Particulate frozen food product

1 . A frozen food product, comprising:

water and total solids, wherein the product comprises:

6-14% by weight milk fat;

4-24% by weight non-fat milk solids;

2.6-8% by weight sugar; and

0-0.4% by weight sweetener;

and wherein the product is in the form of particulate shapes which remain free-flowing when stored in a freezer at 0° F. for at least 20 days.

2 . The frozen food product of claim 1 , wherein the product comprises:

8-12% by weight milk fat;

13-24% by weight non-fat milk solids; and

2.6-5% by weight sugar;

3 . The frozen food product of claim 1 , wherein the product comprises 8.4% milkfat, 18.2% non-fat milk solids, 3% sucrose, and 0.02% sweetener.

4 . The frozen food product of claim 1 , wherein the product comprises at least about 29% by weight total solids and less than about 71% by weight water.

5 . The frozen food product of claim 1 , wherein the sweetener comprises sucralose.

6 . The frozen food product of claim 1 , wherein the product remains free flowing for at least 30 days.

7 . The frozen food product of claim 1 , further comprising 0.1-1% by weight of cryoprotectant.

8 . The frozen food product of claim 1 , further comprising one or more natural and/or artificial flavors.

9 . The frozen food product of claim 1 , further comprising 1-4% combined stabilizer/emulsifier.

10 . The frozen food product of claim 1 , wherein the nonfat milk solids comprise egg yolk.

11 . The frozen food product of claim 1 , wherein the sweetener further comprises corn syrup solids and cocoa powder.

12 . The frozen food product of claim 1 , wherein the formulation has a glass transition temperature of at least −53° F.

13 . A frozen food product, comprising:

water and total solids, wherein the total solids comprises:

6-14% by weight milk fat;

4-24% by weight non-fat milk solids;

2.6-5% by weight sugar;

0-0.4% by weight sweetener; and

1-20% by weight bulking agent;

and wherein the formulation is in the form of particulate shapes which remain free-flowing when stored in a freezer at 0° F. for at least 20 days.

14 . The frozen food product of claim 13 , wherein the product comprises at least about 29% by weight total solids and less than about 71% by weight water.

15 . The frozen food product of claim 13 , wherein the sweetener comprises sucralose.

16 . The frozen food product of claim 13 , wherein the product remains free flowing for at least 30 days.

17 . The frozen food product of claim 13 , further comprising 0.1-1% by weight of cryoprotectant.

18 . The frozen food product of claim 13 , further comprising one or more natural and/or artificial flavors.

19 . The frozen food product of claim 13 , wherein the nonfat milk solids comprise modified whey products and dry whey solids.

20 . The frozen food product of claim 13 , wherein the nonfat milk solids comprise egg yolk.

21 . The frozen food product of claim 13 , wherein the sweetener further comprises corn syrup solids and cocoa powder.

22 . The frozen food product of claim 13 , wherein the bulking agent comprises maltodextrins.

23 . The frozen food product of claim 13 , wherein the formulation has a glass transition temperature of at least −45° F., and a devitrification temperature of −44° F.

24 . A method of manufacturing a frozen food product, comprising:

preparing a formulation according to claim 1 or 13 comprising

combining liquid ingredients;

combining dry powders; and

mixing the combined dry powders with the combined liquids to make the formulation;

agitating the formulation;

pasteurizing the formulation;

homogenizing the formulation;

aging the formulation; and

dripping the formulation into a cryogenic processor to form a particulate frozen food product, wherein the particulate frozen food product includes both spheroid and non-spheroid particulates.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the homogenizing step acts to synchronize the pasteurizing step.

26 . A method of retailing a frozen product, comprising:

manufacturing a particulate frozen product by combining at least the following:

6-20% by weight milk fat;

4-16% by weight non-fat milk solids;

0-19% by weight maltodextrins and/or other bulking agents;

2.6-8% by weight sugar;

0-0.4% by weight sweetener; and

0-4% by weight combined stabilizer and emulsifier; and

shipping the particulate frozen product to a plurality of staging areas;

during the shipping step, maintaining the particulate frozen product at a predetermined temperature range; thereby preserving the free-flowing nature of the particulate frozen product;

staging the particulate frozen product in strategic storage locations;

crossing the particulate frozen product over an international border;

shipping the particulate frozen product to a plurality of retail areas; and

retailing the particulate frozen product, wherein the particulate frozen food product includes both spheroid and non-spheroid particulates.

27 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

packaging the particulate frozen product, using gas- or moisture-barrier plastics.

28 . A frozen food product, comprising:

water and total solids, wherein the product comprises:

2-10% by weight sugar;

0.1-1.0% by weight sweetener; and

0-2% by weight stabilizer.