| 主权项 |
1. A shelf stable, freeze-dried, aerated yogurt snack product, comprising:
one or more dairy or dairy substitute ingredients present in an amount in a range from about 60% to about 90% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried; at least one yogurt culture; an emulsifier present in an amount in a range from about 0.01% to about 0.5% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried, wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides, citric acid esters of mono-and diglycerides, distilled monoglycerides, and combinations thereof; at least one sugar; at least one starch selected from the group consisting of corn starch, rice starch, tapioca starch, and combinations thereof; at least one gelatin; at least one gas that provides an overrun in a range from about 20% to about 80% prior to freeze-drying; wherein the product is sized and shaped for consumption by a toddler so that the product can be readily retained between a toddler's fingers due to the size and shape thereof, whereby the product comprises a conical rain drop like shape having a base diameter in a range from about 12 mm to about 25 mm, a height in a range from about 4 mm to about 15 mm, and a piece weight in a range from about 0.05 g to about 0.45 g; and wherein the product is designed to reduce the risk of choking hazards for consumers with restricted or under-developed oral motor skills or digestive functions and is designed to allow a toddler to practice oral and fine motor skills without the need to chew, whereby the product has a hardness value in a range from about 0.5 to about 8 pounds of force, a dissolvability in a range from about 0.1 to about 8 pounds force peak load, a viscosity in a range from about 60,000 to about 500,000 cp, and a viscosity when wet in a range from about 30,000 to about 60,000 cp. |
