WO2017182299A1

WO2017182299A1 - Powdered dry composition

Info

Publication number: WO2017182299A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/058469
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonella VENUTI
Original assignee: Biofarma S.P.A.
Priority date: 2016-04-20
Filing date: 2017-04-07
Publication date: 2017-10-26
Also published as: ITUA20162751A1; EP3445178A1

Abstract

Vegetable based powdered dry composition, to be reconstructed in the form of a liquid drink, such as a centrifuged juice or smoothie, said composition comprising powders and/or granulates of desiccated fruit and/or vegetables, one or more active principles or substances and one or more dried excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks.

Description

"POWDERED DRY COMPOSITION"

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described here concern a vegetable based powdered dry composition, to be reconstructed in the form of a liquid drink, particularly for use in the field of nutrition or diet, for example as a food or dietary supplement.

Embodiments of the vegetable based powdered dry composition can be reconstructed in a liquid, such as for example water, fruit juice, milk, yoghurt or other liquid suitable for food.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that, also thanks to food education campaigns introduced in schools and/or propagated through the media, people are increasingly informed about the benefits for health of consuming adequate amounts of fruit and vegetables. These foods contain vitamins, minerals and other bioactive substances that allow to obtain a multiplicity of positive effects for the health.

However, for both climatic and logistic reasons, an adequate variety of fresh fruit and vegetables is not always available, which would allow a person to consume the vitamins and minerals in correct and/or desired dosages.

It is also known that, because of our increasingly heavy daily workload, we do not always have the time to prepare the fruit and vegetables and to clean the tools used.

Another barrier that can impede the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables is the fact that many people, particularly children, the elderly and/or convalescents, do not enjoy or cannot eat whole fruit.

A possible alternative to fresh fruit and vegetables that allows people to take in vitamins, minerals and also other functional substances is food supplements. However, known food supplements are often unsuitable for children and the elderly, because they are sold mainly in the form of capsules, tablets or suchlike. Furthermore, these galenical forms are not only unpleasant to the palate but are also lacking in esthetic naturalness that makes them considerably distant from fresh fruit and vegetables.

In this context, centrifuged foods, in the common language called smoothies, of fresh fruit and vegetables can be a valid alternative to using known food supplements because, thanks to their appearance and nutritional properties, they are normally preferred over supplements. On this point, it should be noted that businesses have considerably grown that offer for sale fresh fruit and/or vegetable smoothies and creative cocktails based upon them, and also domestic or professional devices and appliances to prepare smoothies or juices of fresh fruit and/or vegetables.

However, known smoothies of fresh fruit and vegetables have many of the problems described above concerning preparation and consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables. In particular, known smoothies not only take a long time to prepare the fruit and vegetables and to clean the tools used, they also often consist of a limited variety of fruit and/or vegetables which, as is known, are not always easily available, for example depending on the season and/or the geographic areas. Therefore, the choice of which type of fresh fruit and/or vegetables to use is limited.

The Internet publication "Apple Ginger Drink Mix" http://www.gnpd.com/ sinatra/recordpage/ 1245437/from_search/rjIcEnO 1 1 U/?page= 1 is known, which describes a mix to drink with amino acids and fish collagen with a low molecular weight, formulated as apple juice, both in powder form and as a concentrated juice, with powdered ginger extract which can be dissolved in hot or cold water. There are also thickeners (pullulan) and emulsifiers (soya). It also contains trehalose, maltodextrin, sucralose and acesulfame K.

The Internet publication "Fruits & Veggies Drink Mix" http://www.gnpd.com/sinatra/recordpage/21 1 1556/from search/rilcHnOl 1 l,7'?page=l is known, which describes a low-calorie drink, consisting of desiccated kiwi powder, desiccated apple pulp, desiccated grape juice, desiccated celery, powdered nopal cactus and powdered spinach. The preparation is dissolved in liquid and is ready to drink, without added sugars. It includes preservatives, like sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. It also contains acesulfame K and sucralose.

Document US-A-2008/260909 is also known, which describes a food drink prepared with dry and hydrolyzed agglomerated granular powder, added to water. The granular part can be derived from any cereal. The dry powder can be prepared by spray-drying and then agglomerated. The mean size of the particles of agglomerated granular powder can range from 150 micron to 450 micron. Consequently, the powder can be dispersed in liquids, dissolving without forming lumps and giving a smooth texture. A fruit component can also be present, including dry powdered fruit, fresh fruit, fruit puree, fruit juice, fruit sherbet or fruit yoghurt.

Document CN-A- 104543668 is known, which describes a laxative and antibacterial composition in solid form, in tablets, capsules, granules or water-soluble form. It contains inulin, cranberry extract, powdered apple and sugar, as well as maltodextrin, salt, silica, sodium citrate, citric acid and malic acid.

Document US-A-2012/321745 is also known, which describes a powdered instant drink based on acidified milk, to be added to a liquid containing sugar, concentrated fruit juice, powdered skimmed milk, maltodextrin, carboxymethylcellulose sodium and optionally flavorings, reducing agents or buffer agents, colorants, calcium fortifiers, vitamins, minerals, emulsifiers, prebiotics, probiotics, fibers. The sucrose used has a particle size of from 0.1 to 1 mm, the organic acid (citric, lactic, malic or tartaric) has a particle size of from 0.2 to 0.7 mm. The carboxymethylcellulose has a particle size of 0.5 mm or less. Powdered fruit juice is used, but without specifying the particle size. Document US-A-2013/321745 is also known, which describes a powdered drink comprising fruit or vegetable pulp and powdered sugar. More than 80% of the pulp is desiccated, with a specific particle size chosen between 0.5 mm and 20 mm, preferably between 0.5 and 4 mm, while the powdered sugar has a particle size of less than 0.45 mm. The fruit or vegetable pulp has a water content of less than 15%, as little as 2% or less. The specific particle size of the desiccated fruit pulp chosen in the range of 0.5 to 20 mm is provided to promote the intimate association, or embedding, of the particles of sugar inside the cellular structure of the desiccated pulp so as to increase the relative density of the pulp itself, thus preventing the separation of the low-density pulp from the sugar, stabilizing the structure of the pulp and preventing it from breaking due to friction during working and storage.

Other limitations and disadvantages of conventional solutions and technologies will be clear to a person of skill after reading the remaining part of the present description with reference to the drawings and the description of the embodiments that follow, although it is clear that the description of the state of the art connected to the present description must not be considered an admission that what is described here is already known from the state of the prior art.

There is therefore a need to perfect the state of the art and make available a vegetable based powdered dry composition, to be reconstructed in the form of a liquid drink, like a smoothie, which overcomes at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, the purpose of the present invention is to obtain a vegetable based powdered dry composition which has the benefits, the natural appearance, the pleasant flavor and the taste of a fresh fruit and vegetable smoothie, but which can be prepared easily and in a short time.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to supply a powdered dry composition that contains, on each occasion, the vitamins and functional substances necessary for the specific need of the different consumers.

Another purpose of the present invention is to supply a powdered dry composition that has a precise and homogeneous mix of the different ingredients used, taking into consideration the chemical-physical characteristics of the components.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a powdered dry composition that allows to obtain a reconstructed drink from said powdered dry composition, said drink being comparable, also in its heterogeneity, to a smoothie of fresh fruit and/or vegetables.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a powdered dry composition with a suitable method that guarantees a uniformity of the mixing and a precise dosage of the vitamins and the other functional substances, based on the desired titer.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a powdered dry composition for use in dietary and food treatments.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with some embodiments, a vegetable based powdered dry composition is provided, to be reconstructed in the form of a liquid drink, such as a centrifuged juice or smoothie. The powdered dry composition comprises:

- powders and/or granulates of desiccated fruit and/or vegetables;

- one or more active principles or substances;

- one or more dried excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks.

In accordance with possible embodiments, the powdered dry composition comprises:

- powders with a grain size of less than 1mm soluble in a liquid to reconstruct the powdered dry composition or finely dispersible in the liquid;

- powders with an intermediate grain size comprised between 1mm and 2mm not completely soluble and which remain substantially in suspension in the liquid;

- coarse powders and/or pieces with a grain size of more than 2mm which are distributed in the liquid drink once reconstructed. Advantageously, the drink reconstructed from the powdered dry composition with the distribution of grain size according to these embodiments is a suspension in liquid of the different ingredients with an appearance similar to that of a centrifuged juice or smoothie made with fresh fruit and vegetables. Indeed, the mix of ingredients with deliberately different grain size, solubility and appearance according to these embodiments allows to define a variety of powdered dry compositions that, once reconstructed, can be presented as a suspension with an appearance similar to a centrifuged juice or smoothie of fresh fruit and vegetables.

In particular, in accordance with possible embodiments, the powdered dry composition is a dry composition of granular powder.

In accordance with other embodiments, a package is provided in a controlled atmosphere, which comprises the powdered dry composition as in any of the possible embodiments described here.

Still other embodiments concern a liquid drink obtained by reconstructing a powdered dry composition with a liquid, in predefined proportions, in accordance with any of the embodiments described here.

According to other embodiments, a method is provided for preparing a vegetable based powdered dry composition, to be reconstructed in the form of a liquid drink, such as a centrifuged juice or smoothie, which provides:

i) to make available powders and/or granulates of desiccated fruit and/or vegetables; ii) to make available one or more active principles or substances;

iii) to make available one or more dried excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks; iv) to meter the weight of ingredients from i) to iii);

v) to associate the ingredients from i) to iii) to obtain the powdered dry composition. In accordance with possible embodiments, the association v) of the ingredients from i) to iii) includes at least a mixing step that comprises at least the following sub-steps: v.l) mixing a part of the dried excipients with the ingredients to be provided in the powdered dry composition in a percentage of less than 1%;

v.2) adding to the mixture obtained from the first sub-step v.l) the ingredients to be provided in the powdered dry composition in a percentage comprised between 1% and 5% and subsequent mixing;

v.3) adding the remaining ingredients of the powdered dry composition and mixing.

This mixing step has at least the following important advantages:

- obtaining a powdered dry composition that, in every area of the mixer, has uniform and homogeneous titers, or concentrations, and grain sizes;

- the ingredients, although with a different specific weight or grain size, are uniformly distributed in the mixing step and this property is maintained in the final packages of the composition, thus guaranteeing, that each individual dose or sachet always supplies to the final user the quantity of active substances and principles declared a priori.

According to possible embodiments, the method provides that the powdered dry composition comprises:

- coarse powders and/or pieces with a grain size of more than 2mm which are distributed in the liquid drink once reconstructed.

In particular, according to possible embodiments, the method allows to obtain the powdered dry composition that is a dry composition of granular powder.

Other embodiments concern a method to obtain a liquid drink, of the centrifuged type, that provides to reconstruct a powdered dry composition with a liquid, in predefined proportions, in accordance with any of the embodiments described here.

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following description, drawings and attached claims. The description is intended to describe the principles of the disclosure.

The various aspects and characteristics described in the present description can be applied individually where possible. These individual aspects, for example aspects and characteristics described in the attached dependent claims, can be the object of divisional applications.

It is understood that any aspect or characteristic that is discovered, during the patenting process, to be already known, shall not be claimed and shall be the object of a disclaimer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

We shall now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Before describing these embodiments, we must also clarify that the present description is not limited in its application to details of the construction and disposition of the components as described in the following description. The present description can provide other embodiments and can be obtained or executed in various other ways. We must also clarify that the phraseology and terminology used here is for the purposes of description only, and cannot be considered as limitative. The use of terms such as "including", "comprising", "having" and their variations is intended to include the elements listed after them and their equivalents, and also additional elements. The expressions "which has" and "which provides" must also be understood non- restrictively, unless the context suggests otherwise.

Unless otherwise defined, all the technical and scientific terms used here and hereafter have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person with ordinary experience in the field of the art to which the present invention belongs. Even if methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described here can be used in practice and in the trials of the present invention, the methods and materials are described hereafter as an example. In the event of conflict, the present application shall prevail, including its definitions. The materials, methods and examples have a purely illustrative purpose and shall not be understood restrictively.

All the percentages and ratios indicated refer to the weight of the total composition (weight/weight), unless otherwise indicated.

All the intervals reported here are given with the understanding that the overall sum with respect to the powdered dry composition described here is 100%, unless otherwise indicated.

All the intervals reported here shall be understood to include the extremes, including those that report an interval "between" two values, unless otherwise indicated.

The present description also includes the intervals that derive from uniting or overlapping two or more intervals described, unless otherwise indicated.

The present description also includes the intervals that can derive from the combination of two or more values taken at different points, unless otherwise indicated.

Terms such as "about", "generally", "substantially" and suchlike shall be understood with their function of modifying a term or value that is not absolute, but is not reported in the state of the art. Such terms shall be defined by the specific circumstances and by the terms that they are intended to modify according to the common acceptance of such terms in the specific field. They shall take into account at least the degree of experimental error expected, the technical error and the instrumental error for a given technique adopted to measure a value. Unless otherwise indicated, in the present description, singular forms such as "a", "an" and "one" shall be understood to include plural forms, unless the context suggests otherwise.

Embodiments described here concern a vegetable based powdered dry composition, to be reconstructed in the form of a liquid drink, such as a centrifuged drink, in the common language also called smoothie. The powdered dry composition is vegetable based, that is, based on fruit and/or vegetables, and can comprise, or depending on the formulations can consist of, powders and/or granulates of desiccated fruit and/or vegetables, one or more active or functional principles or substances and one or more dry excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks, in particular ratios of weight to weight (weight/weight).

We must point out that, by the expression "reconstruct", here and in the embodiments described here, we mean to supply a liquid content to the powdered dry composition so as to obtain a liquid drink in which the components of the composition are mixed, dispersed and/or solubilized. In particular, the expression "reconstruct" can be understood as supplying a quantity of liquid and associating it with the powdered dry composition so that the final liquid drink thus obtained is formed by a quantity of liquid substantially equivalent to that which it would have had if prepared directly from fresh fruit and/or vegetables. Still more particularly, if the liquid is water or a water-based liquid, the expression "reconstruct" can be understood as to "re-hydrate".

According to one aspect of the present description, some embodiments provide that the powdered dry composition can be metered and packaged as such, or in acceptable dry excipients and conventionally formulated in any form whatsoever suitable to be then administered orally, after re-hydration in a liquid with a defined viscosity, such as for example water, fruit juice, animal milk or vegetable milk, yoghurt or other liquid.

Applicant has found that the powdered dry composition described here, once reconstructed with a suitable liquid to obtain a vegetable based liquid drink, like a smoothie, has chemical-physical characteristics, such as for example consistency, grain size, viscosity, wettability of the components, and pleasant flavor of the product, such as intense flavor, odor, appearance and color, similar if not identical to those of fresh fruit and/or vegetable smoothies.

To this we must add the further advantage of being able to make powdered dry compositions with a wide variety of fruit and vegetables and also with specific coadjuvant agents, based on the specific requirements of the end consumers. Furthermore, the present invention can also be easily and quickly consumed by children, the elderly and/ or convalescents, without needing complex preparation operations.

In some embodiments of the powdered dry composition described here, it is possible to provide only powders and/or granulates of desiccated fruit and/or vegetables, one or more active or functional principles or substances, and one or more dry excipients, such as for example maltodextrin(s) and fructo-ligosaccharides as the main components, but without excluding, in some variant embodiments, that the powdered dry composition according to the present invention can also be associated, assembled or mixed with other auxiliary components, for example to obtain a desired product, for example as a food supplement alternative to the state of the art.

For example, the powdered dry composition can be assembled with achenes such as, for example, strawberry seeds, kiwi seeds or other achenes. It is understood that, in some embodiments, the achenes or other vegetable components can come within the specific grain sizes described here with reference to the other components of the powdered dry composition.

In some embodiments, which can be combined with other embodiments described here, the powdered dry composition described here can be associated, assembled or mixed with one or more active principles or substances selected from a group comprising: vitamins such as hydro-soluble vitamins (such as Vitamin C, Vitamins of the B group) lipo-soluble vitamins (such as Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K), minerals or metals such as magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, selenium, sodium, calcium, fluorine, phosphorus, chromium, boron, or salts based on said metals, complementary nutrients such as creatine, carnitine, gamma oryzanol, lipoic acid, choline, carnosine, phosphatidylserine, lutein, lycopene, astaxanthin, resveratrol, other antioxidants, essential fatty acids omega-3, for example EPA and/or DHA, omega-6, omega-9, or biological oils sources of omega-3 omega-6, omega-9, substances, extracts and/or preparations, such as for example dry extract of blueberry, elder, mint, ginger, chicory, beetroot, pomegranate, orange, tomato, celery, pineapple, lemon, peach, pear, guarana, banana, strawberry, kiwi, pumpkin, artichoke, ginseng, apple, spinach, papaya, mango, grapefruit, echinacea, goji, coconut, melon, fennel, carrot, Ginkgo biloba, Rhodiola rosea, Boswellia serrata, Maca (Lepidium Meyenii Walp.), Damiana (T rnera diffusa Willd. excipients Shulf), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), Dioscorea, Cimicifuga racemosa, soya, (Glycine Max (L.) Merr.), sage (Salvia Officinalis L.), Eleutherococcus, oats (Avena sativa L.), fenugreek, Tribulus terrestris (Tribulus terrestris L.), Serenoa, milk thistle (Silybum marianum), turmeric, tea, yeast, intense sweeteners such as sucralose, xylitol, erythritol, mannitol, sorbitol, stevia, amino acids, essential amino acids such as lysine, arginine, L-methionine, branched or modified amino acids, other substances such as glutathione, coenzyme Q10, taurine, caffeine, phospherine, lactoferrin, beta glucan, hyaluronic acid, ornithine, natural thickeners such as guar gum, hydrolyzed collagen or other active or auxiliary substances.

A possible embodiment can provide a percentage in weight of powders and/or granulates of desiccated fruit and/or vegetables comprised between 1% and 80% weight/weight, in particular between 3% and 60% weight/weight, more particularly between 5% and 50% weight/weight.

Another embodiment of the present invention can provide one or more active principles or substances less than 30% weight/weight, in particular between 0.001% and 20% weight/weight.

One embodiment can provide one or more vitamins and/or metals or minerals between 0.001% and 6% weight/weight.

In possible implementations, said active principles or substances can be in dry form.

Another embodiment can provide one or more vegetable extracts between 0.1 % and 15% weight/weight, in particular between 0.3% and 10% weight/weight, more particularly between 0.5% and 3% weight/weight.

Another embodiment provides one or more dry excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks between 0.01% and 90% weight/weight, in particular between 0.01% and 85% weight/weight, more particularly between 0.01% and 80% weight/weight.

According to another embodiment, the one or more dry excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks can include natural aromas which for example can be present in the composition between 1% and 6% weight/weight.

According to another embodiment, the one or more dry excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks can include sweeteners which for example can be present in the composition between 0.04% and 0.2% weight/weight.

Another embodiment provides that the one or more dry excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks include natural thickening components or agents which, for example, can be present in the composition between 4% and 11% weight/weight.

Another embodiment provides that the one or more dry excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks include coloring components or agents, which, for example, can be present in the composition between 0.01% and 1% weight/weight.

Still another embodiment provides that the one or more dry excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks include acidifier agents, which, for example, can be present in the composition between 0.5% and 3% weight/weight.

According to another embodiment, the one or more dry excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks include filling agents, such as maltodextrins and/or fructo- ligosaccharides which, for example, can be present in the composition between 20% and 60% weight/ weight.

According to one embodiment, having defined the percentages in weight of the quantities of powders and/or granulates of desiccated fruit and/or vegetables and the one or more active principles or substances, the percentage in weight of the one or more dry excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks can complete the 100% in weight of the composition in question.

According to a possible implementation, the powdered dry composition described here does not contain, that is, it totally lacks, added simple sugars, for example in particular monosaccharide sugars such as glucose or fructose, or disaccharide sugars like sucrose, or lactose. In this way, the calorie content of the composition and the final reconstructed drink can be reduced.

Some embodiments provide that the powdered dry composition according to the present invention can comprise:

- powders with a grain size of less than 1mm soluble in a liquid to reconstruct said powdered dry composition or finely dispersible in said liquid;

- powders with an intermediate grain size comprised between 1mm and 2mm not completely soluble and which remain substantially in suspension in said liquid;

- coarse powders and/or pieces with a grain size of more than 2mm which are configured to be distributed in the liquid drink once reconstructed.

According to one embodiment, the powdered dry composition described here can provide a mix of ingredients with a grain size equal to or less than 5mm.

In particular, according to possible embodiments, the powdered dry composition is a dry composition of granular powder.

According to another embodiment, the powdered dry composition described here can also comprise one or more probiotic organisms or compositions based on probiotic organisms, in particular for example, but not restrictively, chosen from a group comprising Lactobacillus, Bifudus, Streptococcus, Bacillus, and Saccharomices.

According to possible implementations, once the powdered dry composition is reconstructed in a liquid, the drink obtained can be presented, for example, as a suspension of the different ingredients with an appearance similar to that of a smoothie of fresh fruit and vegetables.

According to one embodiment, combinable with other embodiments described here, the powdered dry composition can comprise a mix of desiccated granules and powders of ingredients having different grain size, solubility and appearance on each occasion according to the specific formula.

In this way, it is possible to obtain a mix of ingredients with a deliberately diverse grain size, solubility and appearance, so as to define a variety of powdered dry compositions which, once reconstructed, can be presented for example as a suspension with an appearance similar to that of a smoothie of fresh fruit and vegetables.

The various ingredients of the powdered dry composition described here are optimized to confer on the reconstructed drink a result similar to fresh smoothies in terms of appearance, color, odor and flavor. For the same purpose, the dry excipients have also been advantageously selected for food or nutraceutical drinks so as to influence the wettability of the composition and hence the solubility in the reconstruction liquid.

Embodiments described here also concern a powdered dry composition to be reconstructed, according to any one of the embodiments described here, packaged in desired doses in suitable packages in a controlled atmosphere such as, for example, sachets, bottles or suitable containers or other types.

Other embodiments also concern a method for preparing a powdered dry composition according to the present description, the method providing:

iii) to make available one or more dried excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks; iv) to meter the weight of the ingredients from i) to iii);

v) to associate the ingredients from i) to iii) to obtain said powdered dry composition.

In possible implementations, the association v) of the ingredients from i) to iii) can include at least a mixing step divided into the following sub-steps:

v. l) mixing, for example for a time lasting from 10 to 20 minutes, a part of the dried excipients, for example chosen from among the filling agents such as maltodextrins, with the ingredients to be provided in the powdered dry composition in a percentage of less than 1%;

v.2) adding to the mixture obtained from the first sub-step v.l) the ingredients present in the powdered dry composition in a percentage comprised between 1% and 5% and subsequent mixing, for example for a time lasting from 10 to 20 minutes;

v.3) adding the remaining ingredients of the powdered dry composition and mixing, for example for a time lasting from 10 to 20 minutes.

For example, the duration of the mixing in sub-steps v.l), v.2) and v.3) can be the same or different. A possible example is that the duration of each of the mixings in sub- steps v.l), v.2) and v.3) can be 15 minutes.

According to a possible embodiment, the mixing and packaging of the powdered dry composition to be reconstructed can be carried out in rooms with controlled humidity and temperatures.

This is to guarantee that the titers, or concentrations, in particular of the active substances or principles, such as vitamins and/or minerals, added to the powdered dry composition are always aligned with those desired, that is, comprised in the range of tolerance allowed by each of them.

Moreover, advantageously, the packaging can be carried out in a controlled atmosphere, so as not to contaminate or alter the condition of the ingredients of the powdered dry composition to be reconstructed. In particular, the powdered dry composition can be packaged in stick pack sachets in a controlled atmosphere, so that the content of residual oxygen in the pack is less than 1%, thus limiting the oxidation effect on the substances present.

Advantageously, the mixing step described here has been studied and optimized to guarantee a final product with desired titers, or concentrations, in particular of the active substances and principles, and grain size.

The mixing step allows to have a powdered dry composition with suitably metered ingredients and with a homogeneous and repeatable composition, both inside the mixer and also inside the final package of the composition.

Applicant has studied a mixing method that takes into account the fact that, in order to obtain a reconstructed liquid drink that is equal or comparable to a smoothie of fresh fruit and/or vegetables, the ingredients are very complex and varied, that is, the components of the powdered dry composition, including those contained in smaller quantities, can have very different specific weights, different chemical and rheological behaviors and other chemical-physical characteristics that can make it difficult to obtain a uniform powdered dry composition to be reconstructed.

The mixing step according to the embodiments described here allows to obtain a powdered dry composition which, in every zone of the mixer, has uniform and homogeneous titers, or concentrations, and grain size.

In particular, thanks to the mixing step, the ingredients with a greater specific weight and grain size do not sediment on the bottom of the mixer, but are uniformly distributed in it, and this property is advantageously maintained in the final packages of the composition described here, thus guaranteeing that every single dose or sachet always supplies the final user with the quantity of active substances and active principles that was declared a priori.

According to possible embodiments, the powdered dry composition can be reconstructed with a liquid using the following ratio: lOg of powdered dry composition in 300ml of liquid. If the liquid is water, the ratio is expressed equivalently in weight (lOg of composition/3 OOg of water), that is, equal to 0.033.

According to possible embodiments, the powdered dry composition can be reconstructed in water, milk, fruit juice, yoghurt or other liquid with a defined density and viscosity.

The powdered dry composition to be reconstructed according to the present invention can be used in any form suitable for food use, food supplement, nutraceutical or dietary.

In particular, according to some embodiments, the powdered dry composition described here can be made with ingredients, active principles or substances that can have, for example, anti-oxidant, energizing, draining, depurative, immune-defensive and beauty properties.

We will now describe, by way of non-restrictive example, some embodiments of a powdered dry composition according to the present description.

In the examples that follow, the abbreviation D.E. stands for "dry extract".

EXAMPLE 1

The powdered dry composition according to example 1 has the following percentages in weight:

POWDERED BEETROOT 2.0 - 5.0

D.E. WHORTLEBERRY 1.0 - 3.0 POWDERED BLUEBERRY 1.0 - 3.0

TRANSPARENT DRY BLUEBERRY 7.0 - 10.0

JUICE SPRAY

POWDERED GUAR GUM FLOUR 3.0 - 7.0

POMEGRANATE JUICE SPRAY 7.0 - 10.0

POWDERED ORANGE 15 - 40

POWDERED TOMATO 2.0 - 7.0

POWDERED LYCOPENE 0.5 - 3.0

POWDERED MAQUI 0.5 - 3.0

POWDERED MALTODEXTRTN 20 - 50

AROMAS 2.0 - 5.0

POWDERED SODIUM SELENITE 0.001 - 0.002

POWDERED VITAMIN E 0.2 - 0.4

POWDERED VITAMIN B2 0.01 - 0.03

POWDERED SUCRALOSE 0.05- 0.1

In the formula shown in Example 1, the maltodextrin can also have, for example, a thickening function, and during the sub-steps of the mixing step it guarantees a homogeneous mixing of the various components used.

For example, the sucralose in the formula can have a sweetening function, or supply a sweetness that balances the acidity of the final reconstructed product, without giving any calorie contribution.

According to a possible variant of the embodiment in Example 1, it is possible to add to the powdered dry composition other ingredients to replace ingredients of the same class, or by metering the ingredients again, so that the percentages in weight of each class are kept equal. In particular, in this example it is possible to use resveratrol, vitamin C, zinc, manganese, lutein, astaxanthin, glutathione, coenzyme Q10 and/or vegetable extracts with an antioxidant function.

The embodiment in Example 1 can be used to obtain an antioxidant composition. EXAMPLE 2:

The powdered dry composition according to Example 2 has the following percentages in weight:

POWDERED CELERY JUICE 1.5-4.0

POWDERED SOLUBLE TEA SPRAY 0.5-3.0

POWDERED LEMON 5.0-10.0

POWDERED PINEAPPLE 5.0-10.0

TRANSPARENT DRY LEMON JUICE 3.0-5.0

SPRAY

TURBID PINEAPPLE JUICE SPRAY 5.0-10.0

TRANSPARENT DRY PEAR JUICE 7.0-14.0

SPRAY

TRANSPARENT DRY PEACH JUICE 5.0-10.0

SPRAY

POWDERED PEACH 3.0-7.0

POWDERED MALTODEXTRIN 30.0 - 40.0

CELERY AROMA SPRAY 0.1-0.5

PEAR AROMA SPRAY 0.5-3.0

LEMON LIME AROMA SPRAY 2.0-5.0

POWDERED VITAMIN A 0.1 -0.2

POWDERED VITAMIN E 0.15-0.30

POWDERED SUCRALOSE 0.05- 0.1

COLOR GREEN 0.05 - 0.2

COLOR YELLOW 0.05 - 0.02

According to a possible variant of the embodiment in Example 2, it is possible to add to the powdered dry composition other ingredients to replace ingredients of the same class, or by metering the ingredients again, so that the percentages in weight of each class are kept equal. In particular, in this example it is possible to use vegetable extracts with a draining function.

The embodiment in Example 2 can be used to obtain a draining composition.

EXAMPLE 3:

The powdered dry composition according to Example 3 has the following percentages in weight:

D.E. GUARANA' SEMI 7% CAFFEINE 0.5 - 3.0

POWDERED GUAR GUM FLOUR 3.0-7.0 POWDERED BEETROOT 2.2 - 6.3

POWDERED BANANA 5.0 - 10.0

POWDERED STRAWBERRY 5.0 - 10.0

TRANSPARENT DRY STRAWBERRY 5.0 - 10.0

JUICE SPRAY

POWDERED MALTODEXTRIN 30.0 - 70.0

NATURAL BANANA AROMA SPRAY 1.5 - 3.0

NATURAL STRAWBERRY AROMA 0.5 - 3.0

SPRAY

POWDERED ZINC B I S GL YC IN ATE 0.5 - 3.0

ASCORBIC ACID 0.8 - 1.3

POWDERED VITAMIN B6 (PYRIDOXIN) 0.015 - 0.030

POWDERED VITAMIN Bl HCL 0.012 - 0.018

POWDERED VITAMIN B2 0.015 - 0.020

(RIBOFLAVIN)

POWDERED CALCIUM 0.050 - 0.080

PANTOTHENATE (VIT.B5)

VITAMIN B12 CYANOCOBALAMIN 0.030 - 0.050

ANHYDROUS CITRIC ACID 0.9 - 2.2

POWDERED SUCRALOSE 0.05 - 0.1

POWDERED BETA CAROTENE 0.9 - 2.2

According to a possible variant of the embodiment in Example 3, it is possible to add to the powdered dry composition other ingredients to replace ingredients of the same class, or by metering the ingredients again, so that the percentages in weight of each class are kept equal. In particular, in this example it is possible to use minerals useful for the energy metabolism (for example iron, magnesium), taurine, caffeine, phospherine and/or vegetable extracts with a tonic-adaptogen function.

The embodiment in Example 3 can be used to obtain an antioxidant composition. EXAMPLE 4:

The powdered dry composition according to Example 4 has the following percentages in weight:

D.E. ARTICHOKE 0.5 - 3.0

POWDERED KIWI 0-2 mm 5.0 - 10.0

POWDERED GUAR GUM FLOUR 5.0 - 10.0

ASCORBIC ACID 1.0 - 1.5

POWDERED VITAMIN A 0.070 - 0.1

POWDERED VITAMIN E 0.1 - 0.3

POWDERED LEMON 0-1 mm 5.0 - 10.0

POWDERED APPLE 0-2 mm 3.0 - 7.0

POWDERED SPINACH 5.0 - 10.0

POWDERED MALTODEXTRIN 20.0 - 30.0

POWDERED FRUCTO- 20.0 - 30.0

LIGOSACCHARIDES

POWDERED PUMPKIN 5.0 - 10.0

GREEN APPLE AROMA SPRAY 2.0 - 5.0

LEMON AROMA SPRAY 1.3 - 3.3

ANHYDROUS CITRIC ACID 0.5 - 3.0

POWDERED SUCRALOSE 0.05 - 0.1

COLOR GREEN 0.05 - 0.25

In the formula of Example 4, fructo-ligosaccharides can be comprised in the group of dried excipients. In particular, they perform the function of promoting the development of the bacterial flora in the intestine, supplying the nutrients needed for their growth. In other words, thanks to the fructo-ligosaccharides, the powdered dry composition to be reconstructed according to the present invention also assumes a prebiotic function.

According to a possible variant of the embodiment in Example 4, it is possible to add to the powdered dry composition other ingredients to replace ingredients of the same class, or by metering the ingredients again, so that the percentages in weight of each class are kept equal.

In particular, in this example it is possible to use vegetable extracts with a depurative function.

The embodiment in Example 4 can be used to obtain a depurative composition.

EXAMPLE 5:

The powdered dry composition according to Example 5 has the following percentages in weight: D.E. ECHINACEA ANGUSTIFOLIA 0.3 - 1.0

POWDERED GUAR GUM FLOUR 3.0-7.0

POWDERED MANGO 5.0-10.0

POWDERED ORANGE 23.0 - 40.0

POWDERED FERMENTED 3.0-10.0

GRANULAR PAPAYA

POWDERED KIWI 0-1 mm 5.0-10.0

POWDERED KIWI 0-2 mm 5.0-10.0

POWDERED ORANGE 1.3-3.3

POWDERED MALTODEXTRIN 20.0 - 30.0

POWDERED FRUCTO- 7.0-14.0

LIGOSACCHARIDES

KIWI AROMA SPRAY 1.3-3.3

MANGO AROMA SPRAY 0.5-3.0

POWDERED ZINC BIS GL YCIN ATE 0.5-3.0

ASCORBIC ACID 1.0-2.5

POWDERED VITAMIN B6 0.015-0.03

(PYRIDOXIN)

POWDERED SUCRALOSE 0.05-0.1

COLOR YELLOW 0.05 - 0.25

According to a possible variant of the embodiment in Example 5, it is possible to add to the powdered dry composition other ingredients to replace ingredients of the same class, or by metering the ingredients again, so that the percentages in weight of each class are kept equal.

In particular, in this example it is possible to use vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron, lactoferrin, beta glucan and/or vegetable extracts useful for the immune system.

The embodiment in Example 5 can be used to obtain a composition with properties that stimulate the immune-defensive system.

EXAMPLE 6:

The powdered dry composition according to Example 6 has the following percentages in weight: GRANULAR GOJI PUREE 1.5 - 4.0

POWDERED GUAR GUM FLOUR 5.0 - 10.0

POWDERED BEETROOT 0.1 - 0.5

ATOMIZED COCONUT WATER 20.0 - 30.0

STRAWBERRY ACHENES 5.0 - 10.0

POWDERED STRAWBERRY 3.0 - 7.0

TRANSPARENT DRY STRAWBERRY 5.0 - 10.0

JUICE SPRAY

TRANSPARENT MELON JUICE SPRAY 5.0 - 10.0

POWDERED FRUCTO- 10.0 - 20.0

LIGOSACCHARIDES

POWDERED MALTODEXTRIN 7.0 - 14.0

COCONUT AROMA SPRAY 2.0 - 5.0

NATURAL STRAWBERRY AROMA 0.5 - 3.0

SPRAY

POWDERED MAGNESIUM CITRATE 4.0 - 5.0

ASCORBIC ACID 1.0 - 3.0

POWDERED VITAMIN A 0.05 - 0.215

POWDERED VITAMIN H (D-BIOTIN) 0.005 - 0.01

POWDERED VITAMIN B2 0.015 - 0.02

(RIBOFLAVIN)

POWDERED SUCRALOSE 0.05 - 0.1

According to a possible variant of the embodiment in Example 6, it is possible to add to the powdered dry composition other ingredients to replace ingredients of the same class, or by metering the ingredients again, so that the percentages in weight of each class are kept equal.

In particular, in this example it is possible to use coenzyme Q10, hyaluronic acid, sea buckthorn juice, antioxidant vitamins and to maintain the characteristics of the skin, hydrolyzed collagen and/or vegetable extracts useful for the skin (i.e. calendula).

The embodiment in Example 6 can be used to obtain a composition with esthetic and beauty properties.

EXAMPLE 7:

The powdered dry composition according to Example 7 has the following percentages in weight:

The embodiment in Example 7 can be used to obtain a composition to regulate the intestine.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts and/or steps may be made to the powdered dry composition as described heretofore and the corresponding method to prepare it, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of powdered dry composition and corresponding method to prepare it, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. Vegetable based powdered dry composition, to be reconstructed in the form of a liquid drink, such as a centrifuged juice or smoothie, said composition comprising:

- powders and/or granulates of desiccated fruit and/or vegetables;

- one or more active principles or substances;

- one or more dried excipients for food or nutraceutical drinks.

2. Powdered dry composition as in claim 1, wherein said active principles or substances are one or more chosen from a group comprising: vitamins such as hydro-soluble vitamins (such as Vitamin C, Vitamins of the B group) lipo-soluble vitamins (such as Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K), minerals or metals such as magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, selenium, sodium, calcium, fluorine, phosphorus, chromium, boron, or salts based on said metals, complementary nutrients such as creatine, carnitine, gamma oryzanol, lipoic acid, choline, carnosine, phosphatidylserine, lutein, lycopene, astaxanthin, resveratrol, other antioxidants, essential fatty acids omega-3, for example EPA and/or DHA, omega-6, omega-9, or biological oils sources of omega-3 omega-6, omega-9, substances, extracts and/or preparations, such as for example dry extract of blueberry, elder, mint, ginger, chicory, beetroot, pomegranate, orange, tomato, celery, pineapple, lemon, peach, pear, guarana, banana, strawberry, kiwi, pumpkin, artichoke, ginseng, apple, spinach, papaya, mango, grapefruit, echinacea, goji, coconut, melon, fennel, carrot, Ginkgo biloba, Rhodiola rosea, Boswellia serrata, Maca (Lepidium Meyenii Walp.), Damiana {Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Shuli), red clover (Trifolium pratense £.), Dioscorea, Cimicifuga racemosa, soya, (Glycine Max (L.) Merr.), sage (Salvia Officinalis L.), Eleutherococcus, oats (Avena sativa L.), fenugreek, Tribulus terrestris (Tribulus terrestris L.), Serenoa, milk thistle (Silybum marianum), turmeric, tea, yeast, intense sweeteners such as sucralose, xylitol, erythritol, mannitol, sorbitol, stevia, amino acids, essential amino acids such as lysine, arginine, L-methionine, branched or modified amino acids, other substances such as glutathione, coenzyme Q10, taurine, caffeine, phosphoserine, lactoferrin, beta glucan, hyaluronic acid, ornithine, natural thickeners such as guar gum, hydrolyzed collagen or other active or auxiliary substances.

3. Powdered dry composition as in claim 1 or 2, said powdered dry composition comprising said powders and/or said granulates of desiccated fruit and/or vegetables between 1% and 80% weight/weight, in particular between 3% and 60% weight/weight, more particularly between 5% and 50% weight/weight.

4. Powdered dry composition as in any claim hereinbefore, said powdered dry composition comprising said one or more active principles or substances from 0% to 30% % weight/weight, in particular between 0.001% and 20% weight/weight.

5. Powdered dry composition as in any claim hereinbefore, wherein said one or more dried excipients comprise:

- agents able to supply a pleasant flavor to the reconstructed liquid product, chosen from aromas, sweeteners, acidifiers and/or colorants;

- thickening agents able to give to the reconstructed liquid product a consistency equal, similar, analogous or equivalent to that of a centrifuged juice or smoothie prepared directly from fresh fruit and/or vegetables;

- filling agents, in particular chosen from maltodextrin and/or fructo-ligosaccharides.

6. Powdered dry composition as in any claim hereinbefore, said powdered dry composition comprising said one or more dried excipients between 20% and 60% weight/weight.

7. Powdered dry composition as in any claim hereinbefore, wherein said powdered dry composition can be reconstructed by association with a liquid.

8. Powdered dry composition as in claim 7, wherein said liquid is chosen from a group comprising water, fruit or vegetable juice, animal milk or vegetable milk.

9. Powdered dry composition as in claim 8, wherein said powdered dry composition can be reconstructed in 300ml of liquid for every lOg of powdered dry composition.

10. Powdered dry composition as in any claim hereinbefore, said powdered dry composition comprising:

11. Powdered dry composition as in any claim hereinbefore, said powdered dry composition comprising one or more probiotic organisms, chosen in particular from a group comprising Lactobacillus, Bifudus, Streptococcus, Bacillus and Saccharomices.

12. Powdered dry composition as in any claim hereinbefore, said powdered dry composition being without added simple sugars.

13. Package in controlled atmosphere comprising a powdered dry composition to be reconstructed as in any claim hereinbefore.

14. Liquid drink obtained by reconstructing a powdered dry composition according to any of the claims from 1 to 12 with a liquid in predefined proportions.

15. Method for preparing a vegetable based powdered dry composition, to be reconstructed in the form of a liquid drink, such as a centrifuged juice or smoothie, characterized in that it provides:

16. Method as in claim 15, characterized in that the association v) of the ingredients from i) to iii) includes at least a mixing step that comprises at least the following sub- steps:

v.l) mixing a part of the dried excipients with the ingredients to be provided in said powdered dry composition in a percentage of less than 1%;

v.2) adding to the mixture obtained from the first sub-step v.l) the ingredients to be provided in said powdered dry composition in a percentage comprised between 1% and 5% and subsequent mixing;

v.3) adding the remaining ingredients of said powdered dry composition and mixing.

17. Method as in claim 15 or 16, characterized in that said powdered dry composition comprises:

18. Method to reconstruct a drink in liquid form, such as a centrifuged juice or smoothie, starting from a powdered dry composition according to any of the claims from 1 to 10, said method providing to associate said powdered dry composition with a liquid in predefined proportions.