the cup. The powder that overflowed from the cup was scraped off using a cb and the total weight was measured. Calculate the mass of the powder in the cup from the difference between the weight measured at dc and the weight measured at a. 3 The weight of the powder per unit area was determined and used as the bulk density.

[0056] <Packed bulk density> The packed bulk density was determined using a powder property evaluation device (Powder Tester PTX manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation). The bulk density was determined in the same manner as above. Next, a cap was attached to the container, and the container was tapped 180 times from a height of 18 mm. After that, the excess powder above the container surface was removed and the weight was measured. The packed bulk density (g / ml) was calculated by dividing the weight (g) of the sample filled in the container after tapping by 100 (ml).

[0057] (Method for measuring particle size) The average particle size of the powder was measured under the following conditions using a laser diffraction / scattering particle size distribution measuring device: Laser Micronsizer LMS-3000 manufactured by Seishin Enterprise Co., Ltd. (Barley grass powder) The dispersion medium was ethanol. Particle refractive index: 1.330 Dispersion medium refractive index: 1.360 (protein powder) The dispersion medium was ethanol. Particle refractive index: 1.330 Dispersion medium refractive index: 1.360

[0058] (moisture content) Measurement was carried out using a Sartorius MA35 infrared moisture meter.

[0059] <Examples 1-1 to 4-1, Comparative Examples 1-1 to 4-2> (Comparative Example 1-1) A container (container number 1) shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 was prepared. Container No. 1: A flat-bottomed standing pouch with a maximum height of 300 mm, width of 200 mm, and depth of 100 mm. The material of this container, from outer to inner layers, was (outer) PET (polyethylene terephthalate, thickness 12 μm) / DL (dry laminate) / VMPET (PET film with aluminum vapor deposition, thickness 12 μm) / DL / LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene film (LL), thickness 50 μm) (inner), with a total thickness of 100 μm. The check valve was installed in the same position as in Figure 3(a).

[0060] This container was open at the top before the contents were sealed in. In this state, 1 kg of young barley leaf powder (powder obtained by drying and grinding young barley leaves (green leaves), manufactured by Toyo Shinyaku Co., Ltd., bulk specific gravity 0.199 g / ml, packed bulk density 0.43 g / ml, average particle size 22.2 μm, moisture content 2.51 mass%, compressibility 53.7%) was placed in the container, and the upper open end was fastened. The air content (gas volume v) of the resulting container was measured using the following method.

[0061] (Measurement of the volume v of a gas) A syringe-type plunger with a needle at the tip (Ulove Prs, product name: Large-capacity syringe, capacity 300 mL, material: polypropylene) was used. An aluminum seal was attached to the check valve to seal it, and the syringe needle was inserted into the bag over the tape to prevent air leakage around the needle. The air in the container was then aspirated with the syringe until negative pressure was created inside the container and the plunger was pulled back, and the amount of air was measured. After that, for the accelerated test, the amount of air v shown in Table 1 was returned to the container in which the air was measured. After the needle was removed, the hole was sealed with an aluminum seal.

[0062] (Calculating the volume of powder for consumption) The packed amount (g) is calculated as the bulk density (g / cm 3 The volume of the powder for consumption, which is the content in the container, was calculated by dividing the volume by the mass of the powder for consumption.

[0063] (Example 1-1) In Comparative Example 1-1, while maintaining the non-vacuum state inside the container, the air inside was removed through the check valve 16 until the air amount and gas content reached the values ​​shown in Table 1. Other than that, the same procedure was followed as in Comparative Example 1-1.

[0064] (Comparative Example 1-2) In Comparative Example 1-1, when even less internal air was removed from the check valve 16 than in Example 1-1 and the gas content v / V (%) was greater than 40%, the volume reduction was insufficient, and when placing the containers in the shipping box, it was necessary to move the position of the contents of the shipping box that were higher than the height of the box or change the shape of the containers, which took a long time to pack into the shipping box and reduced productivity.

[0065] (Comparative Example 2-1) In Comparative Example 1-1, the barley leaf powder was changed to powdered soy protein (Prolina HD101R, Fuji Oil Co., Ltd., bulk specific gravity 0.324 g / ml, packed bulk density 0.54 g / ml, average particle size 70 μm, moisture content 4.82 mass%, compressibility 40%). Other than that, the comparative example was the same as Comparative Example 1-1.

[0066] Example 2-1 In Comparative Example 2-1, while maintaining the non-vacuum state inside the container, the air inside was removed through the check valve 16 until the air amount and gas content reached the values ​​shown in Table 1. Other than that, the same procedure was followed as in Comparative Example 2-1.

[0067] (Comparative Example 2-2) In Example 2-1, when even less internal air was removed from the check valve 16 than in Example 2-1 and the gas content v / V (%) was greater than 40%, the volume reduction was insufficient, and when placing the container in the shipping box, it was necessary to move the position of the contents of the shipping box that were higher than the height of the box or change the shape of the container, which took a long time to pack into the shipping box and reduced productivity.

[0068] (Comparative Example 3-1) In Comparative Example 1-1, the barley leaf powder was changed to concentrated whey protein (WPC80 ISO Chill 8000, Lacto Japan Co., Ltd., WPC80 ISO Chill 8000, Lacto Japan Co., Ltd., bulk density 0.225 g / ml, packed bulk density 0.46 g / ml, average particle size 85 μm, moisture content 4.22% by mass, compressibility 51.1%). Other than that, the same as Comparative Example 1-1 was used.

[0069] Example 3-1 In Comparative Example 3-1, while maintaining the non-vacuum state inside the container, the air inside was removed through the check valve 16 until the air amount and gas content reached the values ​​shown in Table 1. Other than that, the same procedure was followed as in Comparative Example 3-1.

[0070] (Comparative Example 3-2) In Example 3-1, when even less internal air was removed from the check valve 16 than in Example 3-1 and the gas content v / V (%) was greater than 40%, the volume reduction was insufficient, and when placing the container in the transport box, it was necessary to move the position of the contents of the transport box that were higher than the height of the box or change the shape of the container, which took a long time to pack into the transport box and reduced productivity.

[0071] (Comparative Example 4-1) In Comparative Example 1-1, the barley leaf powder was changed to concentrated whey protein granulated powder (bulk specific gravity 0.225 g / ml, packed bulk density 0.44 g / ml, average particle size 158 μm, moisture content 5.49 mass%, compressibility 48.9%). This granulated powder was produced as follows. A solution of lecithin dissolved in water (lecithin concentration in the solution after dissolution: 30 g / 1.5 L) was used as the binder liquid, and concentrated whey protein (protein powder WPC80 ISO Chill 8000, Lacto Japan Co., Ltd.) (0.7 kg) was used as the raw material powder in the granulation chamber (volume approximately 3.0 L). In the granulation chamber, the intake air temperature was 70°C and the air volume was 40–50 m 3 A gas flow of 1 / hour was blown upward to fluidize the raw material powder. Granulation was carried out while spraying the binder prepared above at a constant rate from the sprayer on top of the machine, after which the spraying was stopped and the material was dried. The total amount of binder liquid sprayed for granulation was 1050 g, and the spraying time (granulation time) was approximately 50 minutes. The spray air pressure was 0.1 MPa. After spraying was completed, the granulated material in the chamber was dried by the gas flow until the moisture content reached the above-mentioned amount. The temperature of the gas flow during drying was 70°C, and the air volume was 40 m 3 / min. In this way, a granulated product, which is a protein-containing granule, was obtained. Comparative Example 1-1 was repeated except that the barley young leaf powder was replaced with the granules.

[0072] (Example 4-1) In Comparative Example 4-1, while maintaining the non-vacuum state inside the container, the air inside was removed through the check valve 16 until the air amount and gas content reached the values ​​shown in Table 1. Other than that, the same procedure was followed as in Comparative Example 4-1.

[0073] (Comparative Example 4-2) In Example 4-1, when even less internal air was removed from the check valve 16 than in Example 4-1 and the gas content v / V (%) was greater than 40%, the volume reduction was insufficient, and when placing the containers in the shipping box, it was necessary to move the position of the contents of the shipping box that were higher than the height of the box or change the shape of the containers, which took a long time to pack into the shipping box and reduced productivity.

[0074] <Quality maintenance evaluation of contents> An acceleration test was conducted on the container-packed foods and beverages of Comparative Examples 1-1 to 4-1 and Examples 1-1 to 4-1 by leaving them unopened at 60°C for one week. After the acceleration test, a sensory evaluation was conducted in which the contents of each container were compared with the same contents that had not been subjected to the acceleration test (barley young leaf powder and granulated powder immediately after production, and protein powder immediately after purchase). 4g of barley leaf powder and 10g of each protein powder were dissolved in 150ml of water and evaluated. The sensory evaluation was carried out by panelists who regularly consume green juice and protein and who have experience in sensory evaluation. The evaluation items for the barley leaf powder were appearance (color (vividness, browning)), taste (sweetness), texture (roughness (pleasant texture on the tongue), remaining in the mouth (pleasant aftertaste)), and smell (burnt smell, powdery). The protein was evaluated based on appearance (color (browning)), taste (acidity), texture (roughness (pleasant texture on the tongue), aftertaste (pleasant aftertaste)), and odor (burnt odor, powdery odor, sulfur odor). The results are shown in Table 1. The evaluation criteria were as follows: Good: 5 points Fairly good: 3 points Same. :0 points Slightly inferior but acceptable: -3 points Bad: -5 points

[0075] (presence or absence of lumps) After the accelerated test, the contents of each container were stirred 20 times with a medicine spoon to check for any lumps of 3 mm or more remaining. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0076] [Table 1A] [Table 1B]

[0077] As shown in Table 1, by adjusting the gas content to a predetermined level, it is possible to effectively prevent quality deterioration phenomena such as deterioration in color, taste, texture, and the addition of unpleasant odors in barley leaf powder and protein powder. It is also clear that the powders of each example are less likely to form lumps and are easily dissolved.

[0078] <Volume reduction evaluation> In addition to the container No. 1 described above, the following containers were prepared. Container No. 2: A three-sided zipper bag measuring 340 mm in length and 230 mm in width. The material of this three-sided zipper bag was a laminate film consisting of, from the outer layer to the inner layer, (outer) PET (polyethylene terephthalate, thickness 12 μm) / DL (dry laminate) / VMPET (PET film with aluminum vapor deposition, 12 μm) / DL / LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene, thickness 50 μm) (inner). The total thickness was 74 μm. The check valve was installed in the position shown in Figure 3(c).

[0079] Container No. 3: It had the same external shape as Container No. 1, with a maximum height of 410 mm, width of 292 mm, and depth of 115 mm. The check valve was installed in the position shown in Figure 3(b). The material was the same as Container No. 1.

[0080] (Comparative Examples 5 to 6) For Comparative Examples 5 and 6, the containers shown in Table 2 were used, and the same concentrated whey protein powder as used in Example 3 was filled in the amounts shown in Table 2. The openings were sealed by heat sealing, and the amount of air inside and the volume of the powder were then measured. The upper limit height position where the contents were present was measured for the obtained containers containing powder for consumption. The three-sided zipper bag of container No. 2 was laid down with the front side facing sideways, while the standing packs of containers No. 1 and 3 were measured in an upright position with the top of the bag folded toward the bottom. The results are shown in Table 2. The constituent films of the containers of container numbers 2 and 3 were the same as those of the container of container number 1.

[0081] (Examples 5 to 7) For Examples 5 to 7, the containers shown in Table 2 were used and filled with the same concentrated whey protein (protein powder) as used in Example 3 in the amounts shown in Table 2. The openings were sealed by heat sealing, and the air was then removed so that the air amounts and gas contents were as shown in Table 2. The upper limit height position at which the contents were present was measured in the same manner as in Comparative Examples 5 and 6. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0082] [Table 2]

[0083] It was found that, similarly to Examples 1 to 4, Examples 5 to 7 also exhibited an effect in maintaining the quality of the contents. In Example 7, the container height was less than the height of the shipping box, 193 mm, making it suitable for shipping. Similar volume reduction was achieved in Examples 5 and 6. Furthermore, since the contents did not move even when the container was rotated, and the height and shape of the container did not change, packing into the shipping box could be done quickly.

[0084] (Manufacturing Examples 1 to 9) Powders of the raw materials (other than the fortifying agent preparation and vitamins) listed in Tables 3 and 4 were mixed, and the powder mixture was granulated and then mixed with the fortifying agent preparation and vitamins to produce foods. The produced foods were filled into two containers, packaging container 12 or 112, and then sealed, and the air inside the containers was removed through the check valve. Each production example demonstrated the effects of the present invention.

[0085] [Table 3]

[0086] [Table 4] [Industrial Applicability]

[0087] The present invention can reduce transportation and production costs for various types of powder for consumption and can maintain the quality of the contents, such as the color, flavor, and texture of the product, even after long-term storage, while at the same time reducing transportation and production costs. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 10, 110 Containerized food and drink 12, 112 Packaging containers 13A Front part 13B Back part 14 Side part 15 Bottom part 16 Check valve

Claims

1. A container-packaged food or beverage having a packaging container having a storage space for contents and a powder for food or beverage filled in the packaging container, The packaging container is made of a flexible material having gas barrier properties, The packaging container has a front portion and a back portion facing each other, and further has a bottom portion or a pair of side portions connecting the front portion and the back portion, or has a shape in which the front portion and the back portion are joined to each other at their peripheral portions, A check valve is arranged on the front or rear surface of the packaging container, A containerized food or beverage having a gas content expressed as v / V of 40% or less, where v is the volume of the gas present in the storage space and V is the volume of the powder for consumption.

2. 2. The container-packaged food or drink according to claim 1, wherein the powder for consumption has an average particle size of 10 to 800 μm.

3. 3. The container-packed food or drink according to claim 1, wherein the powder for consumption has a packed bulk density of 0.01 to 1.0 g / ml.

4. 3. The container-packed food or drink according to claim 1, wherein the powder for consumption has a moisture content of 1 to 10% by mass.

5. 3. The container-packaged food or drink according to claim 1, wherein the powder for consumption is a powdered drink.

6. 3. The container-packaged food or drink according to claim 1, wherein the edible powder comprises a green leaf powder or a protein powder.

Images