Methods of making and using a liquid concentrate thickener

Abstract

A process for thickening a liquid food comprises admixing an effective amount of an aqueous concentrate thickener composition with a liquid food which is capable of being thickened by a concentrate thickener composition. Preferably, the aqueous thickener concentrate is contained in a package and consists essentially of fully hydrated xanthan gum and water in a concentration suitable for thickening a portion of liquid food to facilitate its consumption by a person with dysphagia. A method of preparing the packaged aqueous concentrate thickener comprises preparing the aqueous concentrate thickener composition and packaging the aqueous concentrate thickener in packages suitable for sending the packaged aqueous concentrate thickener to a locale of a person with dysphagia.

1 . A process for thickening a liquid food which comprises admixing an effective amount of an aqueous concentrate thickener composition with a liquid food which is capable of being thickened by a concentrate thickener composition. 
   
   
       2 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said concentrate thickener is selected from at least one of alginates (sodium, potassium, and ammonium salts), carrageenan, glactomannans (guar gum, locust bean gum, and/or carob bean gum), cellulosics (carboxymethylcellulose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and/or hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose), food starches, xanthan gum and gum arabic. 
   
   
       3 . A process in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said concentrate thickener is selected from at least one of carrageenan, guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       4 . A process in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said concentrate thickener comprises xanthan gum. 
   
   
       5 . A process in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the xanthan gum comprises a dilutable concentrate. 
   
   
       6 . A process in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the concentrate thickener composition is a jelly. 
   
   
       7 . A process in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the concentrate thickener composition is a highly viscous liquid. 
   
   
       8 . A process in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the concentrate thickener composition has the visual appearance of honey. 
   
   
       9 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said food is a liquid based on water. 
   
   
       10 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the liquid is selected from at least one of milk, soda, coffee, tea, juice, water, beer, wine and nutritional supplements. 
   
   
       11 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the food is a food with a substantial amount of unbound liquid. 
   
   
       12 . A process in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the food with a substantial amount of unbound liquid is selected from at least one of a broth, soup, stew, puree of solid food and a liquid, and a puree of high liquid foods. 
   
   
       13 . A process in accordance with  claim 5  wherein said xanthan gum composition comprises from about 2% to about 5% xanthan gum by weight. 
   
   
       14 . A process in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said xanthan gum composition comprises from about 3.5% to about 4.5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       15 . A process in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said xanthan gum composition comprises from about 3.6% to about 4.3% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       16 . A process for thickening a barium sulfate composition which comprises admixing a thickening amount of an aqueous concentrate thickener composition with said barium sulfate composition. 
   
   
       17 . A process in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said thickener concentrate is selected from at least one of alginates (sodium, potassium, or ammonium salts), carrageenan, glactomannans (guar gum, locust bean gum, and/or carob bean gum), cellulosics (sodium carboxymethylcellulose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose), food starches, xanthan gum and gum arabic. 
   
   
       18 . A process in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said thickener is selected from at least one of carrageenan, guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       19 . A process in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the concentrate thickener comprises a xanthan gum. 
   
   
       20 . A process in accordance with  claim 19  wherein said xanthan gum composition comprises about 2% to about 5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       21 . A process in accordance with  claim 20  wherein said xanthan gum comprises about 3.5% to about 4.5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       22 . A process in accordance with  claim 21  wherein said xanthan gum comprises about 3.6% to about 4.3%. 
   
   
       23 . A process in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said barium sulfate is used for a medicinal purpose. 
   
   
       24 . A system for operating a medical facility possessing the capability of treating persons afflicted with dysphagia wherein said facility provides thickened foods to the patients and wherein the thickened food comprises an aqueous thickener concentrate composition. 
   
   
       25 . A system in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said concentrate thickener is selected from at least one of alginates (sodium, potassium, and ammonium salts), carrageenan, glactomannans (guar gum, locust bean gum, and/or carob bean gum), cellulosics (carboxymethylcellulose sodium, hydroxyproplycellulose and/or hydroxypropylmethylcellulose), food starches, xanthan gum, and gum arabic. 
   
   
       26 . A system in accordance with  claim 25  wherein said concentrate thickener is selected from at least one of carregeenan, guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       27 . A system in accordance with  claim 26  wherein said concentrate thickener composition is a concentrate of xanthan gum. 
   
   
       28 . A system in accordance with  claim 27  wherein said concentrate comprises about 2% to about 5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       29 . A system in accordance with  claim 28  wherein said concentrate comprises about 3.5% to about 4.5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       30 . A system in accordance with  claim 29  wherein said concentrate comprises about 3.6% to about 4.3% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       31 . A process improving patient fluid consumption by providing said patients with a food thickened with an aqueous thickener concentrate. 
   
   
       32 . A process in accordance with  claim 31  wherein said thickener is selected from at least one of alginates (sodium, potassium, or ammonium salts), carrageenan, glactomannans (guar gum, locust bean gum, and/or carob bean gum), cellulosics (sodium carboxymethylcellulose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and/or hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose), food starches, xanthan gum, and gum arabic. 
   
   
       33 . A process in accordance with  claim 32  wherein said thickener is selected from at least one of carrageenan, guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       34 . A process in accordance with  claim 33  wherein said concentrate thickener composition comprises xanthan gum. 
   
   
       35 . A process in accordance with  claim 34  wherein said concentrate comprises about 2% to about 5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       36 . A process in accordance with  claim 35  wherein said concentrate comprises about 3.5% to about 4.5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       37 . A process in accordance with  claim 36  wherein said concentrate comprises about 3.6% to about 4.3% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       38 . A process for reducing the time in the preparation of a beverage, said process comprising admixing with said beverage an aqueous thickener concentrate. 
   
   
       39 . A process in accordance with  claim 38  wherein said thickener is selected from at least one of alginates (sodium, potassium and ammonium salts), carrageenan, galactomannans (guar gum, locust bean gum, and/or carob bean gum), cellulosics (carboxymethylcellulose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and/or hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose), food starches, xanthan gum and gum arabic. 
   
   
       40 . A process in accordance with  claim 39  wherein said thickener is selected from at least one of carrageenan, guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose sodium and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       41 . A process in accordance with  claim 40  wherein said concentrate thickener composition is a concentrate of xanthan gum. 
   
   
       42 . A process in accordance with  claim 41  wherein said concentrate comprises about 2% to about 5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       43 . A process in accordance with  claim 42  wherein said concentrate comprises about 3.5% to about 4.5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       44 . A process in accordance with  claim 43  wherein said concentrate comprises about 3.6% to about 4.3% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       45 . A process for increasing beverage variety by admixing said beverage with an aqueous thickener concentrate. 
   
   
       46 . A process in accordance with  claim 45  wherein said thickener is selected from at least one of alginates (sodium, potassium, or ammonium salts), carrageenan, glactomannans (guar gum, locust bean gum, and/or carob bean gum), cellulosics (sodium carboxymethylcellulose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and/or hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose), food starches xanthan gum and gum arabic. 
   
   
       47 . A process in accordance with  claim 46  wherein said thickener is selected from at least one of carrageenan, guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       48 . A process in accordance with  claim 47  wherein said concentrate thickener composition comprises xanthan gum. 
   
   
       49 . A process in accordance with  claim 48  wherein said concentrate comprises about 2% to about 5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       50 . A process in accordance with  claim 49  wherein said concentrate comprises about 3.5% to about 4.5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       51 . A process in accordance with  claim 50  wherein said concentrate comprises about 3.6% to about 4.3% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       52 . A process for improving the appearance of thickened liquid foods, said process comprising admixing an effective amount of an aqueous concentrate thickener with a liquid food which is capable of being thickened by a concentrate thickener composition. 
   
   
       53 . A process in accordance with  claim 52  wherein said thickener is selected from at least one of carrageenan, galactomannans (guar gum, locust bean gum, and/or carob bean gum), cellulosics (carboxymethylcellulose sodium, hydroxy propyl, cellulose, and/or hydroxypropylmethylcellulose), food starches, xanthan gum and gum arabic. 
   
   
       54 . A process in accordance with  claim 53  wherein said concentrate thickener comprises xanthan gum. 
   
   
       55 . A process in accordance with  claim 54  wherein said xanthan gum composition comprises from about 2% to about 5% xanthan gum by weight. 
   
   
       56 . A process in accordance with  claim 55  wherein said xanthan gum composition comprises from about 3.5% to about 4.5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       57 . A process in accordance with  claim 56  wherein said xanthan gum composition comprises from about 3.6% to about 4.3% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       58 . A process in accordance with  claim 53  wherein said thickener is selected from at least one of carrageenan, guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       59 . A method of preparing a packaged aqueous concentrate thickener suitable for thickening a liquid food to facilitate its consumption by a person with dysphagia, the method comprising preparing an aqueous concentrate thickener composition consisting essentially of a fully hydrated thickener and water and packaging said aqueous concentrate thickener in packages suitable for sending said packaged aqueous concentrate thickener to a locale of a person with dysphagia. 
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the packages comprise foil pouches. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 59  wherein at least some of the packages are sized to be admixed with and thicken a single portion of food for the person with dysphagia. 
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the packages comprise a container having a plunger for dispensing the concentrate thickener. 
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the container dispenses measured amounts of the concentrate thickener. 
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the fully hydrated thickener comprises xanthan gum. 
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the fully hydrated thickener consists essentially of xanthan gum. 
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 65  wherein the xanthan gum comprises about 2% to about 5% by weight of the aqueous concentrate thickener composition. 
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 59  comprising a further step of sending the packaged aqueous concentrate thickener to a locale of a person with dysphagia. 
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 67  comprising a further step of dispensing the packaged aqueous concentrate thickener into a single serving of an aqueous food suitable for consumption by a person without dysphagia. 
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 59  wherein said fully hydrated thickener comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate, potassium alginate, ammonium alginate, carrageenan, guar gum, carob bean gum, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 59  wherein said aqueous concentrate thickener composition comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of carrageenan, guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the composition includes a non-substantial amount as relates to thickening of at least one component selected from the group consisting of acids, bases, acidulates, chelating agents, flavors, colors, vitamins, minerals, sweeteners, insoluble foods and preservatives. 
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the composition includes a non-substantial amount as relates to thickening of a preservative. 
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 59  wherein said concentrate thickener composition comprises about 1% to about 10% by weight of thickener. 
   
   
       74 . A process for thickening a liquid food which comprises admixing an effective amount of a packaged aqueous concentrate thickener composition with a liquid food which is capable of being thickened by a concentrate thickener composition, said packaged aqueous concentrate thickener composition consisting essentially of a fully hydrated thickener and water, said aqueous concentrate thickener composition comprising about 1% to about 10% by weight of a thickener comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate, potassium alginate, ammonium alginate, carrageenan, guar gum, carob bean gum, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       75 . A process in accordance with  claim 74  wherein said thickener comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of carrageenan, guar gum, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       76 . A process in accordance with  claim 74  wherein said thickener is xanthan gum. 
   
   
       77 . A process in accordance with  claim 74  wherein said aqueous concentrate thickener composition further comprises a preservative. 
   
   
       78 . A process in accordance with  claim 74  wherein the concentrate thickener composition is a highly viscous liquid. 
   
   
       79 . A process in accordance with  claim 74  wherein the liquid food comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of milk, soda, coffee, tea, juice, water, beer, wine and nutritional supplements. 
   
   
       80 . A process in accordance with  claim 74  wherein the liquid food comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a broth, soup, stew, puree of solid food and a liquid, and a puree of high liquid foods. 
   
   
       81 . A process in accordance with  claim 74  wherein said thickener composition comprises from about 2% to about 5% xanthan gum by weight. 
   
   
       82 . A process for thickening a barium sulfate composition which comprises admixing a thickening amount of a packaged aqueous concentrate thickener composition with said barium sulfate composition, said packaged aqueous concentrate thickener composition consisting essentially of a fully hydrated thickener and water, said thickener comprising from about 1% to about 10% by weight of at least one member selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate, potassium alginate, ammonium alginate, carrageenan, guar gum, carob bean gum, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       83 . A process in accordance with  claim 82  wherein said thickener comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of carrageenan, guar gum, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       84 . A process in accordance with  claim 82  wherein the concentrate thickener composition comprises xanthan gum. 
   
   
       85 . A process in accordance with  claim 82  wherein said thickener composition comprises about 2% to about 5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       86 . A process in accordance with  claim 82  wherein said thickened barium sulfate is used for a modified barium swallow procedure to diagnose or evaluate dysphagia in a patient. 
   
   
       87 . A process for reducing the time in the preparation of a liquid food for consumption by an individual with dysphagia, said process comprising admixing with said liquid food a packaged aqueous concentrate thickener composition for no longer than 1.5 minutes, said packaged aqueous concentrate thickener composition consisting essentially of a fully hydrated xanthan gum thickener and water. 
   
   
       88 . A process in accordance with  claim 87  wherein said concentrate thickener composition comprises about 2% to about 5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       89 . A treatment for dysphagia which comprises providing a packaged aqueous concentrate thickener composition consisting essentially of a fully hydrated thickener and water in a form suitable for admixing with a liquid food for a patient having the condition of dysphagia to facilitate consumption of the food by the patient. 
   
   
       90 . The treatment of  claim 89  wherein the composition includes a non-substantial amount as relates to thickening of at least one component selected from the group consisting of acids, bases, acidulates, chelating agents, flavors, colors, vitamins, minerals, sweeteners, insoluble foods and preservatives. 
   
   
       91 . A treatment in accordance with  claim 89  wherein said thickener comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate, potassium alginate, ammonium alginate, carrageenan, guar gum, carob bean gum, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       92 . A treatment in accordance with  claim 91  wherein said thickener comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of carrageenan, guar gum, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and xanthan gum. 
   
   
       93 . A treatment in accordance with  claim 89  wherein the concentrate thickener composition is a liquid which consists essentially of xanthan gum and water. 
   
   
       94 . A treatment in accordance with  claim 89  wherein said liquid food comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of milk, soda, coffee, tea, juice, water, beer, wine, and nutritional supplement. 
   
   
       95 . A treatment in accordance with  claim 89  wherein the liquid food is a food with a substantial amount of unbound liquid selected from broths, soups, stews, purees of solid food and a liquid, and purees of high liquid content foods. 
   
   
       96 . A treatment in accordance with  claim 89  wherein said concentrate thickener composition comprises about 2% to about 5% xanthan gum. 
   
   
       97 . A treatment in accordance with  claim 89  wherein said concentrate thickener comprises a preservative.