REMOVING LIPIDS FROM PARTLY-DRIED FOOD WITH A GAS

摘要

A process for the removal of sterols and/or lipid components (eg, cholesterol and fats) from lipid containing food (eg, meat) using sub or super-critical fluids (eg, CO2) involves initial processing of the food to produce an intermediate moisture product in which substantially all of the "free water" but not all of the "bound water" is removed. Different moisture removal techniques may be used. Where freeze drying of food flakes is adopted the moisture level is preferably reduced to 30-55% w/w. The intermediate moisture product is treated with supercritical CO2 to remove the lipids therefrom. Optionally the cholesterol can be separated from the fat component by use of an adsorb-ent to selectively remove the cholesterol from the supercritical CO2. The product can be reconstituted with water and fat to provide a reconstituted meat product suitable for hamburgers.