US4279934A — Method for improving the odor, flavor and color o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 66 words

A method for treating an ocean quahog clam which is suitable for canning without the development of off-flavor, odor, or color, which method comprises contacting said clam product with a treating agent selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, and mixtures thereof, said treating agent being present in an amount sufficient to prevent the formation of off-flavor, odor and color during in-can retorting.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 66 words

A method for treating an ocean quahog clam which is suitable for canning without the development of off-flavor, odor, or color, which method comprises contacting said clam product with a treating agent selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, and mixtures thereof, said treating agent being present in an amount sufficient to prevent the formation of off-flavor, odor and color during in-can retorting.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 110 words

A method for preparing a canned ocean quahog clam food product having improved color, odor and flavor, said method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting an ocean quahog clam product with a treating agent selected from the group consisting of SO 2 gas, sulfurous acid, sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, potassium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, ammonium sulfite and mixtures thereof; (b) sealing the treated clam product in a container; and (c) subjecting the sealed container to conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to produce a sterilized canned product; said treating agent being present in an amount sufficient to prevent the formation of off-flavor, odor and color during the treatment of step (c).

Claim 4

Independent Claim 110 words

A method for preparing a canned ocean quahog clam food product having improved color, odor and flavor, said method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting an ocean quahog clam product with a treating agent selected from the group consisting of SO 2 gas, sulfurous acid, sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, potassium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, ammonium sulfite and mixtures thereof; (b) sealing the treated clam product in a container; and (c) subjecting the sealed container to conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to produce a sterilized canned product; said treating agent being present in an amount sufficient to prevent the formation of off-flavor, odor and color during the treatment of step (c).

Claim 5

Independent Claim 18 words

The method of claims 1, 2 wherein said ocean quahog clam product comprises whole inshell ocean quahog clams.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 18 words

The method of claims 1, 2 wherein said ocean quahog clam product comprises whole shucked ocean quahog clams.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 18 words

The method of claims 1, 2 wherein said ocean quahog clam product comprises shucked, debellied ocean quahog clams.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 20 words

The method of claims 1, 2 wherein said ocean quahog clam product comprises ground, shucked, debellied ocean quahog clam pieces.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 19 words

The method of claims 1, 2 wherein said ocean quahog clam product comprises expressed juices from ocean quahog clams.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 19 words

The method of claims 1, 2 wherein said ocean quahog clam product comprises clam chowder containing ocean quahog clams.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1, 2 wherein said contacting is effected by bubbling SO 2 gas through an aqueous solution containing said clam product.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 24 words

The method of claims 1, 2 wherein said contacting is effected by soaking said clam product in an aqueous solution containing said treating agent.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of washing the treated clam product to remove excess treating agent.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 29 words

The method of claims 1, 2 additionally comprising the step of boiling an aqueous solution containing said clam product for a time less than that required for protein denaturization.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 12 wherein said contacting is effected by adding said treating agent to said aqueous solution just prior to or during said boiling.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 28 words

The method of claims 2 or 1 wherein said contacting is effected by adding said treating agent to said clam product after it is placed in said container.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the treated clam product has a pH below about 7.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 15 wherein a food-grade acid is added to said treated clam product to maintain the pH below about 7.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein said treating agent is SO 2 gas.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein said treating agent is sulfurous acid.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 27 words

The method of claims 1, 2 wherein said treating agent is added in an amount of at least about 0.02% by weight based on said clam product.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 13 words

An ocean quahog clam meat product produced by the method of claim 6.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 13 words

An ocean quahog clam juice product produced by the method of claim 7.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for preparing a canned ocean quahog clam food product having improved color, odor and flavor, said method comprising the steps of: (a) forming a slurry of shucked, debellied, ground ocean quahog clam meat in water or expressed juices; (b) bringing said slurry to a boil; (c) adding to said boiling slurry at least about 0.02% by weight based on said meat of a treating agent selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite and mixtures thereof; (d) placing the treated clam meat slurry in a container; (e) sealing said container; and (f) subjecting the sealed container to conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to produce a sterilized canned product.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for preparing a canned ocean quahog clam food product having improved color, odor and flavor, said method comprising the steps of: (a) forming a slurry of shucked, debellied, ground ocean quahog clam meat in water or expressed juices; (b) bringing said slurry to a boil; (c) adding to said boiling slurry at least about 0.02% by weight based on said meat of a treating agent selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite and mixtures thereof; (d) placing the treated clam meat slurry in a container; (e) sealing said container; and (f) subjecting the sealed container to conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to produce a sterilized canned product.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 20 words

A canned ocean quahog clam food product having improved color, odor and flavor produced by the method of claim 22.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 99 words

A method for preparing a canned ocean quahog clam food product having improved color, odor and flavor, said method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting an ocean quahog clam product with a treating agent selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, and mixtures thereof; (b) sealing the treated clam product in a container; and (c) subjecting the sealed container to conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to produce a sterilized canned product; said treating agent being present in an amount sufficient to prevent the formation of off-flavor, odor and color during the treatment of step (c).

Claim 28

Independent Claim 99 words

A method for preparing a canned ocean quahog clam food product having improved color, odor and flavor, said method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting an ocean quahog clam product with a treating agent selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, and mixtures thereof; (b) sealing the treated clam product in a container; and (c) subjecting the sealed container to conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to produce a sterilized canned product; said treating agent being present in an amount sufficient to prevent the formation of off-flavor, odor and color during the treatment of step (c).

Claim 29

Independent Claim 116 words

A method for preparing a food product suitable for human consumption from shucked, debellied ocean quahog clam meat, said product being free from disagreeable odor, color and flavor, said method comprising the steps of: (a) adding to said shucked, debellied ocean quahog meat a treating agent selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite or mixtures thereof; (b) sealing the mixture of clam meat and treating agent in a container; and (c) subjecting the sealed container to conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to produce a sterilized canned food product; said treating agent being added in an amount effective to prevent the formation of off-flavors, odors and colors during the treatment of step (c).

Claim 30

Independent Claim 116 words

A method for preparing a food product suitable for human consumption from shucked, debellied ocean quahog clam meat, said product being free from disagreeable odor, color and flavor, said method comprising the steps of: (a) adding to said shucked, debellied ocean quahog meat a treating agent selected from the group consisting of sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite or mixtures thereof; (b) sealing the mixture of clam meat and treating agent in a container; and (c) subjecting the sealed container to conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to produce a sterilized canned food product; said treating agent being added in an amount effective to prevent the formation of off-flavors, odors and colors during the treatment of step (c).

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 25 wherein said agent is added to said meat after said meat is placed in said container.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 26 additionally comprising the step of boiling a slurry of said meat in water or expressed clam juices for at least one minute but for a time less than that required for protein denaturization prior to placing said meat in said container.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 25 wherein said agent is added to said meat before said meat is placed in said container.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 28 wherein said agent is added to a slurry of said meat in water or expressed clam juices.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 29 additionally comprising the step of boiling the agent-containing slurry for at least one minute but for a time less than that required for protein denaturization.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 25 wherein said agent is added in an amount of at least about 0.02% by weight based on said meat.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 30 wherein said agent is added to said slurry in an amount of from about 0.25 to about 0.30% by weight based on said meat.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 19 words

A clam meat food product free of disagreeable odor, color and flavor produced by the method of claim 25.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-07-20	1985-01-19	1985-07-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-07-20	1989-01-19	1989-07-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-07-20	1993-01-19	1993-07-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method for improving the odor, flavor and color of canned ocean clam products

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