Freeze-dried, dairy or dairy-substitute compositions and methods of making and using

1. A shelf stable, freeze-dried, aerated yogurt snack product, comprising:

one or more dairy or dairy substitute ingredients present in an amount in a range from about 60% to about 90% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried;

at least one yogurt culture;

an emulsifier present in an amount in a range from about 0.01% to about 0.5% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried, wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides, citric acid esters of mono-and diglycerides, distilled monoglycerides, and combinations thereof;

at least one sugar;

at least one starch selected from the group consisting of corn starch, rice starch, tapioca starch, and combinations thereof;

at least one gelatin;

at least one gas that provides an overrun in a range from about 20% to about 80% prior to freeze-drying;

wherein the product is sized and shaped for consumption by a toddler so that the product can be readily retained between a toddler's fingers due to the size and shape thereof, whereby the product comprises a conical rain drop like shape having a base diameter in a range from about 12 mm to about 25 mm, a height in a range from about 4 mm to about 15 mm, and a piece weight in a range from about 0.05 g to about 0.45 g; and

wherein the product is designed to reduce the risk of choking hazards for consumers with restricted or under-developed oral motor skills or digestive functions and is designed to allow a toddler to practice oral and fine motor skills without the need to chew, whereby the product has a hardness value in a range from about 0.5 to about 8 pounds of force, a dissolvability in a range from about 0.1 to about 8 pounds force peak load, a viscosity in a range from about 60,000 to about 500,000 cp, and a viscosity when wet in a range from about 30,000 to about 60,000 cp.

2. The product of claim 1 , wherein the density of the product is at least about 0.1 g/cc.

3. The product of claim 1 , wherein the yogurt is present in an amount of about 0.01% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried.

4. The product of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sugar is present in an amount in a range from about 8.5% to about 9% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried.

5. The product of claim 1 , wherein the at least one starch is present in an amount of about 1% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried.

6. The product of claim 1 , wherein the at least one gelatin is selected from the group consisting of porcine, fish, bovine, and combinations thereof.

7. The product of claim 1 , wherein the at least one gelatin is present in an amount of about 2% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried.

8. The product of claim 1 , wherein the emulsifier comprises lactylated mono- and diglycerides (LACTEM), and wherein the emulsifier is present in an amount in a range from about 0.1% to about 0.4% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried.

9. The product of claim 1 , wherein the combination of emulsifier, starch, and gelatin is present in an amount in a range from about 3.7% to about 3.9% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried.

10. The product of claim 1 , wherein the at least one gas provides an overrun in a range from about 30% to about 50% prior to freeze-drying.

11. The product of claim 1 , wherein the at least one gas provides an overrun in a range from about 35% to about 45% prior to freeze-drying.

12. The product of claim 1 , wherein the one or more dairy or dairy substitute ingredients is present in an amount in a range from about 70% to about 85% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried.

13. The product of claim 1 , further comprising at least one prebiotic.

14. The product of claim 1 , further comprising at least one probiotic.

15. The product of claim 1 , further comprising at least one fruit ingredient.

16. The product of claim 1 , further defined as having no preservatives, artificial flavors, or artificial sweeteners.

17. The product of claim 1 , wherein the product has a hardness value in a range from about 1.5 to about 5.5 pounds of force peak load.

18. A shelf stable, freeze-dried, aerated yogurt snack product, comprising:

one or more dairy or dairy substitute ingredients present in an amount in a range from about 70% to about 85% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried;

at least one yogurt culture present in an amount of about 0.01% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried;

lactylated mono- and diglycerides (LACTEM) present in an amount in a range from about 0.1% to about 0.4% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried;

at least one starch selected from the group consisting of corn starch, rice starch, tapioca starch, and combinations thereof, wherein the starch is present in an amount of about 1% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried;

at least one gelatin selected from the group consisting of porcine, fish, bovine, and combinations thereof, wherein the gelatin is present in an amount of about 2% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried;

at least one sugar present in an amount in a range from about 8.5% to about 9% by weight of the product prior to being freeze-dried;

at least one gas that provides an overrun in a range from about 35% to about 45% prior to freeze-drying;

at least one additional ingredient selected from the group consisting of at least one prebiotic, at least one probiotic, and combinations thereof;

wherein the product has no preservatives, artificial flavors, or artificial sweeteners;

wherein the product is sized and shaped for consumption by a toddler so that the product can be readily retained between a toddler's fingers due to the size and shape thereof, whereby the product comprises a conical rain drop like shape having a base diameter in a range from about 12 mm to about 25 mm, a height in a range from about 4 mm to about 15 mm, a piece weight in a range from about 0.05 g to about 0.45 g, and a density of about 0.1 g/cc; and

wherein the product is designed to reduce the risk of choking hazards for consumers with restricted or under-developed oral motor skills or digestive functions and is designed to allow a toddler to practice oral and fine motor skills without the need to chew, whereby the product has a hardness value in a range from about 1.5 to about 5.5 pounds of force, a dissolvability in a range from about 0.1 to about 8 pounds force peak load, a viscosity in a range from about 60,000 to about 500,000 cp, and a viscosity when wet in a range from about 30,000 to about 60,000 cp.

19. A shelf stable package, comprising:

at least one single serving unit of the product of any of claims 1 - 18 , present in an amount in a range from about 0.1 ounce to 1 ounce and having a caloric content in a range of from about 15 calories to about 90 calories;

a container with adequate moisture and oxygen barrier properties to prevent moisture absorption or oxidation of the product during a storage period of greater than 3 months.

20. The package of claim 19 , further defined as comprising 1×10 4 cfu/g to 1×10 10 cfu/g yogurt starter culture organisms and/or probiotic organisms.