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An apparatus and method for cooling a food or beverage to a temperature at which the food or beverage is safe to consume. A preferred embodiment of the beverage cooling device comprises a single cooling unit that contains a coolant material. Another preferred embodiment comprises a collection device

An apparatus and method for cooling a food or beverage to a temperature at which the food or beverage is safe to consume. A preferred embodiment of the beverage cooling device comprises a single cooling unit that contains a coolant material. Another preferred embodiment comprises a collection device; and a plurality of cooling units attached to the collection device, each of the cooling units comprising a tubular container containing a coolant material.

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What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for cooling a food or beverage in a single-portion food or beverage container comprising: a collection device comprising a substantially circular ring having a permanently closed joint; and a plurality of cooling units, each of said cooling units comprising a top

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for cooling a food or beverage in a single-portion food or beverage container comprising: a collection device comprising a substantially circular ring having a permanently closed joint; and a plurality of cooling units, each of said cooling units comprising a top having a hole by which it is attached to said ring and a threaded male portion, each of said cooling units further comprising a transparent tubular container having an exterior, a part of said tubular container containing a cavity, said cavity having a substantially constant cross section and a threaded female portion that is attachable to said male portion and said cavity being at least partially fillable with a freezable coolant material that is visible from the exterior of said tubular container, said tubular container and said coolant material being food safe and said part being sufficiently small in size so as to be totally submergible in the food or beverage in the single-portion food or beverage container. 2. An apparatus for cooling a food or beverage in a single-portion food or beverage container comprising: a collection device; and a plurality of cooling units, each of said cooling units having a hole by which it is attached to said collection device, each of said cooling units comprising a tubular container, a part of said tubular container containing a cavity, said cavity having a substantially constant cross section and said cavity being at least partially filled with a freezable coolant material, said tubular container and said coolant material being food safe and said part being immersible in the food or beverage in the single-portion food or beverage container. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the collection device comprises a band or ring and each of the cooling units has an aperture through which the band or ring passes, whereby said cooling units are collectable on said collection device, either side-by-side or spaced apart. 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tubular container is fabricated of a plastic material, said plastic material being elastic and maintaining at least some of its elasticity at the temperature at which said coolant freezes. 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each cooling unit is removable from said collection device. 6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the coolant material is water. 7. A process for cooling a beverage comprising: placing the apparatus of claim 2 in a freezer until the coolant material is frozen; removing the apparatus of claim 2 from the freezer; and completely submerging said part of at least one of the cooling units in a food or beverage, thereby causing the temperature of the food or beverage to decrease. 8. A process for cooling a beverage comprising: providing an apparatus comprising: a cooling unit that includes a first portion of waterproof paper or another disposable material, a second portion of waterproof paper or other disposable material that is bonded to said first piece of waterproof paper or another disposable material so as to create a single cavity and a tabular handle, and a volume of coolant material that at least partially fills said single cavity; placing said apparatus in a freezer until said coolant material is frozen; removing said apparatus from the freezer; and immersing at least a portion of one of said cooling units in a beverage, thereby causing the temperature of the beverage to decrease. 9. An apparatus for cooling a hot food or beverage, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of cooling units; and a collection device upon which said plurality of cooling units are collected; wherein each of said cooling units includes a first portion of waterproof paper or another disposable material, a second portion of waterproof paper or other disposable material that is bonded to said first piece of waterproof paper or another disposable material so as to create a single cavity and a tabular handle, and a volume of coolant material that at least partially fills said single cavity. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said collection device comprises a band or ring and each of said cooling units has an aperture through which the band or ring passes, whereby said cooling units are collectable on said collection device, close together or spaced apart. 11. An apparatus for cooling a food or beverage in a single-portion food or beverage container comprising: a collection device comprising a junction; and at least two cooling units immovably attached to said junction, each of said cooling units comprising a container, a part of said container containing a cavity that is at least partially filled with a freezable coolant material, said container and said coolant material being food safe and said part being immersible in the food or beverage in the single-unit food or beverage container. 12. An apparatus for cooling a food or beverage in a single-portion food or beverage container comprising: a collection device comprising a junction; and at least two cooling units immovably attached to said junction, each of said cooling units comprising a container, a part of said container containing a cavity that is at least partially filled with a freezable coolant material, said container and said coolant material being food safe and said part being immersible in the food or beverage in the single-unit food or beverage container; wherein said junction has four sides and one of four cooling units is immovably attached to each side of said junction. 13. A process for cooling a beverage comprising: providing an apparatus that comprises a collection device comprising a junction, and at least two cooling units immovably attached to said junction, each of said cooling units comprising a container, a part of said container containing a cavity that is at least partially filled with a freezable coolant material, said container and said coolant material being food safe and said part being immersible in a beverage having a temperature; placing said apparatus in a freezer until said coolant material is frozen; removing said apparatus from said freezer; and immersing at least a portion of one of said cooling units in said beverage, thereby causing said temperature to decrease. 14. An apparatus for cooling liquid, semi-liquid or solid food for a user, the apparatus comprising: a collection device comprising an openable ring; and a plurality of cooling units, each of said cooling units comprising an easily-cleanable tubular container permanently containing a coolant material and each of said cooling units being attachable and detachable to said ring by the user, and said coolant material being visible to the user; wherein the collection device comprises a circular or non-circular band and each of the cooling units has an aperture through which the band is passable. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the coolant material is a freezable substance. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the coolant material is water. 17. A process for cooling a beverage comprising: placing the apparatus of claim 14 in a freezer until the coolant material is frozen; removing the apparatus of claim 14 from the freezer; and immersing at least a portion of one of the cooling units in a beverage contained in a single-portion container, thereby causing the temperature of the beverage to decrease.