Methods for reducing the sensory effects of odorous compounds

Abstract

The present invention is directed to compositions containing a food product capable of developing a volatile, malodorous sulfur-containing and/or nitrogen-containing compound after packaging, and a pristine metal in an amount sufficient to minimize the sensory effects of the volatile, malodorous compounds at a time of use.

1 . A composition comprising: a sealed package containing:
 a food product capable of forming a volatile, malodorous nitrogen-containing compound, a volatile, malodorous sulfur-containing compound, or a combination thereof; and   a pristine metal present in an amount sufficient to sequester a volatile, malodorous nitrogen-containing compound, a volatile, malodorous sulfur-containing compound, or a combination thereof, such that a total concentration of volatile, malodorous nitrogen-containing and sulfur-containing compounds is below a human detection level at a time of use.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pristine metal is selected from: gold, platinum, silver, copper, palladium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pristine metal is present as at least one of: a film, a component of a film, a colloid, a sol, a nanoparticle, a nanocage, a microparticle, a mesoparticle, a metal-coated particle, a leaf, a wire, a glitter, a foil, a coin, a disk, a stirring rod, a sieve, a filter, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the sealed package is transparent or opaque. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed package contains a liquid food product, and the pristine metal is present:
 on an inner surface of the sealed package;   in at least a portion of the liquid food product; or   a combination thereof, and   
       wherein the pristine metal is present in an amount sufficient to provide a pristine metal surface area of about 1 cm 2  per liter of the liquid food product. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the pristine metal is present in an amount sufficient to provide a pristine metal surface area of about 10 cm 2  per liter of the liquid food product. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed package contains a solid or semi-solid food product, and the pristine metal is present on an inner surface of the sealed package, and wherein the pristine metal is present in an amount sufficient to provide a pristine metal surface area of about 0.1 cm 2  per milligram of the solid or semi-solid food product. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the pristine metal is present in an amount sufficient to provide a pristine metal surface area of about 0.5 cm 2  per milligram of the solid or semi-solid food product. 
     
     
         9 . A process for sequestering a nitrogen-containing compound, a sulfur-containing compound, or a combination thereof, from a food product prior to use, the process comprising: providing to a sealed food product a pristine metal suitable for sequestering a nitrogen-containing compound, a sulfur-containing compound, or a combination thereof, wherein the pristine metal is present:
 in or on a sealed package containing the food product;   in at least a portion of the sealed food product; or   a combination thereof, and   
       wherein the pristine metal is present in an amount sufficient to sequester a nitrogen-containing compound, a sulfur-containing compound, or a combination thereof that is formed in situ prior to use of the food product such that malodorous nitrogen-containing and sulfur-containing compounds is below a human detection level at a time of use. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the food product is a protein-containing food product that contains food selected from: a meat, poultry, a seafood, soy, whey, an egg, a dairy product, ovalbumin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein a sulfur-containing compound includes a functional group selected from: a thiol, a dithiol, a sulfide, a disulfide, a trisulfide, a sulfone, a sulfoxide, a sulfur-containing heterocycle, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the sulfur-containing compound includes 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein a nitrogen-containing compound includes a functional group selected from: an amine, an amide, a nitro, a nitrogen-containing heterocycle, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein a nitrogen-containing compound includes a compound selected from: spermine, spermidine, putrescine, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the pristine metal is selected from: gold, platinum, silver, copper, palladium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the pristine metal is present as at least one of: a film, a component of a film, a colloid, a sol, a nanoparticle, a nanocage, a microparticle, a mesoparticle, a metal-coated particle, a leaf, a wire, a glitter, a foil, a stopper, a coin, a disk, a stirring rod, a sieve, a filter, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the providing comprises adding a pristine metal to a liquid food product in an amount sufficient to provide a pristine metal surface area of about 1 cm 2  per liter of the liquid food product. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the providing comprises adding a pristine metal to a liquid food product in an amount sufficient to provide a pristine metal surface area of about 10 cm 2  per liter of the liquid food product. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the providing comprises adding a pristine metal to a package containing a solid or semi-solid food product in an amount sufficient to provide a pristine metal surface area of about 0.1 cm 2  per milligram of the solid or semi-solid food product. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the providing comprises adding a pristine metal to a package containing a solid or semi-solid food product in an amount sufficient to provide a pristine metal surface area of about 0.5 cm 2  per milligram of the solid or semi-solid food product.