THYMOHYDROQUINONE BASED SYSTEM FOR HUMAN AND PET FOOD AND RELATED METHODS
The present invention relates to additive ingredients for stabilizing food compositions, as well as methods of stabilizing foods and pet foods using thymohydroquinone (THQ), alone or in synergistic combination with other antioxidants. The use of THQ to prevent oxidation of foods and pet foods has been found to be surprisingly effective in stabilizing all representative food matrices, including fats/oils, fatty foods, baked goods, and meat/poultry.
1 . A human or pet food additive comprising thymohydroquinone (THQ) in an amount effective to stabilize a human or pet food composition.
2 . The additive of claim 1 wherein the THQ source is selected from the group consisting of Monarda fistulosa, Monarda punctata, Monarda didyma , and Monarda citriodora and Nigella sativa.
3 . The additive of claim 1 wherein the THQ is added to the human or pet food composition in an amount ranging between about 10 to 1000 ppm/weight or 0.01 to 1 kg/ton.
4 . A method of stabilizing food and pet foods comprising: adding a source of thymohydroquinone (THQ) to a food or pet food composition to form a stabilized food or pet food composition.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the THQ source is selected from the group consisting of Monarda fistulosa, Monarda punctata, Monarda didyma , and Monarda citriodora and Nigella sativa.
6 . The method of claim 4 wherein the THQ is added to the food or pet food in an amount of from about 10 to 1000 ppm/weight or 0.01 to 1 kg/ton.
7 . The method of claim 4 wherein the THQ is added to the food or the pet food in an amount of from about 20 to 500 ppm/weight of the food or the pet food.
8 . The method of claim 4 further comprising adding a second antioxidant selected from the group consisting of spearmint, rosemary, ascorbic acid, and green tea.
9 . The method of claim 4 wherein the THQ is derived from a plant source or synthetic source.
10 . The method of claim 4 wherein the THQ is the only antioxidant added to the food or the pet food.
11 . The method of claim 4 wherein the THQ and the second antioxidant are the only antioxidants added to the food or the pet food.
12 . The method of claim 4 wherein the THQ source is added in a pre-blend mix or directly incorporated into the food or pet food product.
13 . The method of claim 4 wherein the THQ is added to the food or the pet food by spraying it onto the outside of the food or the pet food to form a coating.
14 . A stabilized food or pet food composition comprising:
a food or a pet food product; and
an effective amount of thymohydroquinone.
15 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 14 wherein the THQ is derived from a plant source or synthetic source.
16 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 15 wherein the THQ source is selected from the group consisting of Monarda fistulosa, Monarda punctata, Monarda didyma , and Monarda citriodora and Nigella sativa.
17 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 14 wherein the THQ is the only antioxidant added to the food or the pet food.
18 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 14 wherein the THQ and the second antioxidant are the only antioxidants added to the food or the pet food.
19 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 14 wherein the THQ source is added in a pre-blend mix or directly incorporated into the food or pet food product.
20 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 14 comprising from about 10 to 1000 ppm THQ.
21 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 20 comprising from about 20 to 500 ppm/weight of the food or the pet food.
22 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 14 further including adding a second antioxidant selected from the group consisting of spearmint, rosemary, ascorbic acid, and green tea.
23 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 14 that does not include thymoquinone.
24 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 14 wherein the THQ is the only antioxidant.
25 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 14 wherein the THQ and the second antioxidant are the only antioxidants in the composition.
26 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 14 wherein the THQ is coated on the outside of the food or the pet food.
27 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 10 wherein the food or the pet food comprises a fat/oil matrix.
28 . The stabilized food or pet food composition of claim 10 wherein the food or the pet food comprises a protein matrix.