Dairy Ingredients in Infant and Adult Nutrition Products 523tion is important, which might dictate the
types of proteins and carbohydrates used.
Specialized fi nal processing steps to aid in
eventual dispersion of the product with water
are also applied. Agglomeration is one such
treatment; it produces a larger particle size,
ultimately providing better initial wettability
of the powder and aiding in the production of
a smooth dispersion. Inclusion of polyunsatu-
rated oils, while of signifi cant potential phys-
iological benefi t, can limit fl avor stability of
powders after the sealed package is opened.
Satisfying the needs of the consumer
requires attention not only to the nutritional
content of the product, but also to its fl avor
and odor. Often there are advantages to deliv-
ering supplemental nutrition in a variety of
forms (liquids, powders, bars, gels) to avoid
fl avor and consistency fatigue.
One other form of nutritional delivery is
sometimes applied in both critical care and
long - term care situations in which patients
may have physical or mental barriers to
normal oral food consumption. Food can be
provided via a pump and a tube which allows
delivery of liquid nutritional product directly
to the stomach or even to the beginning of
the small intestine (jejunum). This method
reduces or completely eliminates the need for
fl avor and odor control of the product, though
there might be some issues with fl avor sensa-
tion from burp - up in conscious patients.
Typically, this type of product is specifi -
cally fi lled into ready - to - hang plastic con-
tainers ranging from 500 ml to 1 or 1.5 liters.
The product is sterilized, either via retorting
in these containers or ultra - heat treatment,
prior to aseptic fi lling. Although products
may demonstrate some phase separation
during storage in these containers over their
usual 12 - to 15 - month shelf lives, they
become homogeneous suspensions after
shaking and during tube feeding. Such feed-
ings can last for up to 24 to 36 hours for each
container, and thus the delivery package and/
or system must maintain acceptable sterility
during such extended delivery times.ratios are increasingly recognized as being
important for optimal health.
Incorporation of acceptable levels of vita-
mins and minerals is also important, espe-
cially if the product is intended as a sole
source of nutrition. A typical target is to
include a daily supply of these key nutrients
(depending on target country/regional regula-
tions) with 1,000 to 1,500 calories of product
energy.
Product Forms
As with infant formulas, product forms
include liquids which are commercially ster-
ilized via convection retorting or aseptic
fi lling. Retort processing involves dispensing
the products into hermetically sealed contain-
ers and then heat treating them, typically via
water and steam combinations. Initially,
metal cans were used almost exclusively for
retort processed products. Now it is common-
place to fi nd both glass and plastic containers,
which are retort or thermally sterilized via
ultrahigh - temperature - short - time (UHTST)
and aseptically fi lled into sterile containers.
Aseptic applications are attractive because
they have a minimal effect on product color
and nutrient thermal degradation.
Liquid products can be produced in ready -
to - use or condensed forms, typically requir-
ing a one - for - one dilution (though these are
becoming rare, even in infant applications.)
Condensed forms provide reduced storage
and transport costs, both for the manufacturer
and the end user, but they absolutely require
distinct labeling to inform the caregiver that
the product must be diluted prior to con-
sumption. These concentrated forms also
require a clean source of water for dilution
purposes, as do the powder products. This is
an important consideration for product use in
a number of areas in the world today.
Products also are marketed in powder
form, providing the most economical benefi ts
to the consumer (both in cost per kcal and in
storage and portability). Ease of reconstitu-