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The present invention provides a process for producing a colored structured protein product with protein fibers that are substantially aligned and the resultant product. Specifically, the plant protein is combined with a colorant and extruded, forming a colored structured protein product with protei

The present invention provides a process for producing a colored structured protein product with protein fibers that are substantially aligned and the resultant product. Specifically, the plant protein is combined with a colorant and extruded, forming a colored structured protein product with protein fibers that are substantially aligned and the resultant product.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A process for producing a colored structured protein product having protein fibers that are substantially aligned, the process comprising: a. combining a protein material with at least one colorant to form a blended protein mixture; andb. extruding the blended protein mixture under conditions of

1. A process for producing a colored structured protein product having protein fibers that are substantially aligned, the process comprising: a. combining a protein material with at least one colorant to form a blended protein mixture; andb. extruding the blended protein mixture under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure through a die assembly comprising: i. a die sleeve having a back portion and a front portion collectively defining an interior chamber;ii. a die insert disposed inside the interior chamber, the die insert including an insert body having a front face and a rear face with the front face defining a bottom portion and a plurality of flow diverters with a tapered flow pathway being defined between the bottom portion and any two adjacent of the plurality of flow diverters; andiii. a die cone coupled to said die sleeve wherein said die cone and said flow pathway collectively define a fully tapered flow channel, wherein the process produces a colored structured protein product comprising protein fibers that are substantially aligned. 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the tapered flow pathway is tapered along at least three sides. 3. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one colorant is selected from the group consisting of carmine (soluble and flake forms), caramel, annatto, FD & C Red No. 40, titanium dioxide, and combinations thereof. 4. The process of claim 3, wherein the colored structured protein product comprises from about 0.001% to about 5.0% colorant on a dry matter basis. 5. The process of claim 1, wherein the colored structured protein product has an average shear strength of at least 1400 grams and an average shred characterization of at least 10%. 6. The process of claim 1, wherein the protein material is a plant protein material selected from the group consisting of soy protein, corn, peas, canola, sunflowers, sorghum, rice, amaranth, potato, tapioca, arrowroot, channa, lupin, rape, wheat, oats, rye, barley, and mixtures thereof. 7. The process of claim 6, wherein the plant protein material comprises soy protein. 8. The process of claim 1, further comprising combining at least one animal protein material with a plant protein, wherein the animal protein material is selected from the group consisting of casein, caseinates, whey protein, ovalbumin, ovoglobulin, ovomucin, ovomucoid, ovotransferrin, ovovitella, ovovitellin, albumin globulin, vitellin, and combinations thereof. 9. The process of claim 1, wherein the protein material has from about 40% to about 75% protein on a dry mater basis. 10. The process of claim 1, wherein the protein material comprises: a. from about 45% to about 65% soy protein on a dry matter basis;b. from about 20% to about 30% wheat gluten on a dry matter basis;c. from about 10% to about 15% wheat starch on a dry matter basis; and,d. from about 1% to about 5% fiber on a dry matter basis. 11. The process of claim 10, wherein the protein material further comprises additional ingredients including an agent selected from the group consisting of flavoring agents, fat source, antioxidant, binding agent, pH-regulating agent, vitamin, mineral, polyunsaturated fatty acid, and combinations thereof. 12. The process of claim 11, wherein the pH-regulating agent is an acidulent selected from the group consisting of citric acid, acetic acid, tartiaric acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid, and combinations thereof. 13. The process of claim 1, wherein the extrusion temperature is from about 50° C. to about 150° C. and the pressure is from about 50 psig to about 3000 psig. 14. The process of claim 1wherein the protein material comprises from about 45% to about 65% plant protein on a dry matter basis; from about 20% to about 30% wheat gluten on a dry matter basis; from about 10% to about 15% wheat starch on a dry matter basis; and from about 1% to about 5% fiber on a dry matter basis. 15. The process of claim 1, wherein the at least one colorant is injected into a barrel of the extruder. 16. The process of claim 1, wherein the colored structured protein product comprises protein, starch, gluten, fiber, and mixtures thereof. 17. The process of claim 16, wherein the protein material further comprises dicalcium phosphate and L-cysteine. 18. A process for producing a colored structured protein product having protein fibers that are substantially aligned, the process comprising: a. combining at least one colorant with a protein mixture while inside a extruder; andb. extruding the protein mixture under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure through a die assembly to form a colored structured protein product comprising protein fibers that are substantially aligned, wherein the die assembly comprises: i. a cylindrically-shaped die sleeve defining a plurality of outlets, the die sleeve further defining an interior area in communication with the plurality of outlets,ii. a die insert disposed inside the interior area of the die sleeve, the die insert including a base with a cone portion extending outwardly form the base, and a plurality of raised flow diverters circumferentially-spaced around the base with a flow pathway defined between adjacent flow diverters, wherein the flow pathway is in communication with a respective outlet at one end and the cone portion at the opposite end thereof; andiii. an endplate engaged to the die insert through the die sleeve. 19. The process of claim 18, further comprising injecting at least one colorant into a barrel of the extruder. 20. The process of claim 18, wherein the protein mixture comprises soy protein.