Reconstitutable Soy Protein Beverage Formulation for Cold Water Dispersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soy protein-based beverage formulations require high shear and hot water for reconstitution, making them unsuitable for simple, cold-water reconstitution and resulting in unstable acidic beverages with sedimentation issues.

Innovation Solution

A reconstitutable soy protein-containing beverage formulation comprising soy protein, anionic polysaccharide, maltodextrin, and mono/disaccharide, which can be dispersed in ambient temperature water to form a stable, acidic beverage with excellent mouthfeel properties, using a specific weight ratio of maltodextrin to saccharide and incorporating anionic polysaccharides like soluble soybean polysaccharide to prevent stickiness and ensure rapid dispersion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If soy protein and acidulant are combined in spray dried beverage formulations, then the beverage has acidic pH and good taste, but the soy protein precipitates prior to spray drying and the reconstituted liquid suffers from sedimentation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacidity (pH)VSAvoidstability of soy protein suspension
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A stabilizing agent is introduced as an intermediary substance between soy protein and acidulant. This stabilizing agent prevents soy protein precipitation at acidic pH levels and maintains suspension stability during storage and reconstitution, eliminating sedimentation issues while preserving the desired acidic taste profile

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pH of the beverage formulation is carefully controlled within a specific range (pH 3.0-5.5) where the stabilizing agent is most effective. By optimizing the pH parameter and the ratio of stabilizing agent to soy protein, the formulation achieves both acidic taste and enhanced stability, preventing protein precipitation and suspension settling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If stabilizing agents are used to prevent soy protein precipitation at low pH, then the beverage maintains stability, but the formulation becomes more complex and requires additional ingredients

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of soy protein suspensionVSAvoidcomplexity of beverage formulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing agent is selected to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it stabilizes soy protein at acidic pH, prevents precipitation, maintains suspension stability during storage, and ensures rapid reconstitution without sedimentation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate stabilizing agents, thereby limiting formulation complexity while achieving comprehensive stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If existing soy protein-based beverage powders are reconstituted, then the beverage can be prepared, but high shear and hot water are required making it unsuitable for simple cold-water reconstitution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of reconstitutionVSAvoidreconstitution temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing agent is incorporated into the spray dried powder formulation in advance, creating a pre-stabilized matrix where soy protein is protected from acid-induced precipitation. This preliminary stabilization allows the powder to be reconstituted with cold water without requiring high shear mixing or heating, as the stabilizing agent maintains protein solubility and suspension stability under these milder reconstitution conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The formulation allows for easy reconstitution with cold water, producing a stable, acidic beverage with improved mouthfeel and preventing sedimentation, suitable for ordinary consumers, while maintaining a glass transition temperature that prevents stickiness at ambient temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

anionic polysaccharide... to prevent coagulation and/or precipitation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic repulsion: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Implementation Method 2

Spray dried beverage formulations containing soy protein and acidulant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpray drying: Evaporation

Implementation Method 3

maintaining a glass transition temperature that prevents stickiness at ambient temperatures

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGlass transition:

Implementation Method 4

can be dispersed in ambient temperature water to form a stable, acidic beverage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Data Source

PatentEP3157357B1Reconstitutable soy protein-containing beverage formulation
Publication Date: 2018.02.14 THE COCA COLA CO

AI summary

The present invention relates to a reconstitutable acidic beverage formulation comprising at least 10 wt.% of soy protein-based particles, said soy protein-based particles containing: • 15-70 wt.% soy protein; • 0.3-20 wt.% of anionic polysaccharide; • 0.2-10 wt.% of acid; • 15-50 wt.% of a combination of maltodextrin and saccharide, said saccharide being selected from monosaccharide, disaccharide and combinations thereof; · less than 15 wt.% of water; wherein the soy protein-based particles contain maltodextrin and saccharide in weight ratio of maltodextrin to saccharide of 1:8 to 4:1. This beverage formulation can easily be reconstituted with water, juice or combinations thereof at ambient temperature to produce a stable beverage having an acidic pH and an excellent mouthfeel.