Beverage powders with desirable color

Abstract

A composition comprising: a sugar selected from a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, and a combination thereof, preferably a monosaccharide; a sodium salt; and a potassium salt, preferably potassium citrate, tripotassium citrate, and / or a combination thereof; wherein the composition is substantially free of a phosphate salt; and wherein the composition is color stable.

Description

[0001] BEVERAGE POWDERS WITH DESIRABLE COLOR

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention is directed to a composition, such as a beverage powder, having a sugar selected from a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, and a combination thereof; a sodium salt; and a potassium salt, preferably potassium citrate, tripotassium citrate, and / or a combination thereof; wherein the composition is substantially free of a phosphate salt and the composition is color stable.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] It is often publicized that the world’s oceans will soon have more plastic than fish. Given environmental concerns and the desire for consumers and conscious companies to do more for the planet, there is a strong desire to use less plastic when selling products, including beverages. In recent years, pre-mixes of beverages have become increasingly popular. Such pre-mixes, which may be in a concentrate or a powder format, can be more sustainable as the consumer adds the liquid such as water to the pre-mix prior to consumption which may cut down on plastic bottles.

[0006] Hydration formulas are available in such pre-mixes, where such formulations are designed to help prevent dehydration. Dehydration can lead to severe and serious health complications including but not limited to seizures, kidney failure, and in some cases, may even be life threatening. However, being sufficiently hydrated will help avoid such serious health complications, and helps regulate body temperature, prevent infections, deliver nutrients to cells, and keeps organs functioning properly. Such formulations generally include sodium as such formulations can be beneficial to prevent hyponatremia that would otherwise result from diluting the blood with a large amount of water. Additionally, sodium may be lost during vomiting, diarrhea and / or sweating. Additionally, it can be beneficial to include potassium in such formulations because, as with sodium, vomiting, diarrhea, and / or sweating may lead to substantial loss of potassium that needs to be replaced.

[0007] Yet, due to processing conditions and / or shipping conditions, it is possible for pre-mixes, especially powder formats, to have undesirable changes when not left at ambient temperature (e.g., temperatures above 25°C) and in the presence of humidity, which can lead to, for example, undesired taste, flavors, and colors. As a result, such formats could be much less appealing to the consumer. Accordingly, the inventors of the present application desired to create a beverage powder, preferably for oral hydration or replacement, that did not discolor at elevated temperatures and / or humidity conditions.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] In a first aspect, provided is a composition comprising: a sugar selected from a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, and a combination thereof, preferably a monosaccharide; a sodium salt; and a potassium salt, preferably potassium citrate, tripotassium citrate, and / or a combination thereof; wherein the composition is substantially free of a phosphate salt; and wherein the composition is color stable.

[0010] All other aspects of the present invention will more readily become apparent from the description and examples which follow.

[0011] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0012] Except in the examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and / or use may optionally be understood as modified by the word “about”.

[0013] All amounts are by weight of any of the compositions or components thereof, unless otherwise specified. It should be noted that in specifying any ranges of values, any particular upper value can be associated with any particular lower value.

[0014] For the avoidance of doubt, the term "comprising" is meant not to be limiting to any stated elements but rather to encompass non-specified elements of major or minor functional importance. Therefore, the listed steps, elements or options need not be exhaustive. Whenever the words "including" or "having" are used, these terms are meant to be equivalent to "comprising" as defined above. The disclosure, as found herein, is to be considered to cover all embodiments as found in the claims as being multiply dependent upon each other irrespective of the fact that claims may be found without multiple dependency or redundancy.

[0015] In one aspect, the composition comprises a sugar selected from a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, and a combination thereof, preferably a monosaccharide; a sodium salt; and a potassium salt, preferably potassium citrate, tripotassium citrate, and / or a combination thereof; wherein the composition is substantially free of a phosphate salt, and wherein the composition is color stable.

[0016] In one aspect, the composition described herein is an anhydrous beverage powder that is mixable and / or dissolvable with a liquid medium in order to form a drinkable and consumable beverage. A liquid medium may be water, carbonated beverages including carbonated water or soda, coffee, tea, wine, beer, liqueurs, spirits, beverages with fruit-flavoring or juices including lemonades, nectars, fruit and vegetable juices including but not limited to pomegranate juice, beetroot juice, cranberry juice, apple juice, pineapple juice, and / or orange juice, milk including dairy milk and dairy milk alternatives including plant-based milks such as almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, rice milk and / or soy milk, preferably water.

[0017] In one aspect, a sugar, such as a monosaccharide and / or a disaccharide is included in the composition. A monosaccharide includes: glucose, fructose, mannose, galactose, talose, allulose (otherwise known as psicose and / or d-psicose), dextrose, altrose, idose, arabinose, xylose, ribose, and lyxose, preferably dextrose and / or allulose. A disaccharide includes: sucrose, lactose, and maltose, preferably sucrose. In one aspect, the composition comprises a combination of a monosaccharide and / or a disaccharide, preferably, dextrose and sucrose.

[0018] In one aspect, a sodium salt is included in the composition, such as sodium chloride, sodium citrates (such as disodium citrate and / or trisodium citrate), sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium lactate, sodium gluconate, sodium acid sulfate, sodium hydroxide, and any combination thereof, preferably, sodium chloride and sodium citrate. In one aspect, the total amount of the sodium salt is 5% to 18%, or 5% to 15%, or 5% to 12%, or 7% to 18%, or 7% to 15%, or 7% to 12%, or 8% to 12%, or 9% to 12%, based on the total weight of the composition, including any amounts or ranges subsumed therein. In one aspect, the weight ratio of the sugar to sodium salt(s) in the composition as described herein, is about 5:1 to about 1:1, or about 4:1 to about 1 : 1 , or about 3: 1 to about 1:1. In one aspect, a potassium salt is included in the composition, such as potassium chloride, potassium citrate, tripotassium citrate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium hydroxide and any combinations thereof, preferably potassium citrate. In one aspect, the total amount of the potassium salt is 3% to 15%, or 3% to 12% or 3% to 10%, or 5% to 12%, or 5% to 10%, based on the total weight of the composition, including any amounts or ranges subsumed therein.

[0019] In one aspect, the composition includes sodium chloride, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate. In one aspect, the composition described herein is substantially free of a phosphate salt, preferably having less than 2%, or less than 1%, or less than 0.5%, or less than 0.1%, most preferably 0% of dipotassium phosphate, by weight of the composition. As phosphate salt includes potassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate, monosodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, trisodium phosphate. In one aspect, the composition described herein is free of dipotassium phosphate.

[0020] In one aspect, the composition may optionally include amino acid or an amino acid analogue, processing aids, or other optional additional agents. Optional amino acids or amino acid analogues include sodium glutamate, potassium glutamate, L-glutamine, D-glutamine, L- glutamic acid monosodium hydrate, D-glutamic acid monosodium hydrate, L-glutamic acid, D- glutamic acid, alanine, D-alanine, L-alanine, alanyl-glutamine, L-alanyl-glutamine, glycine, L- glycine, lysine, L-lysine, threonine, L-threonine, serine, L-serine, leucine, L-leucine, iso-leucine, valine, L-valine and / or any salts, combinations or mixtures thereof, preferably L-glutamine and / or L-alanine. In one aspect, the total amount of amino acids is 1% to 30%, or 5% to 30%, or 10% to 30%, or 20% to 30%, or 25% to 30%, based on the total weight of the composition, including any amounts or ranges subsumed therein.

[0021] Optional processing aids include silicon dioxide, sodium aluminium silicate, magnesium stearate, rice hull powder, and any combination thereof.

[0022] Other optional additional agents include vitamins, minerals, caffeine, proteins, herbal / botanical / plant supplements, nutraceuticals, enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, fermented ingredients, polysaccharides, fats, phytosterols, soluble fiber, insoluble fiber, antioxidants, glucosamine, glycosaminoglycans, adaptogens, nootropics, hormones, flavoring, colorants, preservatives, anti-caking agents, gelling agents, antimicrobials, citric acid and / or other acidifiers, emulsifiers, effervescing agents, and / or excipients. The vitamins that may optionally be included in the composition, including but not limited to vitamin A, vitamin B1 , vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B7, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, and any combinations thereof. In one aspect, the hydration composition includes vitamin B and vitamin C, preferably vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and vitamin C. In one aspect, the total amount of vitamins is 0.5% to 7%, or 0.5% to 5%, or 0.5% to 3%, or 0.5% to 2%, or 0.5% to 1.5%, or 1% to 3%, or 1% to 2%, based on the total weight of the composition, including any amounts or ranges subsumed therein.

[0023] Without being bound to any particular theory, a Maillard or browning reaction may be initiated by a non-enzymatic condensation of a reducing sugar, such as a monosaccharide and / or disaccharide, with a primary amine group, such as on a protein, to form a Schiff base; which then undergoes an Amadori rearrangement to regenerate carbonyl activity. Subsequent reactions, including but not limited to, dehydration, rearrangement, fragmentation, and further condensation reactions may yield a variety of advanced Maillard reaction product. Especially at high temperatures, undesired Maillard reactions between sugars and proteins may occur in compositions, and therewith to the formation of undesired taste, flavors, and colors. It was unexpectedly discovered that the presence of phosphate salts may accelerate Maillard reactions and / or other oxidation reactions that result in compositions with undesirable color(s). Surprisingly, removing the phosphate salts, such as dipotassium phosphate, result in color stable compositions even at high temperatures and high relative humidity (RH) (e.g., 35°C to 40°C with < 50% (RH) or 35°C to 40°C and 75% RH).

[0024] Color stability may be determined through the use of LabScan XE equipment (Hunter Associates Laboratory, Inc. Reston, Virginia). For example. LabScan XE equipment measures color data. Samples at different storage stages housed in vials or in measurement cells are loaded onto the LabScan XE measurement port. By following the measurement procedure specified in the associated instrument menu and computer software, colors (a*, b* and L*) are measured and calculated to result in a color change data (AE) value. For reference, a AE of approximately three is the threshold where one could visibly detect a color change from the original sample. Alternately, the color of each sample can be directly converted into L*a*b* color scale by uploading pictures of the samples and using standard publicly available software (see, e.g., https: / / www.ginifab.com or http: / / colormine.org / convert / rgb-to-hunterlab).

[0025] The L* parameter measures darkness and lightness and ranges from black (L* = 0) to white (L = 100). The a* parameter measures color content and intensity ranging from green (a* < 0) to neutral grey (a* = 0) to red (a* > 0). The b* parameter also measures color content and intensity ranging from blue (b* < 0) to neutral grey (b* = 0) to yellow (b* > 0). The term AE measures the color difference for a given sample at two (2) different time points and is calculated as AE = [(L2* - Li*)2+ (a2* - ai*)2+ (b2* - bi*)2]1 / 2where L2*, a2* and b2* correspond to the color parameters of the sample at time point 2 (e.g., 12 days) and Li*, ai* and bi* correspond to the color parameters of the sample at time point 1 (e.g., time zero).

[0026] Accordingly, the compositions as described herein, are color stable. Color stable, as used herein, describes a composition that possesses a AE of less than 5, preferably less than or equal to 3, on L*, a* and b* at a temperature of 35°C to 40°C with < 50% relative humidity (RH), more preferably 35°C to 40°C and 75% RH. Generally, AE < 3 is acceptable, AE between 3-5 is undesirable, and AE >5 is unacceptable. In one aspect, the compositions remain color stable for at least 7 days, or at least 14 days, or at least 21 days, or at least 30 days, or at least 45 days, or at least 56 days, or at least 60 days, or at least 70 days, or at least 84 days, or at least 90 days, or at least 98 days, or at least 100 days, or at least 110 days, or at least 120 days, or at least 150 days, up to 365 days. In one aspect, the composition remain color stable for up to 7 days, up to 14 days, or up to 21 days, or up to 30 days, or up to 42 days, or up to 45 days, or up to 56 days, or up to 60 days, or up to 70 days, or up to 84 days, or up to 90 days, or up to 98 days, or up to 100 days, or up to 110 days, or up to 120 days, or up to 150 days, or up to 365 days. In one aspect, the compositions remain color stable for 1 day to 7 days, or 1 day to 14 days, or 1 day to 21 days, or 1 day to 28 days, or 1 day to 30 days, or 1 day to 42 days, or 1 day to 45 days, or 1 day to 56 days, or 1 day to 60 days, or 1 day to 70 days, or 1 day to 84 days, or 1 day to 90 days, or 1 day to 98 days, or 1 day to 100 days, or 1 day to 110 days, or 1 day to 120 days, or 1 day to 150 days, or 1 day to 365 days.

[0027] Many types of packaging can be used to store and deliver the present composition, preferably a stick pack.

[0028] In one aspect, a method is provided for making a color stable cosmetic composition comprising: mixing a sugar selected from a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, and a combination thereof, preferably a monosaccharide; a sodium salt; and a potassium salt, preferably potassium citrate; wherein the composition is substantially free of a phosphate salt, wherein the composition is color stable for at least 7 days. The following Examples are provided to further illustrate an understanding of the invention. The Examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0029] Examples

[0030] Example 1

[0031] The composition as described herein is made by combining allulose, citric acid, flavorings, sodium citrate, sodium chloride, potassium salt(s) and optionally, amino acids (e.g., L-glutamine and / or L-alanine) in a first batch. The first batch is mixed in a ribbon blender for a predetermined mixing time (about 5-30 minutes) depending on the batch size, rotations per minute and design of the blending system. A portion of first batch (preferably, about half by weight) is retained in the ribbon blender. Separate from the first batch, a second batch is made which includes a combination of the vitamins, silicon dioxide and stevia. This batch is then added along the center axle of the ribbon blender. Then, the remaining portion of the first batch is added back to the ribbon blender followed by mixing for 5-30 minutes depending on the batch size, rotations per minute and design of the blending system. Batches resulted in a white powder.

[0032] After the batches of the composition were made, stability tests were conducted at 40°C and 75% RH. While the composition according to the present invention (Comp. 1) is color stable (e.g., AE of less than 5), the comparative example is not color stable (Comp. A) at 40°C and 75% RH ((e.g., AE of greater than 5) after about 8 weeks. Example 2

[0033] A composition was made according to the above-described process which was the same as Comp. A, except for this example, flavoring and stevia was omitted. In this Example, when a phosphate salt was included and tested under a temperature of 40°C and 75% RH, and then approximately 13g was mixed with 16oz of water to determine the color stability. The composition was not color stable (AE of 5.46) after 8 weeks, and (AE of 14.02) after 12 weeks.

Claims

Claims1. A composition comprising: allulose; a sodium salt; and a potassium salt, preferably potassium citrate, tripotassium citrate, and / or a combination thereof; wherein the composition is substantially free of a phosphate salt, selected from potassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate, monosodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, trisodium phosphate, and any combination thereof; and wherein the composition is color stable such that it possesses a AE of less than5, preferably less than or equal to 3, on L*, a* and b* at a temperature of 35°C to 40°C with < 50% relative humidity (RH), more preferably 35°C to 40°C and 75% RH.

2. The composition of any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more sodium salts is selected from sodium chloride, sodium citrates (including disodium citrate and trisodium citrate), sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium lactate, sodium gluconate, sodium acid sulfate, sodium hydroxide, and / or mixtures or combinations thereof, preferably sodium chloride and / or sodium citrate.

3. The composition of any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more potassium salts is selected from potassium chloride, potassium citrate, tripotassium citrate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium hydroxide and / or mixtures or combinations thereof, preferably potassium citrate.

4. The composition of any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition is in the form of a powder, preferably a beverage powder.

5. The composition of any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition further comprises at least one amino acid or amino acid analogues selected from sodium glutamate, potassium glutamate, L-glutamine, D-glutamine, L-glutamic acid monosodium hydrate, D-glutamic acid monosodium hydrate, L-glutamic acid, D-glutamic acid, alanine, D-alanine, L-alanine, alanyl-glutamine, L-alanyl-glutamine, glycine, L-glycine, lysine, L- lysine, threonine, L-threonine, serine, L-serine, leucine, L-leucine, iso-leucine, valine, L-valine and / or any salts, combinations or mixtures thereof, preferably glutamine, L- glutamine, alanine, and / or L-alanine.

6. The composition of any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition is color stable for 1 day to 7 days, or 1 day to 14 days, or 1 day to 21 days, or 1 day to 28 days, or 1 day to 30 days, or 1 day to 42 days, or 1 day to 45 days, or 1 day to 56 days, or 1 day to 60 days, or 1 day to 70 days, or 1 day to 84 days.

7. The composition of any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition is color stable up to 7 days, up to 14 days, or up to 21 days, or up to 30 days, or up to 42 days, or up to 45 days, or up to 56 days, or up to 60 days, or up to 70 days, or up to 84 days, or up to 90 days.

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