Surface Salt Powder for Low Sodium Bakery Products

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for reducing sodium in bakery products often result in insufficient saltiness, off-flavors, and textural changes, making it challenging to create nutritious foods that consumers find palatable.

Innovation Solution

A process involving a powder applied to the surface of bakery products, comprising a starch-based material and a salty tastant, which increases saltiness perception, allowing for a reduced overall sodium content without compromising taste or texture, by maximizing the surface area exposure of the salty tastant to the tongue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If sodium chloride is reduced in bakery products, then health benefits are improved, but saltiness perception deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesodium intakeVSAvoidsaltiness perception
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies salt locally on the surface of bakery products rather than distributing it throughout the entire product. By coating the surface with salt-containing powder, the salt concentrates at the point of contact with the consumer's tongue, maximizing saltiness perception while using less total sodium chloride.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from three-dimensional salt distribution (throughout the product matrix) to two-dimensional surface distribution. This dimensional change allows salt to be concentrated at the surface where it directly contacts saliva and taste receptors, improving saltiness perception efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If salt substitutes are used, then sodium content is reduced, but flavour quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesodium contentVSAvoidflavour quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The surface coating method delivers salt directly to the taste receptors without interference from other product components. This localized delivery preserves the pure salty flavor sensation that sodium chloride provides, avoiding the off-flavors associated with salt substitutes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If sodium is reduced in the product matrix, then health benefits are improved, but texture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesodium levelVSAvoidtexture
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts salt from the product matrix and relocates it to the surface coating. This separation allows the internal product structure to maintain its original texture properties without the negative effects of reduced sodium, while the surface coating provides sufficient saltiness perception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Quantity of substance

If salt is applied directly to the surface, then saltiness perception is enhanced, but distribution homogeneity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesaltiness perceptionVSAvoiddistribution homogeneity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a carrier material (such as starch or flour powder) as an intermediary to deliver salt to the surface. This carrier facilitates uniform distribution of salt across the surface area, preventing clumping and ensuring homogeneous saltiness perception while maintaining effective salt delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state and distribution parameters of salt by incorporating it into a powder coating system. This allows for controlled, uniform application across the surface area, improving distribution homogeneity compared to direct salt application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This approach enables a 30% reduction in sodium chloride content in bakery products like pizzas without affecting saltiness or causing negative textural changes, providing a similar salty taste to products with higher sodium levels and enhancing consumer acceptance.

Implementation Method 1

Applying the salty tastant comprised with starch-based material in the powder particles allows them to adhere better to the bakery product surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3206501B1Process for the manufacture of a low sodium bakery product
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE SA
  • EP3206501B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention relates to a bakery product comprising a salty tastant. In particular the invention relates to a bakery product having a powder applied to at least one surface, the powder particles comprising a starch-based material and a salty tastant.A further aspect of the invention is a process for manufacturing a bakery product.